AS: Au Du Phantom prt3

Au Du Phantom
Part 3
The most fetching scent since ghost nip!

The older halfa found himself traveling down memory lane at the location he and his team had been placed in charge. It was the old kid's baseball field he'd played at when he was young with his dad. It also was the location of many ghost fights he experienced as a teen. If one didn't believe that the scorch marks on the dugout, and various random areas of the field that needed fixing would speak volumes of proof. None were that visible anymore, but to his sharp eyes, everything threw him into a flashback. Danny smiled fondly remembering other things from his teen years besides these. He wouldn't admit it, but after his experience he'd grown to have warm memories of many of his adventures.

He sighed hard to believe how old he was now. He wasn't that young anymore. Noticing his middle daughter approaching him with her matching eyes fixed on his own sky blue the senior ghost hero raised an eyebrow. "What's up Jenny?"

"We're nearly done with the second half of the field…" She said firmly with a mature expression that didn't fit her age. The young Fenton had self-appointed herself co-captain and Danny couldn't argue with the results she was a natural leader to her own right. It was only her age that kept her from being in charge of her own group. "Should we move on to the next area soon?"

"I think that will work out alright. Although all that's left to do is the area the others are at." He motioned to the second half of the team.

Jennifer nodded and guided her group over to the rest of the teammates.

Some of the members he knew from Adrian's birthday Paige Lewis, and Hector Morale (who for some reason glared at him whenever they made eye contact). The rest he knew only vaguely beside his nephew, Benjamin. The seven-year-old red head was focused and showing his efficiency in his work. Benjamin usually projected a sense of dimness, but he had a feeling the boy was sharper than he let on. At random times the boy showed bursts of intellect, yet unlike his mother Danny's sister, he did not broadcast this ability.

The halfa's thoughts once again drifted down memory lane as he used a rake to gather leaves together that had drifted onto the field. Danny didn't know exactly why he was feeling so nostalgic right now, but it was nice to think about the past experiences. A chill filled the air as he worked catching the halfa off guard and making him shiver in the process. Quickly he realized it wasn't coming from the air but directly from his body as a wisp of light blue escaped his mouth the halfa's suspicions were confirmed.

Swifter than anyone could think possible a light broke out and in place of Danny Fenton was Danny Phantom his group stopped their work to stare up at the sky at the superhero who'd ascended. But Danny didn't even notice their gaze for his attention was focused on a green and silver dot that was presently getting bigger and bigger. All too soon Phantom hit impact with a rush of metal and barely had enough time to push back to keep himself from being driven into the ground.

"What do you want Skulker?" He snarled, glaring up at Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter.

Skulker just smirked in response with his arms crossed over his chest. "Oh, wouldn't you like to know Ghost Child." He glanced about taking in a full view of potential victims before a grin broke out on his face. "I see one of your spawn is here with you today. How nice to finally that finally meet the child."

"You stay away from her!" Danny growled as his hand begun to glow with green ectoplasm. The halfa could only assume that the ghost was after his daughter. She was the only one who hadn't experienced the firsthand of being captured by the crafty hunter.

Out of nowhere a sickening tune filled the air only for a very visible note to fly at his head. He'd barely had time to duck before it hit the grass exploding. The spectators withdrew rapidly and with the help of Jennifer made it into the dugout where they'd be safely out of firing range.

"I should have known your girlfriend would be along soon. She's always fighting your battles for you…" Danny smirked making a fist.

"For your information Dipstick." Came the now visible voice of the flaming blue hair green eyed ghost as she made her appearance floating nearby with her guitar ready. "We aren't here for your kid or any of your delightful family for that matter. That's not the tune we're strumming to right now…" She hit a power cord of her guitar blasting the halfa dead on with sound waves making him stumble.

Skulker nodded. "She's right you know. We're after a much bigger trophy today."

Even if they claimed not to be after his child Danny wasn't about to let his guard down. "Oh, and what is that more ghost weapons for you to hide behind 'cause of your tiny form? Or how about more songs for your girlfriend…" Glancing at Ember he added. "Seriously do you always play the same tunes? I've heard them over and over since I was a teenager."

