#People of amity park are elves

[moonlight-stalker]

# 60 Dc x Dp

No one over the age of 19 lives in Amity Park

Everyone the age of 19 and below is liminal the government made all the adults leave and if they refuse to leave they were killed. The kids of Amity Park fought back against the government when they tried to take them in for experiments they won in the end but none of the adults that had left cared to come back for the kids and the ones that did care for their kids have been killed.

The kids of Amity Park become very wary of adults that get near their city, they have lived for 20 years without any adults, and all the adults that had come into Amity Park have hurt them and tried to take control of them. Especially when they learn that they all have some unique power. They had to learn to protect themselves and each other they don't try to contact the outside world anymore believing that they've been left for dead.

So when something happens to get the Justice League's attention and find out about a City full of kids that have been left alone for who knows how long, they decided to let sent some of them to go and speak with them and see if the kids are okay not realizing how scared the kids of Amity Park are about outsiders especially of adult.

When the kids of Amity Park heard that a couple of adults are coming into the city that worked with the government they immediately think that the government has sent people to collect them and immediately stop to prepare for a fight for when they get there

[dragonsdomain]

Christmas Wish

“Who brought a human kid on the sleigh?” Ember asked with a tinge of annoyance.

@floating-pisces here’s your Christmas Truce gift! Sorry to keep you waiting! I went with your prompt “dp villains” and wrote this one-shot, which is set immediately after the episode “The Fright Before Christmas” and inspired by a certain strange thing we see in our last glimpse of the ghosts’ sleigh. I hope you like it!

“I still don’t understand why you wanted the sleigh.” Johnny 13 glanced up at the red and white accessory on his head. “Or the Santa hats.”

Kitty turned to Johnny, looking playfully offended. “Well, if we’re going to be granting kids’ Christmas wishes, we’ve got to do it in style! Flying around, delivering people’s presents? It’s like we’re Santa’s elves!”

Johnny’s mouth curled up in a smile. “Whatever you say, babe.” He leaned in for a kiss.

“Ew! Gross!” Youngblood said, holding his hands in front of himself as if to ward off the impending mushiness.

The skeleton parrot on Youngblood’s shoulder sighed in exasperation. “At least follow that with a threat like ‘Cleave him to the brisket’.”

“Cleave ‘im to the brisket!” Youngblood commanded, waving his hook in the air. He looked suddenly doubtful. “What does ‘Cleave ‘im to the brisket’ mean?”

Desiree chimed in helpfully, “It means-”

Kitty slapped a hand over her mouth. “It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry about it.”

There was a moment of silence. Perhaps some of the ghosts were using it to reflect on the lightness of heart each felt after helping Danny that night and to ponder the joy of service. Some may have even decided to change their troublesome ways if that moment had not been interrupted. “Who brought a human kid on the sleigh?” Ember asked with a tinge of annoyance.

Ember’s comment caused the majority of the sleigh’s inhabitants to stare in bewilderment at a small human child who was inexplicably in the back of the flying sleigh with the ghosts. The boy looked bashful under the scrutiny.

The Box Ghost was the first to speak. “Who is this human in our Christmas box of flight?”

The boy perked up. “My name’s Jimmy. I’m four!” He did indeed look like a four-year-old. He was short and chubby, with a smattering of freckles across his face. A disheveled mop of blonde hair was covered by a Santa hat not unlike the ones the ghosts wore.

“What are you doing here, child?” Skulker questioned, raising a mechanical eyebrow.

“I wanted to go outside and see the ghosts, but Mama wouldn’t let me go outside because it’s dark out,” Jimmy pouted. “And I was wishing I could go outside and see the ghosts, and then I was here!”

All eyes turned to Desiree.

“What?” She said defensively. “You know I can’t resist granting wishes!”

“This is so cool! You're all so cool!” Jimmy said, “I get to meet the bad guys Danny Phantom fights!”

“‘Bad guys’?!” Repeated Pointdexter, sounding offended.

“Sweetie,” Spectra began in the honeyed tone she tended to use with children, “You have to go home. Your mommie’s probably worried about you.” That wasn’t the real reason she wanted him gone of course. She couldn’t care less about how his mommie felt.

Jimmy’s face fell. “I wish I could stay here with you guys...” he confided to the floor of the sleigh.

Desiree chimed in immediately, magic leaping to her fingers, “Your wish is my-”

“The truce.” Bertram reminded her.

Desiree deflated.

The Lunch Lady frowned at Jimmy’s sadness. “It would make him so happy.” She remarked to her fellow passengers.

“It would mean so much to him, and cost us so little.” Desiree said.

“Plus, it’s Christmas!” Ember added, “We should let the kid have a little adventure.”

“Yeah!” Youngblood added with an admiring glance at Ember.

“Would it really be so bad to bring him along?” Kitty looked around the sleigh imploringly.

Johnny looked conflicted. “But babe… we already worked so hard tonight to help that Phantom kid.”

Kitty rolled her eyes at him. “That took ten minutes tops.”

“But Spectra’s right!” Pointexter protested, while the aforementioned ghost looked surprised someone was actually taking her comment seriously. “Jimmy’s mother is probably worried about him.”

