Summary: There is something coming to Amity Park. A group of powerful ghosts known only as the Harbringers, a group of ghosts so malicious and powerful that no other ghost dares to cross their path, are coming. With Danny hopelessly outnumbered and not strong enough to fight them all, he must rely upon whatever powers he can find and use to win. Even if it costs him everything. Rated for language and suggestive content.
Danny had always hated mornings. Crawling out of bed was perhaps the hardest thing to do on a school day, but today seemed harder then ever. Maybe it was just the slight headache, maybe it was the foul concoction of food that he had eaten yesterday. Maybe it was both, the trouble wasn't ghost-related, one of the few nights Danny wasn't up late combating the dangers of ghosts. Who knew? But Danny dragged himself out of bed and changed quickly. Unlike his elder sister Jazz, he didn't need to spend much time getting ready. He could fix his hair with a few passes of his hand, a few passes of deodorant, and a quick teeth brush. Ready in five minutes.
Danny sat down at the table. His parents always made huge breakfasts, since they could stay home and eat at their leisure. But he and his sister were on a time budget. He grabbed the quickest thing he could eat, toast and orange juice. Jazz was already ready to go, slipping her car keys into her purse. How could she always be ready in the mornings like that? But that was Jasmine Fenton, perfect in almost every way. Straight A's, popular, the works. And somehow, that gave her the right to be pushy and practically force her younger brother to do better in school. But she didn't have to juggle two lives, she didn't have his problems. And the fact that she talked like she understood everything annoyed him to no end. Sure, she was smart, but all the smarts in the world couldn't prepare her to understand that.
"Danny, are you coming, or do you want to wait for the bus?" She asked, smiling. Danny cocked a sly smile. Waiting for the bus to him actually meant going ghost and flying. Since he was going to Casper High, though, he never really enjoyed the flight, although flight was so common to him now that it didn't really amaze him. Unless he flew with someone. Sam enjoyed a flight every so often. Danny desperately wanted to find a good time to ask Paulina if she wanted to try it. She was obviously not scared of his ghost self, but would she be okay with flying. Of course, any time he spent in his ghost form with Paulina always seemed to make Sam upset. There was no way she could be jealous, though; Sam was not that petty. At least, Danny didn't think she was.
"Alright, I'm coming, hold your horses." He complained. She had always been acting strangely ever since Spectra had attacked. Jazz handled herself like a master. Unafraid and strong, she charged forward and beat Spectra when he could not. She was capable, and she was unafraid, but that didn't mean she could accept Danny as a ghost. After all, she was the one protesting for years about the embarrassment of parents in the ghost-related field. Not that Jack and Maddie Fenton weren't embarrassing, but Jazz, despite her other qualities, was quite intolerant when it came to ghosts.
The car ride to school with Jazz was nice; because it was one of the few times Danny could feel normal. Perhaps it was just coincidence, but no ghost had dared interrupt the sanctuary of the morning car ride. Danny tried to study during the trip, it was one of the few times he could. He had to build up his grades. Although he himself could care less, he wanted to spare himself the tongue lashing from his parents and sister. Jazz turned on a little rock music as she took the only left turn the journey had.
"You've been having a lot of late nights, Danny. What're you doing out so late?" She asked. The old standby, Danny inwardly groaned. She always asked questions like this, which is why the car ride was never perfect. Deflecting questions was almost second fiddle to him now, though. He'd been deflecting them for nine months now after the accident that made him who he was.
"What do people normally do late at night?" He defended
"Smoke pot under the bleachers." Jazz retorted. "Danny, what's going on? You can tell me anything, you know." That phrase had become Jazz's mantra ever since Spectra.
"It's nothing, really. I go hang out at Sam's or Tuck's sometime, and just lose track. Hey, you think we can practice driving later?" He asked. Not that Danny ever needed to drive since he could fly anywhere, but it was a good way to throw Jazz off track. Danny knew better then to ask his parents for lessons after his father insisted he practice in the Fenton RV. That was an hour Danny would have rather forgotten.
"Uhh…sure." She smiled. Danny was positive Jazz knew he wasn't a pothead or anything like that. But now, they would drive in silence. They were mad at each other: Jazz upset that he wouldn't tell her anything, and Danny mad she wouldn't back off. It never lasted longer then the car trip, which was just about over. But it was still frustrating. She never gave him credit.