Danny bringing up their identifiable weaknesses of the two ghosts eyes caused them to glow brightly with fury. Skulker glanced to Ember. "I think we should make a pit stop before we head out." He wanted to have a go at the cocky halfa with his weapons. He had a few in his arsenal he was just dying to test.

"No can do Skulkie baby that would lead to the others getting to the newborn before us," Ember said with a shake of his head. She clenched her free hand into a fist. "I'm not about to let them get first dibs on that sweet prize!"

With a sigh, Skulker nodded not wanting to deal with another argument with his girlfriend. "Fine then let's get this over with." He onlined his arm cannon hitting the ghost boy dead on.

But hybrid caught the attack in his hands stopping it in midair and throwing it back all his might at the ghosts. "What are you guys talking about?"

Ember strummed her guitar in an individual note bringing up a shield of pink energy to the halfa's attack. They both raised an eyebrow at the senior ghost hero.

"You mean you haven't heard the news?" Ember asked sounding undeniably surprised.

Skulker remained quiet, but his expression was enough words to show how stunned he was.

Now the halfa was frustrated. "I haven't exactly been subscribing the Ghost's Digest lately." He said sarcastically.

"Well, I suppose it won't matter to tell you," Skulker said with a shrug. "It's not like you can benefit from it only ghosts who have died completely get this kind of chance. For your information Phantom, an abandoned newborn is roaming Amity Park…"

"And every ghost is after him," Ember added with a smirk.

Danny Phantom's eyes widened at this statement as he stared from one ghost to the next. The two were perplexed by his actions for some reason this wasn't the type of expression they expected to find from their old enemy.

Rapidly the halfa's eyes begun glowing brightly in a threating tone of neon green. "Not if I have anything to say about it." He stated coldly drawing confused looks from the ghosts.

"Why should you care? It's only a mere ghost not one of those frail mortals you protect."

Phantom did not respond and instead without another word the senior ghost hero drew out a huge ball of ectoplasm and threw it with deadly accuracy at the two ghosts.
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There was only so much of her twin Alicia could take before she was ready to explode. Her brother Jonathan Foley who was only older by a few minutes had been pronounced one of the team captains of the city cleanup. This merit didn't come as much of surprise to Adrian's best friend she'd been expecting his skills and title as Class President to lead to this. Though they looked much alike with the same doe eyes, curly dark chestnut hair although his was shorter, and chocolate brown skin they were very different from each other.

While everyone clung to every word of Jonathan's speeches and agreed on most everything, he said regardless if he was right. Alicia rarely drew in such reactions. Honestly, she loved her brother but the fact he was currently outranking her as team captain didn't make her all that much happy. That and Malcolm Daryl had been assigned to the same group as her, and he continued to try flirting with her despite her constant rejections. Oh well, at least she knew Hugo was on her side. Although for the life of her she couldn't understand the hostile glances he threw at Malcolm.

She really wished Adrian was here even with his sour moods from time to time she'd welcome them over her brother or the A-List pretty boy. It was mystery to her why for once Alicia had been separated from her best friend. She did really like Hugo but when the trio was together things were so much more balanced. Speaking of the parta she still had to figure out where exactly and exactly how she could help Adrian mask his powers. He needed some remedy, but she didn't remembered her mother Valerie or her father Tucker going over any gadget that could accomplish such a thing in the many teachings she endured.

Still, there was no way she wanted to stay here with Jonathan, not while he was in a position of power. Another bright side would be getting away from Malcolm. So she made up her mind and slipped away after her twin had finished assigning everyone their tasks. It had been a pure luck to think that their assigned location wasn't far from her house. One opportunity she wasn't about to let go to waste.

Spotting the bright green and white mansion with gold trim, the second largest on its block, and always had an immaculate appearance to it. She knew her home anywhere with a garden in front and large iron fence surrounding it. Though most of it was just for appearance's sake, neither of her parents were into gardening although Riley seemed to have a particular fondness for it. Either way, although it spoke volumes of the Foley's title their place didn't even begin to compare to the other wealthy families in the neighborhood that had a lot to do with her parents' quaint beginnings. The outside said nothing about the backyard or the inside of the mansion which is equipped with the latest technology.