“She’ll be fine.” Ember said, rolling her eyes. “We’ll have the kid back before morning.”

“Yeah, she’ll be fine!” Youngblood added helpfully.

“I do suppose it wouldn’t cost us much,” Skulker said thoughtfully, who may or may not have been swayed by Ember’s opinion. “I’m all right with the boy coming along, as long as he promises not to cause trouble.” He looked questioningly at Jimmy.

The boy was sitting there with an amazed expression as if this seemed all too good to be true. At Skulker’s implied inquiry he jumped to his feet and testified “I promise I’ll be super good! I’ll be so good. I’ll be as good as Danny Phantom!” He said, with such sincerity that all present almost believed Phantom was the flawless angel of kindness Jimmy seemed to think him. Whatever the case, Jimmy’s conviction to not be a bother was clear. Any uncertainty that might have remained was rapidly squelched by Technus, who felt the need to clarify what every ghost present had already realized.

“While we, being his enemies, do not fully agree with your view of the ghost child, your promise to behave is well appreciated,” Technus decreed.

“If that is the case, we shall gladly welcome you to our portable box of Christmas cheer!” The Box Ghost said, receiving an approving nod from the Lunch Lady.

Aside from a grumble from Spectra, who was still unenthused about the concept of toting a child around with them for any period of time, as well as a hesitant Johnny, who needed a little persuasion from his girlfriend which was tactfully shielded from Youngblood by Johnny’s shadow, it was agreed unanimously that they would bring Jimmy along for their Christmas festivities, at least for a little while.

“Are we there yet?” Youngblood asked, before scarcely a minute had passed.

“No,” Responded the undead bird on his shoulder.

The Box Ghost, who was steering the sleigh, was driving it in circles above Fentonworks, high enough to be safe from ghost-hunting weapons, but low enough to have a good view of the conspicuous house, not that that was particularly difficult. The Fenton portal to the Ghost Zone, their best way to return home, was within that house, which was unfortunately closed off from the ghosts in the sleigh by a shining green ghost shield.

“It seems we shall have to wait until the shield comes down before we can return to the Ghost Zone as well as our usual Christmas festivities,” remarked Technus, to a sleigh full of ghosts who were already thinking the same thing.

The only one who would have benefited from this remark, Jimmy, was currently being distracted by Spectra, who had immediately decided to take advantage of her current situation. She usually worked with teens, not four-year-olds, but she’d been sure it wouldn’t be much different with younger children. She was mistaken.

“Are you afraid of your parents fighting?” Spectra asked.

Jimmy seemed ecstatic at this idea. “They should fight with swords!”

That wasn’t going to work. Spectra tried something else: “Are you afraid of monsters?”

Jimmy’s eyes widened. “Like bad ghosts?”

Spectra nodded, an eager smile on her face, wide enough to expose a good number of fangs. “That’s right, like bad ghosts.”

The boy assumed a solemn expression. “Danny Phantom will fight the bad ghosts.” He shook his little fist for emphasis.

Spectra groped, “Danny Phantom won’t always be there to fight the ghosts, you know.” 

“Yes, he will.” Jimmy said, with enough stubbornness to remind Spectra that he could and would spend the entire night arguing his point with that exact same sentence if he had to.

“Honey, the truce.” Bertram reminded her.

Spectra sighed. “Desiree, I wish we were at the Fenton portal.”

Johnny sat up. “Wait, I thought we were-”

“Your wish is my command!” and suddenly they found themselves flying through the portal into the Ghost Zone.

Jimmy let out a long gasp as they flew through the portal into the green expanse. He clung to the arm of Ember, who was lucky enough to be sitting next to him, as he looked around himself in awe.

“Cool, right? It’s the Ghost Zone.” Ember commented.

“Cool.” Jimmy repeated, drawing out the word well past its usual length. “Does Danny Phantom live here?”

Ember rolled her eyes at the boy’s incessant admiration of the halfa. “‘Course not. He’s a human. He lives in Amity Park.”

“Uh huh.” Youngblood confirmed.

Jimmy frowned and knitted his eyebrows. “No, he’s not. He’s a ghost.”

Ember smirked and shrugged. “Whatever you say, kid.”

They flew along quietly for a little while, aside from Youngblood periodically asking “Are we there yet?” with a long-suffering look on his face, to which the answer was always a blunt “No,” from his skeleton assistant. Jimmy gazed in fascination at the simple green blob ghosts floating about them until he got bored and started pantomiming a gun shooting them. “Pew pew. Pew.”

This drew Skulker’s attention to the boy. “Child, what are you doing?”

Jimmy looked up. “I’m shooting the little ghosts!”

Skulker scoffed. “If you want to join in the hunt, you’ll need a weapon.” He pulled a vicious-looking gun out from somewhere and held it out to the boy, who reached out to take it reverently.

“The truce.” Bertram barked.

Skulker grimaced as he reluctantly took back the gun. He patted Jimmy’s head in approval. “You’ll make a fine hunter one day.”

“Are we there yet?” Youngblood groaned, tugging on the Box Ghost’s shirt sleeve.