After dropping Danny off at the door, Jazz moved to park. Again, he blocked her questions. It didn't shock her, but she wanted to be wrong this time. She wanted to be shocked. She wanted Danny to tell her everything. Even if it was just to help cover up the curfew tardiness to the parents, it would be telling her the truth. Why couldn't he understand that she would understand? It just took one step, just one, and he'd know just how much she cared and believed in him. She was one of the few people who believed in him after he became Public Enemy Number One. But he wouldn't, and she couldn't force him like she could force him to study.
After parking, she made it to her locker, where she caught a brief glimpse of Danny. He was chatting it up and laughing with Samantha Mason and Tucker Foley, those two friends of his, as they walked off to the classroom of Mr. Lancer.
"And he can be himself among them, because they know. What do they have I don't?" Jazz wondered to herself. "What could Danny be so afraid of that he can't confide in me? Do I have to fight ghosts non-stop to prove myself?" Jazz ducked into the women's room. The whole place was empty, so Jazz leaned against the door.
"I'd do anything to prove myself, Danny, just give me a chance. I know you think I can't understand, but I do." She sunk to the floor. Danny couldn't see how much she wanted to know, she could not guilt him into telling her.
"Hey, Danny!" A voice called from behind.
"Oh, hey Val." Danny smiled to the dark-skinned lady coming up from behind him.
"Tucker, Sam." She greeted them with less enthusiasm, and the two responded in turn.
"Any new activity?" Danny asked. It wasn't a secret to him that Valerie was a ghost slayer. She had told him after the fight with the Ghost King that she had rescued him and Vlad. She told him that she fought ghosts after Danny Phantom had ruined her life, and that she was being helped by Vlad, who helped her because she was motivated. So she fought ghosts, and did quite well. Of course, Danny knew all of this, but he faked surprise. What was unusual was Valerie asked if that was weird. He didn't think his opinion mattered at all to Valerie. But he told her it was cool, and in fact, she looked awesome in that red costume. That made her smile.
"No, things have been quiet. It's weird; things have never been this quiet. Even that ghost-boy hasn't shown up much." It was weird to hear him referred to in the third person like that. It was funny, actually, but Danny wisely kept his mouth shut.
"Eh, it's probably just a lull. Maybe ghosts have holidays." Danny cracked a cheery smile and Val chuckled. Sam and Tucker, upset at being ignored, left them to stop at the water fountain.
"Just give it time." Danny said. "They can be overprotective far too much. They think you're flaky, like Star." If Sam were there, Danny would have said Paulina to make her happy, but now that she wasn't, Danny wouldn't insult her, even though he knew she was.
"You should watch out for that crowd. They'll use you like a tissue and throw you out." She warned. "Why don't we catch each other later at the Nasty Burger after school? I don't work today."
"I'd love to. I've got to practice driving after school, but I can probably swing by there."
"Driving practice? Not with your wacky parents, I hope."
"No, Jazz."
"Oh, good. It must be nice to have an older sister."
"It's got its disadvantages." Danny was quick to say.
"But it's got its perks." Val replied. Danny silently acknowledged that she was right. It did, especially with parents like he had. But he couldn't admit that. He couldn't admit to anyone that Jazz was more then a bratty sister. Families were always like that.
The Ghost Zone was certainly not a place of buzzing activity. If anything, it was quieter then ever. They knew better then to cause undue noise now, and all of them knew better then to go near Earth now. For there was something coming, a dark presence passing through to reach the human world. Anyone who looked only saw figures draped all in black. Red eyes peered through hoods with such a menacing glare it would cause even ghosts to become frozen with fear and cold. Ember watched from her domain silently. They were not interested in her, or any of the ghosts nearby, unless they got in the way. Any ghost that got in the way was brutally and painfully eliminated.
She didn't need anyone to tell her what was going on. She knew, everyone knew, what was about to happen. As the figures passed, the ghosts knew that another town of people would be in the Ghost Zone as residents soon enough, and made sure to mark their territory. After the beings had departed and territory marked, several of the ghosts gathered nearby where they had passed. Wordlessly, they exchanged glances, which said more then enough. The direction they went was towards the human world, or Amity Park, specifically. Ember sighed when she thought the teens would no longer be around to idolize her, Walker grimaced at the thought that the ghost boy wouldn't be in his prison.
"I am quite confused." Technus, easily the youngest of all the ghosts, stated. "Who were those?"
Desiree, as one of the oldest, simply turned to him.
"Harbringers." She simply said, uttering the word with both reverence and fear. "The Harbringers are going to the ghost boy. Even I wouldn't wish that upon him." The ghosts mumbled amongst themselves. The world would soon be in utter chaos.