Alicia made her way to the entrance but before she even had a chance to open the door to enter the family butler was already doing so. He was a tall, dark-haired man in his late fifties which was only noticeable by the splotches of gray in his hair. He had a rather mysterious vacant look to his sharp cobalt eyes that seemed to stare right through her almost as he was a robot or zombie. Anyone else would be intimidated by the creepy butler of Foley Manor but not Alicia she'd known him since she was young. Though he tried to hide it underneath a cold exterior, he did have a soft spot which she'd seen on rare occasions.

That was not so today, though. He stared at her for a long moment with his eyes before letting out a rather loud snort. "Miss Foley, whatever are you doing home at this hour? Is not the annual city cleanup today? Are you not required to attend?"

"Hi, Wesley." She chirped with a bright grin. "Don't worry I'm going back I just had to come home and pick up some things for Jonathan." Alicia lied smoothly not breaking her cheerful exterior. She wasn't about to let the family's nosy butler know what she was up to regardless if she cared about the big guy. "I'll be upstairs, and I wish not to be disturbed for the next half hour."

Eyeing her for a long moment the butler Wesley finally nodded. "Oh, very well Miss. Shall I ask the cook to prepare something for you to take back to young Mr. Foley for his lunch?"

She nodded with a grateful smile. "That would be great." Alicia herself was getting a bit hungry thanks to her fast metabolism that oddly enough her brother didn't get. But she also saw the chance to keep her sharp housekeeper more or less occupied she didn't want her parents finding out about this and drawing up conclusions. For Adrian's sake, everything had to remain under wraps. Alicia took a deep breath she headed towards the room where she was sure to find answers. It was also where she'd been forbidden from trespassing, her mother Valerie's office.
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He was finally alone... At last, he had some time to himself.

Adrian was pleased with how things turned out, despite the fact that he was currently stuck in ghost mode (he wasn't even going to attempt exhausting his energy to change back). Once he set the others up at the food court for their free complimentary lunches he went off on his own. He'd politely rejected their offer to eat with them. It's not like he had to eat right now he'd found when he was ghost mode he could go hours without eating a single thing. So he'd escaped their chattering to have some time to himself.

Being an introvert, he desperately needed to clear his thoughts and relax this wasn't possible among that social group. He found a bench alone by the mall fountain.  Adrian slipped on his earphones and took a seat allowing his mind envelope in the hard-edged rock and roll he so enjoyed. The loud strumming filled his mind to a point where he slipped into his thoughts and away from the outside world. He didn't hear the shouting, nor the hustle and bustle of the shoppers as they frantically moved about.

Instead, all he heard was music. Adrian withdrew his notebook from his backpack and did what calmed him the most, writing.

Closing in on time
Is that rhyme
That never breaks

The parta did not hear the screaming, nor the yelling as people scrambled around. Only pounding of the drums filled his mind, he listened to the lyrics and continued onward into his poem.

No matter how much it quakes
The void is filled
So far that it spills

Cold slowly crept into the air the poet shivered slightly but continued to write.

With endless voices
Calling out with Choices
What is right and wrong this time

A crashing could be heard in the distance, but he was dead to the world around him drowned out in his thoughts and the words he was writing. He barely paid attention even to the loud rock that was ringing in his ears.

Are there crimes
What wakes
In the breaks…

Then it happened his thoughts were broken by a burning that slowly filled his lungs. He clenched his teeth as it evaporated what cold made him a parta. As the heat rose, he started to feel an increasing humidity in his chest. Soon he couldn't take it anymore and opened his mouth to let out the steam. In an instant, he saw a long wisp of bright orange air burst from within in a sudden flash. Adrian's eyes widened, never before had his ghost sense been this violent.

Before he could move a blast of ectoplasm hit the ground only inches away from his head, he scrambled to his feet stuffing his earphones and notebook quickly in his bag. Ducking another shot that came at him from some direction he'd yet to see the culprit. Adrian retrieved the Fenton Wrist Ray from his bag strapping it on his arm. He was about to get the thermos when a nearby ghost ray hit it out of his hands lightly scathing his skin the process. He let out a yelp grasping his hand as pain throbbed on the raw skin.