“Just like I’ve told you a half dozen times,” His parrot began. “No, we are- oh.”

Because at long last they were there. Before them stood the pavilion where the Christmas festivities for this group of ghosts were to be held, the doors hanging welcomingly open with glittering decorations of a plethora of colors visible through the door.

“At last! We have finally returned to the celebration!” Technus said.

“Thank you, Technus.” Spectra said sarcastically.

Jimmy eyed the banquet laid out on a table in the back of the room. His eyes landed on a bowl of peppermints. He tugged on the Lunch Lady’s sleeve. “Can I have some candy?”

She looked down at him in concern. “Oh, sweetie. You know we can’t have dessert before dinner! We need to eat the healthy food first.”

“I already ate my dinner!” Jimmy declared quickly.

Whether or not that was true, it did the trick. “Well all right then honey. Let’s get you some dessert.” The Lunch Lady looked pleased. “Good job eating your dinner!”

And so it was that Jimmy was found only a few minutes later with his cheeks crammed full of peppermints, likewise his pockets and his hands. A sparse trail of dropped peppermints was also left in his wake, having fallen out of hands and pockets that had been overenthusiastically filled. The Lunch Lady seemed to be enjoying Jimmy’s treat as much as he was, she was so filled with satisfaction about the healthy meal Jimmy had surely eaten, and which definitely hadn’t been stubbornly left on the table despite being declared by his mother an obstacle between him and going outside.

As Jimmy proceeded with his sugary feast, Walker entered the building. “The prisoner has been detained.” He said as he straightened his hat.

Pointdexter looked up. “Ghostwriter?”

“That’s right, son,” Walker said.

Pointdexter nodded, glaring at the wall. “Serves him right for using his powers to bully someone like that.”

Walker’s eyes, which had been scanning the room, landed on Jimmy, who was currently discovering a collection of discarded cardboard boxes, which were sitting in a corner after being emptied of Christmas decorations.

“Who’s this little one?” Walker asked.

Pointdexter followed Walker’s eyes to Jimmy before answering, “He wanted so badly to see us ghosts as we were going around helping fix Christmas, but his mother wouldn’t let him come outside.”

Walker’s eyes narrowed. “His mother is his legal guardian. Disobeying her is against the rul-”

“I am the Box Dragon!” A voice at Walker’s feet bellowed.

He looked down to see a large cardboard box with legs standing before him. The box’s corner bumped against Walker’s legs as grunting and growling sounds came from within the box. Now not many people know this - it’s a very closely guarded secret - but Walker has a soft spot for small children. And frankly, this behavior was too adorable for him to handle. His heart melted, and all thoughts of broken rules and sending the child home vanished from his mind. All this happened in an instant, and thankfully Walker was self-possessed enough to show absolutely no sign of this in his countenance.

However, the prison warden was not the only one who’s attention was drawn by Jimmy’s antics. Across the room, the Box Ghost’s face had slowly lit up with astonishment, then morphed into ecstasy. He flew quickly across the room to Jimmy’s side. “Box Dragon! It is an honor to make your acquaintance!” He stuck a hand under the box to heartily shake the small hand of its occupant. “It is always a pleasure to meet one who shares my appreciation of these fine cardboard squares! Perhaps you and I, united in our love of boxes, could prove formidable in combat against our foes!”

“The truce,” Walker said in unison with Bertram, who had somehow known this statement was called for despite being halfway across the room.

“Oh, right,” the Box Ghost relented. He quickly perked up again, gripping Jimmy’s hand and pointing dramatically. “Then let us return to the corner where I have placed many boxes and we shall gather a cardboard army!”

However, a yawn sounded from underneath the box and the small hand held in the Box Ghost’s blue one seemed to lose some of its enthusiasm. “I’m sleepy…” Jimmy mumbled, pushing the cardboard box off of himself.

Kitty, who just happened to be nearby, snapped her head around at the quiet statement, as if it had been as loud and attention-grabbing as a fire alarm. She dropped a slightly confused Johnny’s hand (he hadn’t been astute enough to hear Jimmy’s last sentence,) and rushed to kneel at the young boy’s side.

She let Jimmy slump onto her shoulder as she asked “Do you want to go home, honey?” With all the tenderness of a mother.

“Mmhm…” Came the barely audible reply, with Jimmy seeming to be seconds away from falling asleep on Kitty’s shoulder.

She gently stood up and turned to her boyfriend, who had been left to shadow her curiously. “Can you take him home on your motorcycle?” She whispered.

“Uh, okay.” Said Johnny uncertainly. Kitty gently handed over the boy to Johnny, who held him as awkwardly as though he’d never carried a child before and had no idea where to put what. He did his best though and managed to transport Jimmy to his motorcycle and situate him in a fairly safe-looking position.

The ghosts at the party gathered to see the boy off. He was thankfully just awake enough to receive the goodbyes most present eagerly began to give him.

“If you ever need anything, just say the words, and your wish is my command,” Desiree told him with a kiss.

“Always be nice to people. Don’t be a jerk.” Pointdexter advised quickly.

“Follow your dreams, kid!” Ember said.

“Yeah, do that!” Youngblood agreed with Ember readily.

