The Ghost Zone was itself as usual that day for the most part, except for Skulker. Skulker usually spent beautiful days like this off hunting for the rare and unique, but it wasn't the case. At the moment, he was impatiently pacing back and forth inside of his home on his island. Ember was watching him pace, amused by his impetuous pacing. Technus was sitting on the other side of the room, toying with an old PDA of Tucker's that Skulker still had lying around. Eventually Skulker grunted and turned to Technus. "Technus, where is that camera you made for me?"
"It's off, getting valuable footage of the Ghost Boy, I told you." he said. Ember snickered.
"Skulker's just mad because he got his butt beaten by that unicorn. It was hysterical."
"Be quiet! I did not get beaten!"
"Right, because a one-shot spell that causes your suit to fall to pieces is not being beaten." she responded idly, brushing the strings on her guitar and causing random notes to spill from it. Skulker resisted any form of action towards his girlfriend and turned to Technus.
"What's taking it so long?"
"Relax, it's coming. It's just getting more groovy...ah, what's a hip word for film?" he asked. Both Skulker and Ember gave him a blank stare and he recoiled and continued. "Anyways, it's just getting the juicy stuff you want, Skulker, for your little, ah, revenge scheme."
"If it doesn't return within thirty minutes, I want a refund."
"No can do, Bozo," Technus said, "No refunds. You paid me to tinker a camera for you, which took me a bit of time to add on all the bells and whistles you need. You're lucky I didn't charge you hourly costs for construction."
"Why, you-"
"Hey, Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter, it's back." Ember stated, watching as the miniscule camera flew in through the window. Skulker eagerly looked up and opened his hand as the camera landed on the cool metal surface of his exoskeleton. Technus laughed.
"Well, looks like my work here is done. I'll see ya later, alligator...see? That was hip!" Technus promptly left.
Skulker clicked a button on the back of the camera and out popped a small card. Skulker held out his wrist and pushed a button. A small hatch opened and Skulker placed the card in and closed the hatch. It loaded for a second, and then from the end of the wrist of the exoskeleton the video was projected. They watched from the moment Danny's parents and Twilight Sparkle came in until they left.
He grinned. "Ah. So the Ghost Child has fallen ill...this will make it easy to attack. I say we launch an attack on the unicorn's land. It shall take longer for the ghost child to get there in time, especially in his illness. And then he will be an easy target for capture."
"Yeah, but how are we going to get past the unicorn? She ripped you to pieces literally last time you went." Ember pointed out.
"Easy. Ember, you'll take on the unicorn. You are not wearing an exoskeleton, so you should be able to fight her."
"Let's say she has another spell..."
"Oh, are you afraid?"
Ember's eyes widened and glared at her boyfriend. "Of course not. I'll get her." she said. "I'm never afraid of a stupid purple horse with a horn."
"That's what I thought, dear." Skulker said. "She will be another addition to my wall along with the Ghost Child. She picked the wrong ghost to anger. Let's say we round up a few other stupid ghosts who wouldn't mind some action. It'll make it easier to overpower them."
"Newsflash, Skulker, most ghosts are afraid of the pony world after what happened."
"Yes, but let's get ghosts like the Box Ghost. While not powerful enough to inflict damage, he will cause a distraction. We just find a couple more like him and we're set. To add onto the plan, I've heard rumors of a new portal opened to Equestria. Almost no one except for the Box Ghost have used it, again due to their fear. It leads to a city known as Canterlot. It will be the perfect place to go through and make it to Ponyville to attack."
"Whatever you say, Skulker," Ember said, "I'm bored. I don't care where we go. Let's just get going soon."
"This Saturday." Skulker promised, "If you'll excuse me, I have some recruiting to do..."
Danny did not like the sensation of not being able to go ghost hunting. His nose was stuffy and his head ached. He felt uncomfortable and hot in his bed. A few times already he had to tell his parents to go hunting for the ghosts he sensed while he sat like a sitting duck, cooped up in the house.
Eventually three thirty came, and Twilight arrived, carrying a few textbooks and some homework that his friends brought him to his room. She took a seat next to the bed and lifted up an English worksheet. "First off, we'll work on your English paper. I even have the book you're reading with us! Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck. I read this a month ago because I asked your sister for some human novels, and she gave me this. Wonderful novel, really. Alright, first question: What is Lennie carrying with him in the beginning of the novel and petting as they're walking that George ultimately takes away?"
Danny gave her a blank stare. "Um...a kitten?"
"No. A dead mouse." Twilight frowned. "Alright, we've got some work to do...don't you worry, Danny, I will drill this book into your head and make sure you pass your exams!"
The boy moaned in dismay. This was going to be boring.