Frantically Adrian searched for the thermos it was the best weapon he had to use against his attackers. The parta's eyes widened when he found it. His trusty device was in the middle of the fountain, and from the looks of it, it a hole had been burned through it somehow. 

"Well, that's no good."

His instincts kicked in as a green ghost came at him blasting ectoplasm in all directions. He had little time to duck and roll out of the way. Then he retaliated with his Fenton Wrist Ray driving the spirit back. The parta only took one moment to assess the situation, and he found his position grim.

There was not one, but at least three dozen ghosts of various shapes and sizes were floating about the area. Thankfully not all of them had noticed him yet. But a good portion of them were enemies of his halfa father. Adrian let out a quiet curse. He needed to find a way out of the mall fast. This building was a closed area it would be much easier evade the ghost in the open. But right now it appeared he was trapped.

"But they might not be looking for me." Adrian said to trying to reassure himself. "They could very well just be here to haunt the mall alone. I'm probably just some bystander to them." Then the memory of Lilith's words echoed through his mind '. All of them are looking for him now.' It couldn't be true but that could be the only reason they were all after him.

A harsh light hit him dead on causing him to have to shield his face from the spotlight as nearly every light in the vicinity directed towards him. A cackling voice that could only be Technus rung out through the air, "Ah ha I, Technus have found him! The newborn is all mine!"

Adrian's eyes tinted to a bright yellow in irritation despite the impending threat. "I AM NOT A NEWBORN!" He proceeded to hit the ghost with an artificial ray of energy causing the electric specter to lose control of the lights.

But in the process, all the spirits turned their attention in his direction. "Shoot!" Adrian grumbled to himself suddenly feeling very small. He hesitated for only a split second then took off in a sprint leaving his backpack under the bench. The gear inside was one of his only source of beating the ghosts in the fountain.

He heard echoing voices as he ran towards the only place that seemed to be ghost free, the upper story food court.


"There he is."

"Me first."

"I get him!"

"No me!!"

"Quick he's heading up there."

So many more voices were speaking but Adrian couldn't process them all while scrambling up the stairs towards the second story food court. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

"You didn't get your lunch did you, young man? Well, we can't have that." Many piles of meat assaulted him as soon as he made it up the second story. The Lunch Lady Ghost was grinning wickedly as she sent random meat zombies after him.

"Snap it." He cursed under his breath. The young parta should have known better than to head in the direction where a ghost's obsession could be used against him. Lunch Lady had obviously used the meat in the food court to create her army. He ducked grabs here and there and managed to use his wrist ray to deflect most of the masses since they weren't powerful creatures they evaporated on contact.

Managing to get away from the meat minions Adrian didn't notice the way he was going and headed right into the arms of the shadow ghost Spectra. He shivered on contact, like Johnny 13's shadow he feared the former psychiatrist when she took on this form. "I can feel your emotional turmoil and energy." She cackled. "It's so pure! Give it to me!"

The parta quivered feeling his body begin to glow yellow with her touch. But having experienced this all too often, he managed to endure the weakened state and squeeze out of her arms. Adrian aimed and hit the ghost with a ray of energy driving her further back. Once free, he spoke dryly. "Sorry but my mom always told me to stay away from strangers especially goes for those that are strange."

"You brat how dare you harm my flawless skin!" Spectra cried out mounting on the back of the green mountain lion Bertrand she charged at him again.

Adrian raised an eyebrow as he hit a nearby nameless ghost with his ray. "Have you looked in a mirror lately by any chance?" he asked dryly. "I think we have different definitions on who's the beauty and the beast."

Vibrations echoed around the building causing the halfa to have to cover his ears in the process. The wave of sound shattered the nearby glass windows and the first ghosts Adrian had ever encountered entered the room.

"Great should have known you'd be along soon." Adrian said rolling his eyes.

"What did I tell ya Skulkie baby it seems they've started without us!" Ember said eyeing the now paused group of ghosts.

Skulker evaluated the circumstances. "Well, it doesn't appear they're doing any better at caging the child." He grinned withdrawing a large gun out of his arsenal. "Time to get things done."