“Eat well!”

“Be sure and stay on the right side of the law.”

“Always remember the power of technology, I, Technus, included-”

“May you always find nice boxes!”

Walker repositioned the now-sleeping Jimmy into a slightly safer position as he said to Johnny, “Don’t test my patience. You better not break the speed limit again.”

Johnny revved up the engine and responded, “Dude, there’s no speed limit in the Ghost Zone. You made that up.”

As Johnny drove off to deliver the child home (no one realized until later that he didn’t know where Jimmy’s house was), there was a moment of silence. Perhaps some of the ghosts were using it to ponder the night they had just had. How their small acts of kindness towards Jimmy had filled him with such glee. How somehow, despite having seemingly gained nothing from the experience, each felt happier, more contented, lighter inside even than a ghost with the power to levitate usually felt. Perhaps they were drawing near to a change of heart, or at the very least a change of obsession, that might allow them to experience the bliss of helping others on a more regular basis. Perhaps some of them would have even reached it if that moment of silence had not been interrupted.

“Let’s never do that again.” Spectra moaned.

[firstofficertightpants]

In Your Honor - CH.3

Luz has wanted nothing more in life other than to join the ranks of the Emperor's Knights - the highest rank of royalty defenders, but after a disaster of a first impression with the bratty princess, she starts to wonder if it’s worth it.

The market was busy as ever, elves and demons pushing past each other as the shop keepers tried to sell their wares. The sounds of feet and hooves against dirt and the voices of the market goers mixing together in a weird harmony. Luz couldn't focus on any of that though as she followed her mother around, basket full of ingredients in hand. She let out a small whine as her mom stopped at yet another stall to look over their items, taking her time to ask the keep about the different ingredients he had available. Camilia picked out a few roots and paid the shop keep before moving on, Luz following once again. Eda tailed behind Camilia, taking a glance back at her step daughter. When Camilia stops again Eda takes the chance to pull Luz to the side.

“Hey kid, I know spending time with your mothers isn't ideal but don't let your mom catch you sighing like that.” The owl lady warned Luz.

“It's not that!” Luz defends herself. “It's just, Skaras birthday is today and I need to go get ready.”

“Ah, I see.” The older witch thinks for a moment. “Alright, here's the deal, I get you out of shopping if you take over my turn giving King a bath.”

“Whaaaaaat?” Luz whines before huffing out an agreement. Eda pumps her fist in victory before catching up with her wife.

Luz watches as Eda and her mom talk in hushed voices, turning her attention to the crowd with a “Blech” when Eda starts getting hansy. A few feet away, standing on a wooden box, was an elf boy maybe two years older than Luz. He was surrounded by a crowd of people as he spoke.

“WE NEED TO BRING THE BLIGHTS TO THEIR KNEES.” The boy shouted at the crowd, the crowd cheering in response. “TOO LONG HAVE THEY TAXED THE POOR AND LET US DIE IN THE STREETS AS THEY SIT IN THEIR CASTLE.” He points to the castle, the building visible from almost any place in the town.  “I SAY WE NEED TO MAKE THEM PAY, LET THEM ROT IN THE STREETS WHILE WE LIVE IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.”

“Alright kid, I got you out of shopping.” Eda returns to Luz as she watches the boy continue his rant about the elven royalty. The witch turns her attention to the kid and sighs. “Poor kids going to get himself in trouble.”

Just as the words left her mouth a duo of Emperors Knights approached the kid, cutting through the crowd. They stand to each side of him as they grab his arms and lift him off his box.

“You’re under arrest for disturbing the piece and threatening acts of violence against the royal family.” The knight to the left says.

“YOU CAN'T SILENCE ME”  The boy shouts as he struggles against their hold. The knight to his right takes his armored gloved hand and knocks him out, raising shouts of rage from the crowd who still lingered.

“Put him down!”

“Yeah, he’s just a kid!”

“This is why no one likes the royal family!”

“SILENCE.” A voice rings out through the market. Luz and Eda both turn their attention to the sound.

A large man makes his way through the crowd, his dark bird helm visible above the heads of the market goers. Luz decided he had to be at least eight feet tall, adult elves being able to reach seven feet by the age of twenty, and he towered over them all. He wore a dark blue cape lined with gold, that paired with his dark colored helm showed he was Captain of the Emperors Knights. Luz watched in awe as the man controlled the attention of the crowd. He stopped in front of the two knights holding the boy before turning around to meet the faces of the town.

“I assure you, my good people, this boy will be treated with respect as he is put on trial. If he is innocent, then he will be able to return to his home.” His voice was deep and gravely, “If we find out he is planning an attack against the royal family, well, we haven't had a public execution in a while..” The captain's words trail off as the crowd stays silent.

With a wave of his hand the captain and two knights walk off with the unconscious boy. When they are finally out of sight, Eda lets out a breath Luz hadn't even noticed she was holding.

“Good to know Captain Wrath is still as pleasant as ever.” Eda grumbled as her daughter looked up at her with concern. “What's wrong kid?” she smiles softly at the younger witch.

“Is that boy going to be okay?” Luz's voice comes out soft, her concern very evident.

