Mutated Ectoplasm

This one went longer than I planned it to, but I guess that's not a problem for any of you. A lot more world building this time around, along with setting up future players. Hopefully you'll all enjoy.

Also, I have an idea you can all pounce on at the end of the chapter.

See you all at the end of the chapter!

Karkat figured that he fucked up. Going into a ghost fight without backup usually wasn't the wisest move, but considering they were drunk, he (technically) had the element of surprise, and they didn't seem to have a wide array of powers, he figured things would be fine.

The addition of a literal shadowy entity was unexpected. At least he knew better for the rematch.

Karkat was able to pilfer what they left behind in the alleyway before eventually heading back to school to inform Eridan of what happened. He was allowed to go home afterward, which he took as an opportunity to not only update Aradia and Sollux, but to call up Horuss after he found a particular bag amongst the ghost couple's belongings.

It didn't take long for the goggled young man to slip through the portal, greeted with a slightly battered Karkat sorting through random objects.

"Is something going on, Mr. Vantas?" Horuss noticed a few bruises lining had formed on Karkat, causing him to worry. "Did another ghost show up?"

"Two of them. Apparently the trend is pairs right now and I'm really hoping that stops soon." Karkat winced after shifting too much, the fight still fresh to him. "You brought some ectoplasm to heal me, right?"

"Yes, of course. I'd suggest you start hoarding some soon if this trend continues." Horuss handed the boy a flask, which the halfa immediately drank. "Other than that, why did you call me here? I'm not usually the first person you would ask for when something like this happens."

"I want you to look over this stuff I was able to get off the ghosts." Karkat shifted the contents of the bag to Horuss, waving at them weirdly. "I was trying to figure out if it was something important, but it looks like random junk to me. Maybe you could use it to help me track them down?"

Horuss raised an eyebrow at the request, though he did give a once over to the items strewn across the table. "These certainly don't look valuable."

And they didn't. Most of the stuff Karkat had found looked like cheap accessories or trinkets you'd find in someone's junk drawer. Lapels or buttons to put on jackets, generic necklaces with cheap stuff grafted onto it, and sunglasses you'd find in any random gas station. The only reason he didn't throw it away was because he figured Horuss might find a way to use it.

The ghost himself didn't seem to expect much, grabbing a random item and adjusting his goggles. A few clicks later and some careful observation later, the boy paused, apparently finding some something.

"That's odd." Horuss mumbled, looking at the lapel he'd picked out closer, lips quirked into a frown.

"What's odd?" Karkat raised an eyebrow as the ghost put the lapel down, grabbing a button next. "Is there something wrong with it? It ain't contaminated, is it?"

"No, but there's something about them that's, frankly, very familiar." Zahhak put down the button, favoring a necklace next. He got closer to it, concentrating fully on analyzing them. "I highly doubt I'll be able to track them, but can you please tell me about them?"

"They looked like one of those stereotypical biker couples, honestly. I don't think they're from the Ghost Zone." Karkat shrugged, thinking of everything he could use to describe them. "One or both of them can apparently control some kind of shadow creature? They called it Shadow. They were even something to disguise themselves into humans too. Aranea recognized them too-"