Though Adrian wasn't really afraid of them, he knew what the two were capable of. Caution was best in this scenario. He paused to assess the situation and noticed a nearby entrance to the roof. It was for personnel only, but he had a feeling it wouldn't matter. He quickly made a run for it phasing through the door and heading up the stairs.

None of the ghosts noticed his exit yet. They were all too busy getting reprimanded hard by Ember who didn't waste time using her guitar to make her superiority known with her sound.

After Skulker had his weapon set properly, he finally turned back to the boy. "Now we shall…" he stopped in midsentence drawing everyone's attention to the area. "He's escaping. After him!" He cried. He and Ember led the way towards the last spot they'd seen the newborn it. It didn't take long for Skulker to pick up his energy signature and they all headed up above towards the roof top.

Adrian could feel his body sweating up a storm as he reached the top of the staircase. The trip had been over at least three flights of stairs. It had not been easy. Exhaustion was setting in from the small extraction Spectra had performed on him, his body shuddered with the discomfort. He didn't have the strength to use his powers properly so instead he opened the last door and found himself on the rooftop of the Amity Park Mall.

"Now what?" Adrian asked himself with a groan. He wasn't about to surrender to the ghosts. With every last bit of energy, he had left he took off in a jog towards the end of the roof hoping there was some way down from there.

It didn't take long for the ghosts to make their appearance phasing through the roof. They looked around till they spotted their quarry. All of them drew closer to the boy, but oddly enough they maintained a respectful distance. It might have something to do with how close Adrian was to the edge.

"Now, now there is no need to be hasty." Said the Lunch Lady Ghost in her motherly tone.

Skulker the Hunter charged up his weapon aiming it at the boy. "All we want is your excess energy. You should have more than enough to spare child."

"So give it to us!" Spectra said with a hiss then adjusted her expression to a pleasant smile. "And we'll leave you alone."

"Knowing how greedy ghosts are somehow I doubt that." Adrian replied dryly. So they wanted his energy well that made sense, after all, that's all the others ever got in his encounters. But why exactly? It still was a puzzle to him. Walking closer to the edge, he nearly lost his balance finding that he was at the roofs tip.

"End of the line Baby Pop," Ember exclaimed as she begun tuning her guitar to capture the misfit newborn.

It did seem that way from what Adrian could tell even if he did fight back they'd eventually overpower him, and all exits were blocked. 'Unless…' his eyes glimpsed a flash of rusty metal and he saw a fire escape built into the side of the building. It was a good distance away from him but if he could manage he just might make it.

"Come on child there is no need to cause unnecessary harm to yourself." Coaxed Technus treating him like a little kid, this was beginning to irk him really.

Adrian had a choice either die at the hands of these ghosts or make an effort to reach that fire escape and by some miracle get himself down to the ground where he'd at least be able to make a run for it. There wasn't any question in this. Turning abruptly, he vaulted off the roof towards the metal railing that was at least a ten-foot drop below this startled the ghosts, and they didn't have time to latch onto him.

As gravity took over the parta found his body rushing towards the fire escape. His aim was close, but he'd make it he surmised. A stray beam of energy coming from a random ghost hit him hard pushing him away from his intended destination and he missed it by a few inches. He could see the cement closing in. Either he'd die from this crash or he'd be in serious injury.

"Nice job." Came a sarcastic voice of Spectra he could hear through the wind. "Now he's going to go splat like a pancake on the road. Idiots, you know newborns can't fly."

Air rushed through Adrian's lungs causing him to gasp with the feeling. Then he felt it an almost magnet repelling his body from the ground. The young parta stared down finding his body was mere inches from the road. He hadn't crashed… he was… floating. Despite the fact, there was danger above the parta was mystified. Instead of making impact another power kicked in. He was now drifting above and slowly gaining altitude as his body adjusted to the change.

This feeling he remembered it somewhat from the various time he'd flown with his father but now that he was the one in the driver's seat it was so much more. It was like the air had a surface, and he was able to grasp onto it. His body was completely weightless defying the laws of gravity but not of ghost kind. He struggled a little to retain balance but for the most part stayed still enough that he remained upright.