“Oh, I'm sure they’ll probably just toss him in a cell for a few days then send him home.” Eda reassures Luz, ruffling her hair. “Now go, you have a party to get to!” She takes the basket from Luz’s arms and turns her around, pushing her towards home.

“Okay, I’ll see you tonight!” Luz waves at her mothers as she makes a mad dash for home.

-

When Luz leaves her house she sees the twins Edric and Emira who greet her with a luxurious carriage, much larger than the one Luz had rode in during her move. She heads down the few steps from her house and smiles up at the siblings. The twins had decided to wear matching yellow dress clothes. Emira wearing a nice dress and Edric wearing a fetching suit. Luz straightened out her suspenders, hoping that she wouldn't look too out of place with her simple white dress shirt, black dress pants, matching dress shoes and slicked back hair. As if sensing her concern the twins both looped an arm with the younger witch.

“Don't worry, Luz.” Emira smiled as she opened the door to the carriage. “You look great.”

“Couldn’t say it better myself.” Edric agreed as he helped the two girls into their ride.

“Thanks guys.” Luz chuckled nervously, a slight blush to her cheeks. “It's kind of hard to find nice clothes at such a short notice.”

As she moved into the carriage she was also greeted by Willow and Gus. She takes a seat between the two as the twins take the seat opposite of them.  Willow has dawned a lovely green ball gown while Gus decided to go with a nice blue suit. Luz made a mental note about how absolutely adorable they all were.

“They insisted that they come with us to get you.” Edric is the first to speak once they are all settled into the carriage and it starts its way towards the castle.

“It was so adorable.” Emira laughs as Willow and Gus mumble and hide their own blushes.

“We all wanted to see you.” Willow corrects.

“Thanks guys, I have to say I was a little nervous.” Luz admits. “But going to the party as a group is definitely calming my nerves.”

“That's great! Now before we get there we need to go over some things.” Gus speaks up from his spot next to Luz. “As a fellow commoner, there are a few things you’ll need to know before walking into the party.”

“What?” Luz nearly jumps in her seat. “You’re not royalty?”

“Nope.” Gus smiles. “I did pass the entrance exam into the royal school though, that's why I'm able to go.”

“He was the first commoner to do so.” Edric adds. “To the surprise of no one, it's a little harder for commoners to get a good education.” His words come out through gritted teeth as he crosses his arm and stares out the window.

“I'm just really smart!” Gus is practically beaming with pride. “But back to the main point.” He adjusts himself so he’s looking at Luz. “I’ve been to a few of these things, usually as Edrics plus one.” He shoots the twin a thumbs up and Edric responds with one of his own. “So I know how to act around royalty, but do you  know how to Luz?”

“Uh, is there more to it then just bowing?” Luz chuckles nervously and Gus plants his face into his palms.

“We should start with who’s important.” Willow grabs Luz’s attention with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “First you have the Blight family which you’ve already met.” She points to the twins. “Then there's Skara and Boscha who are both Duchesses, Skara’s the one with the birthday today.” Willow pauses to make sure Luz is paying attention, the witch in training nodding her head to have Willow continue. “Then there's my family, the Parks! We’re of commoner blood so we’re lower on the food chain but I'm still considered a Duchess.”

“Oh wow, there's so much to learn about elves!” Luz stares wide eyed at Willow.

“We’re almost to the castle so we’ll have to fill you in later on more of the details.” Gus interjects. “Mainly we need to cover how to NOT insult them.”

“First, you bow to anyone in a tiara.” Emira instructs. “Then you make sure to use titles like ‘your highness’ and ‘your majesty’.”

“But you don't have to do that with us, we don't care.” Edric adds.

“And don't make any moves on Mittens, Boscha gets really jealous when people talk to her.” Emira’s tone takes a serious turn. “Seriously, just don't.”

“Why would I make moves on Amity?” Luz blurts out, blushing. “I'm pretty sure she hates me!”

“We’re just looking out for you~” The twins speak in unison and it only kinda freaks Luz out. Just kinda.

The carriage finally pulls to a stop in front of the castle and Edric exits first, holding the door open for everyone as they leave the wagon, and the five of them head up the stairs to the castle entrance. The doors seem to open on their own as the group approaches and Luz finds herself staring again, the main entryway redecorated for the party. Along the walls were tables covered in all sorts of elven delicacies and the center of the room was left open for the attendees to dance as they please. A large orchestra band played music in the corner that carried through the room. Luz didn't recognize the music but it was nice and light, perfect to slow dance to but also nice to just listen to. To the side of the entrance was a well dressed snake man that reminded Luz of the cobras near her old home.

The man cleared his throat as they entered and introduced them as they made their way into the room. Luz gasped when he introduced her, turning to Willow with wide eyes.

“How did he know my name?” She asked her friend, her excitement barely contained.

“We have to give a list of our plus ones before the party.” Willow giggles at Luz’s excitement. “Since you came in with me they know you’re my plus one.”

“So cool.” Luz whispered, stars in her eyes.

