IRON PHANTOM

BY CRIMSONSPARTAN

A DANNY PHANTOM/IRONMAN CROSSOVER

It was another typical day in Anthony Stark's California mansion, with secretary Virginia "Pepper" Potts reading him the riot act for making such a huge mess in his garage/workshop and not cleaning it up. And of course, Tony was purposefully ignoring her. Finally, when the millionaire headed upstairs to get some coffee...Pepper uttered the one wish that she had kept locked away in the deep depths of her heart... "I wish that Tony knew how hard it is to take care of someone!"

Fortunately for the ginger-haired secretary, a certain wish-granting Ghost called Desiree happened to be around when the wish had been spoken. Upon hearing Pepper, the ghostly genie's hands began to glow with her power. But then, she realized that this was a wish that she would need help granting. Swiftly, Desiree opened a portal to the Ghost Zone and sprang through it.

In the Ghost Zone, a great clock-tower floated in the more mysterious area of the ancient part of the Ghost Zone. This clock-tower was the home of the wise Clockwork, one of the more ancient denizens of the Ghost Zone. He was also the Master of Time, for he knew what was going to happen to someone before it even happened.

1

"My apologies for interrupting your meditation, Ancient One," said the Wishing Ghost reverently, "But I am in need of your assistance. Someone made a very a very complicated wish...One that I need help granting."

Clockwork turned around to face the Ghostly Gypsy and smiled knowingly at her, saying gently, "Of course I'll help you, Mistress Desiree. All you need to do is to find King Pariah Dark's Keep. You'll find what you need there, but do be careful...For there are many traps in the castle."

A look of confusion made itself apparent on the gypsy Ghost's face.

"Why there?" she wanted to know.

"You'll see...Now hurry, my friend..."

Still looking very puzzled, the ghostly genie took her leave of the Master of Time. She flew through the Ghost Zone until she came to a halt in front of the Ghost King's home. Desiree shuddered at the spooky aura radiating from the Keep and entered. The Wishing Ghost found herself in a great hall where the skeletal soldiers stood in silent formation. At the end of the hall opposite where she hovered, was the legendary Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep.

"So that is where the Ghost King sleeps," she mused aloud as she hurried by. "Amazing that Danny Phantom was able to defeat him."

2

Desiree continued on, passing through many empty halls before she began to wonder if C.W. had made a mistake in sending her here. At that moment, the cry of a child drew her attention. Intrigued, she followed the sound. In a small secluded wing on the east side of the Keep, the gypsy Ghost discovered a nursery. There were three beds set against one wall, while a bookcase and baskets filled with toys filled the other. The wish-granting Ghost peeked in each of the beds until she found the child.

"This is unexpected," Desiree said finally, after a moment of staring at the only child of Pariah Dark.

Shrugging, she scooped the child into her pale-green arms and left the Keep. Desiree sped through a natural portal and placed her bundle by the front door of Stark's house, rang the doorbell three times, then teleported away.

Pepper had been in the study when she heard the doorbell ring. Sighing she rose to her feet and opened the door.

"Huh, that's weird," she said, frowning.

She started to close the door but stopped when she caught sight of the child.

"Oh you poor thing!" she exclaimed sympathetically, "I wonder..."

3

Abruptly, the woman lifted the child into her arms and carried her downstairs to the garage.

"Tony...Guess what? I found a little girl on our doorstep," said Pepper happily.

"Uh-huh what about her?" the weapons designer said, his mind preoccupied with other thoughts.

"We're keeping her," she stated firmly, "And you're going to be the main care-giver."

With that, Pepper placed the child in one of the many convertibles that were parked in the garage and headed back up the stairs.

"SAY WHAT!?" Tony yelled after her, "PEPPER, C'MON!"

"Sir, I'd hate to interrupt your outburst," said Jarvis, the AI that Tony had created to help him with design projects, "But may I recommend some books on how to take care of a child?"

4