On the rooftop, the ghosts were watching absolutely stunned.

"This isn't supposed to happen. Newborns gain that power after they reached stage 2 and not before. He's obviously at stage 1 so what gives?" asked Ember to the others.

All of them shrugged in unison. They had yet to see a newborn do this so soon.

"This natural ghost is truly a unique specimen!" Technus surmised.

That just made them look at each other with much more hostility and more hunger was in their gaze. They began approaching more cautiously now not knowing what else their quarry was capable of doing.

Adrian noticed their approach and panicked slightly. He'd been floating about in one spot completely forgetting about the enemy. Not wise at all.

"Focus…" He said to himself. "You need to get away from them not go towards them. Maybe I could try flying?"

Though he didn't know exactly how to do it he assumed it would be somewhat like when his father used to take him for flights. Trying to access his memories he thought carefully on how his father flew.

Flexing his muscles, he pushed in the air, and found it responded though he was a bit wobbly in the process. As he gained grip pushing himself forward, he propelled his arms in front of him. Gaining momentum, he found his new powers responding more readily than his last, projecting him forward in a slightly out of control flight pattern. Adrian felt like he was on a roller coaster his body responding in loop dee loops and flipping upside down. Well at least he was going forward.

Clouds caressed his face as he moved. The wind tickled his senses as he took in a full view of Amity Park from his location. He hadn't been in the sky for so long, and things looked so much different now that he was a teenager. It was just so breathtaking. Regardless of how he seemed to move in spazzy out of control way, he had to admit of all the powers he acquired so far flying was quickly becoming his favorite.

With his out-control movements and a burst of incredible speed he soon lost sight of the ghosts managing to evade them for a moment. Adrian glanced back breathing in a sigh of relief only to smash smack dab into something. This crash threw him back in the air and stopping his flight pattern. He lost control of his powers and found himself hurtling towards the ground below. Pushing and pulling he tried to grab at the air finally he managed to get a firm grip and begin floating again.

He squinted his eyes trying to find what hit him almost to once again lose control of his floating only to regain it again quickly. There above him looking more intimidating than ever before was Danny Phantom, his father.

'I am so screwed.'
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The halfa eyed the strange ghost that had run into him suspiciously for a moment until his senses picked up the pure energy surrounding the boy. He stared at the ghost in surprise. No this couldn't be the newborn all of them were after? 'Anyone with half a mind would see he is way too old to be that.' He thought, but the energy signature was evidence enough of the boy's origins.

Danny Phantom took a deep breath knowing he'd sort through questions later. "So…" he began drawing the ghost whose eyes were oddly shaded by a pair of sunglasses to gaze straight at him. "You're the newborn?"

It took a moment for the boy spoke although there a snarl in his echoing voice that sounded almost familiar. "You know I'm getting really sick of hearing that. Either way, it's old news da-dude I hear that a lot now. Nice to meet you, but I really need to get going so-"

This wasn't good. He did not like the idea of losing sight of the boy not when he was in danger. He began to glow, and the young ghost slightly bulked as he created duplicates. They quickly surrounded the newborn blocking the kid's path. "No stop moving and listen to me for a second!" Danny said firmly.

"Why should I?" The young ghost glared in his direction.

The senior ghost hero couldn't understand the outright hostility and didn't know how much more patience he had left for this newborn. Taking a deep breath, he spoke carefully. "Because I may be the only one who will actually help you."

Blinking the young one stared at him. "What do you mean?"

"You're in danger right now kid."

The newborn snorted. "So I've gathered from the endless mobs that's nothing new."

"Do you know why they are after you?"

That made him pause and the newborn stared at him straight on. "Maybe… Kind of… No."

Oh boy, this was going to be fun explaining. "Well you've probably realized you're a naturally born ghost," He received a brief nod and continued. "because of this unlike other types of spirits you're born with an enormous amount of pure energy. More than an average specter. Having excess energy is important when you're young, but there is a sacrifice involved." Danny added grimly as spoke. "You don't have a thick protective shield to keep you safe. So ghosts have the chance to access your energy."

