Work Text:
GLITCHES #1 BLACK HOLES AND SUPERNOVAS
The first Glitch happens about six months after Disasteroid. Danny is three months shy of his 18th birthday.
The many revelations that followed Phantom saving the world made life nearly impossible for The Fenton’s, their friends, and Amity Park by association.
An avalanche of town parades, public appearances, photo-ops with an unending line of celebrities, entertainment stars, corporate and political leaders.
Danny had barely come to terms with the attention before the inevitable backlash occurred. The President had ordered a Senate Committee inquiry into the GIW. Dalv Co was being audited by the IRS. While the FBI and CPS were doing their best to have his parents incarcerated for either illegal weapons manufacturing or child negligence.
The first of many, many, subpoenas issued came from the local office of CPS. Jack and Maddie were shocked. Jazz and Danny, not so much. It seemed inevitable with the details of their homelife being uncovered, maliciously or otherwise, that his parents – well – “parenting” would be called into question.
An uncomfortable month of mediated meetings between CPS agents and the Fenton’s eventually reaches a workable conclusion. Jack and Maddie are ordered to attend Parenting Classes and the entire family is ordered to attend therapy. The decision is probatory and will be reviewed in a year’s time. Danny escapes to Clockwork’s lair the second the family court judge passes adjudication.
***
The skies of the Ghost Zone are a troubling shade of green. Dark, almost black in outer regions less explored and the tones of a stormy ocean across the rest of the Zone. Even the more stable regions of Phantom’s Allies are coloured in the hues of the deepest jungle. Flashes of magenta and neon green lightning crisscross the sky.
Danny has never seen the Ghost Zone like this, even during the Battle with Pariah Dark and his undead army. He feels wary but not endangered. Danny finds the Ghost of Time at the centre of his lair observing a roomful of blank screens. Clockwork seems to be phasing uncontrollably between his three ages before settling upon Child.
There is a sudden burst of colour across the screens. Danny thinks it looks like a nebula image he once saw on the NASA website. “Is it supposed to do that?” Danny asked watching as the tableau returns to Amity Park life and scenes from the Ghost Zone.
“Hmm? Yes. I suppose it is. Assuming you are referring to the after image of a supernova we just witnessed” An Adult Clockwork vaguely waved towards the topmost screens. Images of the expanding nebula played across the screens. It was awe inspiring and terrifying.
“Should I be worried about that?” Danny asked, turning to speak with the Child.
“No. Not for the foreseeable future.” Clockwork answered, before taking his Aged form and adding, “Although, we should have Frostbite educate your parents in Ghost History and Science. And you, Jasmine, Samantha and Tucker should begin your formal lessons in the Zone’s History, Culture, Language and Politics.”
“What! Why do I have to do MORE SCHOOL when I barely pass regular school!” Danny threw his arms up in frustration.
There is a long silence during which Danny looks longingly at the images of space playing across screen and Clockwork studies the young king. He doesn’t yet realise he is watching the expansion of his realms. A coalescence of many timelines into one primary source. The broken fragments of those cosmic forces realigning themselves into something new within the ether of the Infinite Realms.
“Perhaps a chat between Frostbite and Mr Lancer is in order” Clockwork mused. Danny snorted, “You’d have better luck with Sydney as liaison. At least he knows the school layout.”
“Very well,” Clockwork said and teleported Danny back to his bedroom at FentonWorks.
***
Danny celebrates his 18th alongside Sam, Tucker and Jazz taking Court Etiquette Lessons from Princess Dorathea. The only saving grace being the knowledge that his parents are currently with Frostbite treating a patient as part of their Ghost Biology 101.
The patient is a Yeti with an ice-splinter. Similar in size and placement to the one Danny removed from Frostbite the first time they met. There are intermittent shouting and thumping heard throughout their lesson. Dora is not amused. Jack and Maddie return home with many bruises.
Danny feels a small amount of satisfaction at their expense.