The group made their way towards the snack tables, lightly chatting amongst themselves as the rest of the party goers entered the room. Luz looked over the table with awe and asked Gus about many of the small snacks and finger foods they had laid out. The smaller elf did a good job keeping up with her and even going as far as telling her which were his favorites. Luz had never seen so many different types of food before. She did her best to not over indulge herself though, not wanting to puke before the party truly got started. Just as Luz went to ask Gus about another strange snack she had seen, the doors to the hall opened once again.

“Her royal highness, and heir to the throne, Amity Blight.” The snake man introduced the princess, his voice echoing through the room. “And her majesty, Boscha.”

Luz looks to the main entrance and sees a strange elf girl with three eyes holding out her hand to Amity. The three eyed girl must have been Boscha. Luz could swear she saw Amity roll her eyes before taking the other girl's hand.

The redhead makes a point of pulling the princess closer to her as they make their way into the room. Amity wore the most elegant purple ball gown Luz had ever seen, not that she had seen many, and the girl accompanying her wore a red suit with a fur cape draped lazily over her shoulders. Boscha, which Luz had mixed feelings about, led Amity towards the snack tables and right for Luz and her group.

“Your highnesses.” Boscha bowed upon reaching the twins, the two frowning momentarily before offering their own greetings. “Willow.” Boscha says the name flatly, with a hint of disgust.

“Boscha.” Willow glares at the redhead before turning her attention to Amity. “Your highness.” She bows deeply, if not stiffly.

Amity gives a simple nod of her head as a response, her attention elsewhere. Her eyes scan the room before landing on Luz. Her eyes go wide as she points to the human girl who is currently stuffing her face with cookies.

“What are you doing here?” She hisses as Luz chokes on her cookies from being startled.

“Oh calm down, Mittens, we invited her.” Edric crosses his arms.

“But she's a commoner!” Amity weakly argues, her anger deflating at her brother's words.

“And so is Gus, but you have no problems with him.” Edric points out, completely shooting down his sister's protest.

“Yeah, well...he’s…” Amity struggles to find a good response when Emira tsk’s at her.

“We aren’t being racist, are we Mittens?” She raises an eyebrow at the younger witch.

“What? No!” Amity defends herself as Luz comes around the table to try and deescalate the situation.  

“I’m sorry, your highness.” Luz bows as low and as elegantly as she can handle. “I believe we got off on the wrong foot.” She stands up and smiles at the princess. “I'm Luz Noceda, Emperor’s Knight in training.”

Amity huffs, turning away from the human. Boscha, who had been busy talking to another attendee, returns her attention to Amity. She takes one look at Amity’s stiff posture and her eyes train on Luz. She steps closer to Amity and places an arm around the princesses shoulder.

“Is this human bothering you, your highness?” She basically hisses out the word ‘human’ as all three of her eyes stay on Luz.

“No Boscha, I can handle myself.” Amity mutters before turning and leaving, Boscha following behind her like a lost puppy.

Luz deflates as the princess and her escort leave. The twins give her a pat on the back followed with reassuring words. Luz doesn't really hear them though, her mind focused on other things. She was not a person to give up. Ever. If she had given up before then she wouldn't be where she was today. So help her, she WILL befriend Amity. She has befriended the siblings, how much harder could Amity be?

The answer was very. The rest of the party, Luz finds herself seeking out the green haired royalty. Every attempt to talk to her is thwarted, however. Either by Boshca or Amity herself. The human flops down on a chair placed near the back of the hall, letting out a deep sigh.

“Rough night?” Willow's voice brings Luz out of her thoughts. The green witch hands her a drink before taking the seat next to her.

“Yeah,” Luz pouts as she takes a sip of the honey drink Willow had handed her. “I keep trying to talk to Amity but.. I think she's avoiding me at this point.”

“Hmm, well, Amity is a tough one.” Willow looks out to the dance floor where Gus danced with Edric, the boy standing on the taller elves feet as he leads the dance. “We were friends once, back when we were younger.”

“Whaaaat?” Luz sits up in her chair and leans in closer to Willow. “Tell me more!” She pleads.

“Well, I mentioned earlier that I'm a lower ranking Duchess?” Willow waits for Luz to finish nodding her head enthusiastically before she continues. “Well my dads got the title of Duke by helping fight in a war a long time ago, their combined magic helping save hundreds of soldiers.” She lets out a sigh. “So we’re technically royalty but the other families, they don't see it like that. Amity, however? She never cared.”  Willow lets out a sad laugh. “Until one day when suddenly she did care, she said I was weak. That my family wasn't real royalty so she couldn’t be my friend anymore.”

“That's so mean!” Luz gasps, placing a comforting hand on Willow's leg.

“It's okay Luz, I'm over it now.” Willow reassures her friend. “My point is, Amity is strange. It takes a lot to be her friend, and you’re a commoner so she’s not even going to look your way.” The words come out harsh but Willow smiles at Luz. “That's okay though! Cause you have me, Gus, and the twins.”

“Yeah.. I guess you're right.” Luz beams at her friend.

“So, why don't we go dance?” Willow stands, offering a hand to Luz. The human girl takes it with glee and follows the other witch to the dance floor.

Maybe she couldn’t be friends with Amity, yet, but one day she was going to reach her goal of becoming an Emperor’s Knight. Then Amity would have no choice but to talk to her. It was a fiendishly clever plan, she thought.