There was a long pause as the newborn tried to process all his words. "How do you know all this…"

"Let's just say it was required curriculum for members of the Council of Ghosts and leave it at that." The halfa replied remembering the countless tomes knowledge and lectures that he had to learn from before they accepted him into the council.

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It just had to be his father he bumped into, Adrian didn't know whether to be hurt or relieved that he hadn't recognized him. 'Mom's right he is pretty clueless.' Then again it had been the same for Danny and his own parents maybe it was the change in uniform or something else? For whatever reason, that halfa hadn't realized this newborn happened to be his son.

As he listened to Danny's explanation for boxing him in he was surprised with what the halfa wanted. Adrian could not believe what he was learning. Though the strangest part had to be that it was coming from his father, who unlike his mother didn't often break out in lectures. But it made a lot of sense when he figured it all out. Soon conclusion drew in his mind, and his eyes widened. "So that means my energy signal is distinct. So, it attracts ghosts to me easily?"

His father smiled slightly with a nod of his head. "You're pretty smart for a newborn."

"You have no idea," he muttered under his breath. "So they want it for themselves?"

"Exactly it's not safe for a newborn to be wandering while your protective shield is weak. You're basically a sitting duck."

"I disagree."

"Well in the long run you are. Newborn energy is a precious commodity and as such your parent is supposed to keep safe until you're out of your first stage. The ghosts feed off of that pure energy if you don't have your parents around to protect you you're going to lose all your energy. That or they could simply suck away half of your soul."

Adrian stayed quiet for a moment trying to assess all of his words and make sense of them. He sighed knowing as much as it pained him his father understood the life of ghosts better than he did. "Well, my parents are gone… I've been alone…"

The halfa takes on a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry to hear that…"

Sweat started appearing on Adrian brow and heat built up in his throat he had barely enough time cover his mouth before his ghost sense activated. Alerting both of them to the oncoming ghosts who were mere inches away.

Danny surprised him by pushing the boy back behind him. "Go." He said firmly eyeing the ghosts. "It's you they're after, I'll keep them busy. Find a Foley or a Fenton and get them to help you get back into the Ghost Zone. There you should be able to find Clockwork…"

"What can he…"

"NO MORE QUESTIONS GO!" With that, Danny started hitting the ghosts with ectoplasm to keep them back.

Adrian hesitated for a moment before allowing his body once more to push forward. Soon he was off like a bullet barely able to control his course as he gained altitude. He still couldn't believe Danny was helping him. Why exactly? He obviously didn't know who he was so why go through so much effort for one newborn.

He shook his head clearing his thoughts he couldn't focus on that right now he needed to follow his father's instructions. "Fine dad I'll find a Foley, but there is no way I'm going to the Ghost Zone." Adrian said firmly when he was out of earshot. He couldn't do that. Not only was he a newborn he was also a parta and probably had more excess energy than an average newborn.  "It would be like blood in the water I'd soon get caught in a feeding frenzy. I need to find Alicia fast."

He was so busy looking below that didn't notice what was above him until he saw a reptilian shadow shrouding his search. The young parta didn't look up fast enough before a set of talons swiped at him directly in the face causing him to fall. Adrian managed to gain altitude again and begin floating once more.

As he tried to move to face his attacker a set of wrappings that smelled much like death encircled his body tightly. He found himself flung through the air this time he didn't miss hitting a nearby tree smack in the face. His shades shattered directly in an instant completely causing him to yelp in agony. Resulting in cracked sunglasses which now showed his glowing yellow eyes and green ecto blood bleeding from a large cut on his forehead.

Cackles reached his ears from where he laid, but he couldn't find the strength to stand up.

"What did I tell you? We leave him to the others and strike once he is alone."

"You were right, and now he's all ours!"

He squinted his eyes catching a glimpse with his blurry vision of what appeared to be a giant lizard, and mummy. The parta once again tried to sit up but his energy was quickly depleting from the loss of blood, and the lack of water to rehydrate his body. Adrian fought against his body as it tried to shut down, but he couldn't stop his eyes from closing with exhaustion.

A tingle rushed through his body at last moment, and he transformed into his human half right in front of his enemy.

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To Be Continued in Part 4 of
Au Du Phantom