I own nothing.

Ghost Writer

You don't think I realize it, do you? I see you across the room, greeting dignitaries from far-off portions of the Zone, smile fixed firmly across your face. You give me a confused glance when you feel my eyes boring into you, don't you? It's your "sixth sense". You're anxious, constantly, and don't think the others notice. Believe me, at least three people here know your secret.

There Clockwork hovers, pleasantly mingling with us lesser beings, sometimes giving you a smile or nod. He trusts you, and so will I, for now. He moves towards you, gives you his greetings, leaves once more. Time duties call.

The Observants aren't here, but how can they not know? They are almost sub masters of time. I see the looks they give you, suspicion, anger. You are a Halfa, after all, a lesser being than even the rest of us.

I hear the introductions, the lies the introductors don't even know they spout.

They say you are Phantom, and if they mention your human alter-ego, they call you Williams. How can they miss so much, be so blind? I feel the urge to tell the world, but it won't do any good, and it probably won't hurt the universe, either. Clockwork would see to that.

I wrote a history book for the Zone, and no doubt you would have pushed against its writing if you knew what they gave me.

The Observants didn't want me to inadvertently lie so they gave me a pen. The pen doesn't let me lie, intentionally or unintentionally. I wonder if they realized I would learn about you.

Telling about the War was simple. We survived it, and I am, after all, the God of Knowledge, essentially. I can recite the facts off the top of my head, even now! It began in 1996, though the storm was brewing long before. That was when it broke loose, when the king of Redrigor made it obvious what his intentions were.

Before, you know, they tried to assassinate multiple crown-holders. That was when the Dragon Queen, Princebane, met you.

You didn't see the Zone's political stage until afterwards, in the second year of the war, when the Jitongi were set loose. You were fresh out of human college, just got your precious job, and you didn't want to give it up. You planned to balance things out.

It worked well enough, you know. You were just finishing up the year for the former teacher, and you didn't expect to be called back later.

So many lives were lost that year, Consumed. You were almost one of them, but you came out stronger, just like the others who survived it. You became one of the war leaders, and you were there the next year, just at the beginning, as the war was won.

You lied to us, told us who you were.

I knew, from the moment I began the War History.

I told the pen who you were, purely accidental. It wouldn't write your name. Mr. Williams-you never were him. I tested, again and again. I came up with your real name, piece by piece. Patience led me to use every sound in the English language.

F-E-N-T-O-N.

That's my answer.

You lied to us all, and if you ever make a wrong move, I'll tell them. I'll tell them what I learned about you late at night.

I used the pen so often. My Obsession is knowledge, and how could I not try to find out?

I know about the memory block.

I know your name.

I know your past.

This isn't the start of a new story precisely. This is a collection of random one-shots and other short stories and scenes from Hidden Phantom. It will only be updated when new material comes to my mind. It will also likely contain short scene suggestions (reader or coauthor or myself) which might be AUs or otherwise outside of Hidden Phantom's range. It may not be entirely consistent with other Hidden Phantom stories, or with VALKA.

Please leave a review to say whether you like it or how you like it. If you are a reader of Hidden Phantom, never fear. It will be updated. In fact, a double chapter is coming up. Originally it was going to be a Christmas or New Year's Day present but time got in the way. However, both chapters are finished and in the editing process now.

-MiaulinK