[five-rivers]

Hey, there.   I’m still working on this!  Again, I am using @charcoalhawk and @thecommrade ‘s prompts!

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Collateral

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Chapter 4

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Youngblood was bored.  Super bored.  Mega bored.  Ginormously bored. Bored to infinity.  So bored that even Bones couldn't un-bore him. Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored.  He didn't like being bored.  

So he decided to go bother Phantom.  

Phantom was a lot older than him (or a lot younger than him, depending on how he counted), and could be kind of weird sometimes (though Youngblood understood that was because he was a halfa, and therefore kind of sick, like Youngblood used to be), but he was good for a game or two, or a laugh, or a straight-up fight.  It really depended on how polite Youngblood was feeling, and how patient Phantom was feeling.  Or, from another angle, how bratty Youngblood was, and how territorial Phantom was.  No matter which way it played out, Phantom was never boring.  Unlike some people.  

Youngblood flew to Phantom's portal, giggling madly, already planning out his next game.  Giggling madly.  Like a mad scientist.  Ooh, that was a good idea.  He could be a mad scientist and Bones could be Frankenstein!  Or maybe Bones would be Igor, and they could make a Frankenstein!

“Hey, Bones, do you think you're more a Frankenstein or an Igor?”

Bones sighed, already shifting into a bony hunchback.  “I assume you're speaking of Frakenstein's monster, so I would have to say Igor, master.”

“Isn't Frankenstein the monster?”

“No, Frankenstein was the scientist, master.  The monster wasn't named.”

“Well, that's stupid,” complained Youngblood.  “Why didn't anyone ever name him?  He was the coolest ever!  Or he should have named himself, like ghosts do!”

“That's part of the book,” started Bones.  

“The book!?  Boring!”  

They had reached the portal.  Phantom's portal itself wasn't safe to go through.  His parents had sealed it tight, and had stuck a lot of guns and junk onto it.  Not to mention the house itself.  On the other hand, smaller, temporary, natural portals to Amity Park spawned near it literally all the time.  Bones and Youngblood didn't have to wait long for one to appear.

“Maybe I won't be a mad scientist,” said Youngblood, after they had gone through.  “Maybe I'll paint on the walls.  I always wanted to be an artist, you know.”  Youngblood had always wanted to be lots of things.  He vaguely remembered wanting to be a dinosaur when he grew up, but growing up was for losers.  “But the adults didn't recognize my genius.  Whenever I drew they were all like 'oh, no, you can't draw on the walls!'”

“I see,” said Bones, returning to his favorite parrot shape.  

Two cans of spray paint popped into Youngblood's hands, his outfit transmuting into a childish image of an artist, complete with a beret.  A too-wide, too sharp smile spread over Youngblood's face. He couldn't wait until Phantom showed up, so that he could spray the teenager in the face.  He could just imagine the look on Phantom's face.  It would be hilarious.  

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Two hours later, and Phantom still hadn't shown up.  Neither had his weirdo parents, or his friends.  Which was weird, and also bleh. Boring.  He'd entertained himself with painting for a while, and with avoiding the coppers, who couldn't see him, and that red girl with the hoverboard who also couldn't see him even though she was obviously a teenager, but those games had limited utility.  

He wanted to play with Phantom.  That's why he had come in the first place.  

He floated in the air over a building that was now tastefully decorated in dinosaurs and superheros, pouting.  There had been fewer policemen than there usually were, too, and the red girl had seemed especially upset (and incompetent), now that he thought about it.  His eyes narrowed.  Youngblood might have been immature, but he wasn't stupid.

He floated higher, scanning the town.  

“Hey, Bones, help me find where all the police are.”

“The police?” asked the skeletal parrot.  “Aye aye, captain.”  He spiraled up even further than Youngblood, his circles growing ever wider as Youngblood spun beneath.

“Thar she is!” said Bones.

“You don't have to do that,” said Youngblood, flying in the indicated direction.  “We're not playing pirates right now.”

“If you say so,” said Bones, swooping down alongside Youngblood.  

They reached the part of the town that had the tallest and fanciest buildings.  Police and cameramen were swarming all over them.  There was yellow tape everywhere, especially in front of a stately building with columns.  

It was very exciting.  

But it wasn't terribly informative.  Most of the police officers and detectives were only talking about what was going on right then, about what they were doing, or what they had found.  They weren't talking about what had happened, which was what Youngblood was interested in.  Because this had to be related to why Phantom wasn't showing up.  It didn't look like it had been a ghost fight, at least not a typical one.  There wasn't enough damage, and Youngblood remembered enough about the human world to know that its buildings and structures didn't repair themselves.  In fact, as far as Youngblood could tell, there wasn't any damage at all.  But then, what ghost fight was typical, especially when Phantom was involved?  When was anything involving Phantom typical?  He was a weirdo from a family of weirdos in a town of weirdos.

What a weirdo.

“Perhaps we should listen in on one of the reporters,” suggested Bones.

“What? You think that they'd know something the cops don't?”

“Unlikely, but they will be talking about what they do know.  That's their job, after all.”

