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"Tucker, we don't even know if this will work."
"Well we have to try something Sam, I can't stand not knowing where he is!"
Sam sighs and her shoulders slouch in defeat. Her makeup is 3 days old, and she can feel the extra layers of concealer caked underneath her eyes aren't hiding her exhaustion well enough.
Tucker looks no better, with his glasses smudged, and his nearly constant jittery movements.
"I know that Danny said we could trust this Clockwork guy, but I'm not so sure. It's already been three days, and you know that Danny would never willingly be gone for this long".
"Fine, but just know that if we end up summoning Cthulhu, that's on you".
Sam had found an old book in one of their adventures through the ghost zone. It had several interesting rituals and ideas for several different occasions: exorcisms, healing, increasing stamina, and most importantly – summonings.
The book was strange since it appeared to be written in the reader's native language. Tucker says he gets headaches since sometimes the English and Esperanto words in the book "clash" and he can’t decipher the readings, so Sam has been the keeper of the book. She's used a couple of tips in the past to help maintain her greenhouse and garden in shape but not much else.
Nothing as powerful or as serious as this.
As Sam begins to read the rite, and having drawn the necessary symbols into the forest field that sits near the border of Elmerton, her summoning circle begins to glow.
Tucker and Danny have never told Sam this, but whenever she uses the spell book, she changes. The fluidity of her movements when flipping the pages of the books is so unlike their brazen and headstrong friend, it becomes unnerving to watch.
However, this is the first time a spell as strong as this one has been attempted. Not only are Sam’s movements smoothly flipping through the pages of the book, but her eyes have changed. Tucker can no longer see her pupils or the whites in her eyes; in its place is a glowing violet that grows brighter in time with the summoning circle.
Soon enough, something begins to appear out of the ground.
First, appears a ghost Sam and Tucker had only heard through Danny’s stories. The Lord of Time: Clockwork. One more ghost quickly comes through the portal.
Out comes a crown, a familiar head of white hair, blue tinged skin, and the familiar hazmat suit. This was Danny.
Except he looked much smaller…
"You rang?"
Sam feels her heart soar when she sees him. Tucker steps forward and addresses him.
"Danny what happened to you? Where have you been? And why do you look like that?" he asks.
Danny looks puzzled but calmly replies, "My name is Phantom, Prince of the Ghost Zone and the realms which dwell in it. I don't know of any Danny."
Tucker quickly realizes that there's only one reason why Danny would be behaving this way. Sam does as well, and her joy at seeing Danny has turned into unfathomable rage.
Back when Danny defeated Pariah Dark, he explained to Sam, Tucker and Jazz that he would be the next in succession to the throne and become Ghost King.
“They say that there’s a complicated process for it, which includes all memories of my life being wiped out,” Danny had somberly explained to them. However, due to his Halfa status, they are postponing any ghostly royal preparations until he’s a “full-fledged” ghost so to speak. He tried livening up the news by promising, that they’re “...still stuck with me for several more decades”.
Tucker wishes Danny would’ve been right for once on something.
Sam faces the other ghost who came through her summoning. "Clockwork, can we speak for a moment?”
Clockwork’s calm face becomes unreadable, “Of course. Your Highness, would you step away for a moment while I speak to these two?”
The prince quietly nods, rubbing his chest while floating away towards a tree not too far off. As soon as he’s well out of earshot, Sam whips around and hisses at Clockwork.
"That wasn't the deal that Danny told us! He said you couldn't have him until he died. Why would you lie like that!?" Her voice becoming more hysterical the longer she spoke.
"…I am aware that Danny had been missing for three days. However, we only received our king last night." Clockwork's eyes grew somber, "We completed our end of the deal."
Sam’s mind fiills with static; she can feel her heart erratically pounding in her chest. “But…we can restore him and his memories, can’t we? Like, the way he was before?”
Even a fully ghost Danny is better than no Danny at this point.
Clockwork shakes his head, confirming the worst. Their best friend died, no one knows how, and now a stranger is inhabiting his corpse in their presence.
Tucker glares at Clockwork, “What are we supposed to do then? What can I do for him if he doesn’t even remember who we are?” His throat begins to tighten as he pleads, “I just want my friend back!”
At this point, the young ghost approaches and addresses both Sam and Tucker.
“Are you saying you knew me before this form?”
Tucker and Sam both nod, their eyes getting mistier by the moment.
“That would explain what I’m feeling. While I may not remember my time as I was alive, my current form recognizes you as trustworthy. Funny how that works, huh?” He smiles kindly, allowing sharp fangs to peek through.
The prince rubs his chest, “My core feels stronger with you around.” He pauses for a moment, suddenly looking very lost.
“Could you come with me? To my realm I mean. I need to restore my strength so I can become a strong leader, and you would make great allies."
Sam and Tucker winced. Sam’s shoulders are furiously trembling, so Tucker responds for the both of them, “I think you’re going to have to give us some time to think about that offer. We, uh, have commitments here on Earth.”
Clockwork notices the distress on the children’s faces and intervenes, gently reminding the prince that they have to leave to continue preparations for his new role as king.
Before passing through the portal that Sam created, the prince turns around one last time, shooting a big smile and wave back towards them.
Once the portal closed, the forest felt emptier than before.
Finally alone, Sam and Tucker begin to shatter with only the moon and trees as their witnesses.
Sam begins to wail and scream, clutching her book to her chest. Tucker is sobbing uncontrollably, his glasses tossed aside on the forest ground as he grips his shirt as if he could rip his own heart out of his chest.
The pair stay on that cold forest floor until dawn. When the sun begins to rise, Sam and Tucker don’t have any more tears left to shed. The hollow feeling in their chests doesn’t leave.
Without speaking, they both came to the same conclusion: they will find a way to restore their trio again.
Maybe not today, but one day they'll find a way to ensure they won't leave Danny's side again.