“Ooh. Good idea!”

They zoomed over to a nearby reporter, whose crew was just starting to get ready to film.  They waited impatiently.  At least, Youngblood did. He jiggled and bounced and made faces at the reporter.

“Hello!” said the reporter, finally.  “I'm Harriet Chin for Amity News, reporting from the site of the attempted assassination of our own mayor, Vlad Masters by a sniper in one of these buildings.  Mr Masters was not hit, thanks to the swift and heroic actions of Daniel Fenton, who had been receiving a scholarship from Mr Masters at the time.  Mr Fenton, however, was shot, and brought to South Mercy Hospital.  We are currently waiting for word on his condition...”

Youngblood floated off, no longer particularly interested in what the reporter had to say.  No longer wanting to hear what the reporter had to say. She had said the forbidden, most hated word.  Hospital. Youngblood hated hospitals.  He wasn't scared of them, he had spent too much time in them to be scared, but he hated them.  

And Phantom had been sent to one?  He'd been hurt that badly?

Youngblood barred his teeth.  He didn't like that, didn't like the idea of that. But it couldn't be that bad, right?  He had to see.

South Mercy.  He knew where South was, right?

“Come on!” he said, zooming away.  

The hospital, to Youngblood's dismay, was surrounded by minor and not-so-minor ghosts shrouded by low-level invisibility.  Phantom must really be hurt, for them to be acting like this.  There weren't any children among the ghosts that he could see, though, so it wasn't like he could just ask what was going on.  No one would be able to see him, and he wasn't interested in talking to humans right now.  

Flying through the crowd of ghosts was like flying through a sea of whispers.  They were angry.  No, they were furious.  

“Their lord has been wounded,” said Bones, voice low.

“Their lord?” asked Youngblood, curling his lip.  “Phantom's a lord?”

“It's a technical term.  He is the lord, and they are the vassals, although they might call themselves something else.  It's a relationship, not entirely unlike what you and I have.”  Bones settled on Youngblood's shoulder.  “He protects them, lets them stay in his haunt.  There are certain obligations that go along with that, even if Phantom does not demand them.”

“Obligations?”

“Duties, commitments.”

“Heh, you said 'duty.'”

They located the room around which the most ghosts were located, and slipped in.  Phantom was there, in a bed, trapped beneath tubes and wires, just like-

Youngblood fled the hospital.  It wasn't because he was scared.  It wasn't. But he couldn't be there anymore.  He had to leave.  He had to.

He didn't know what to do.  He had to talk to someone about this. Someone other than Bones.  

Ember. He'd talk to Ember.  

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The ghosts of Amity Park swirled around the hospital in a ghostly analogue of human pacing.  There were all kinds of ghosts there. Blobs and will-o-the-wisps.  Ghosts of dogs, cats, birds, tigers, rats, foxes, bats.  Ghosts of men and women.  Ghosts that had been born ghosts, or who had never been born at all.  Little goblins. Pixie people.  Elves and fae things.  Monsters of myth and legend. None of them were particularly strong on their own.  In fact, most of them were on the weak side for ghosts.  Even the very strongest was only on par with the Box Ghost.  Many of them struggled to make themselves seen or felt by humans.  That's why they had sought protection from Phantom in the first place, why they chose to reside in Amity Park.

But that wasn't why they loved him.  They loved him because he cared. Because he loved them first.  Because he deserved it.  Because he was precious, and soft, and lovely.  Because he needed love. Because he belonged to them, as much as he belonged to the humans of Amity Park.  

That someone hurt him...  That someone here hurt him...  Hurt him this badly, and not even in a proper fight...

It didn't just make them furious.  It made them incandescent.

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One of Vlad's duplicates glanced out a window, and all of him froze.  

He had known of the other ghosts that called Amity Park home.  Being one of them, how could he not?  He usually paid little attention to them. They were weak.  Nonentities, like the Dairy King, who nonetheless managed to avoid Vlad's attempts to evict him.  Annoyances.  True, Vlad could have put them to use, great use, had they been loyal to him, and he was the most powerful ghost in Amity Park, but they favored Daniel for some incomprehensible reason.  

Well, maybe not so incomprehensible.  Daniel had never understood power, had never bothered to learn how to exert it, how to use it for his benefit.  Daniel never asked anything from them, despite the traditional obligations he was owed.

But just because Daniel didn't ask, didn't mean he didn't receive.  Vlad, unlike Daniel, was very aware of what had happened to the missing GIW agents.  Weak these ghosts might be on their own, but when they acted together...  

Vlad's mouth felt very dry.  Surely, they wouldn't blame him for this.  He had been the intended victim!  He would have stopped this if he had known!

He shook himself.  He had nothing to fear.  Even together, these ghosts wouldn't be able to hurt him.  Still.  

But perhaps...  Perhaps he could use this.  Yes.  The ghosts circling angrily around the hospital were out for blood, yes, but the blood of the ones responsible for Daniel's injury.  Not Vlad's.  Well, as it so happened, Vlad had a bone to pick with the perpetrator himself, and he doubtless had more information than the pathetic specters outside.  

A thin smile spread across his face.