"Heads up Fentony!"
Dash Baxter threw the football aimed for Danny Fenton's head. That was the last thing Danny heard before he felt the football hit its target and found himself falling. Only it wasn't typical falling, he looked up to see Sam and Tucker disappearing as he felt himself go through the sidewalk and further into the ground. He saw nothing as he kept falling, only to feel something strike him in the back and that was the end of that.
"DANNY!" Sam yelled out as her friend fell.
Tucker and Sam both tried shaking Danny's form, but his body refused to move. Dash and Kwan ran back once they heard Sam's scream and grew nervous as they saw Fenton was unresponsive.
"What's going on?" Kwan asked.
"He's not waking up because of you two, that's what!" Sam glared at them, making the two jocks take a step back.
"He's faking it." Dash said unworriedly, but his voice betrayed his own words as he saw the teen not moving despite the shaking of his body.
Sam prodded the back of Danny's head and felt something sticky near the crown. She pulled her hand back and screamed. Blood.
"South Beach Diet People! What's going on?!" Came the voice of Mr. Lancer.
"Help us." Sam practically wailed.
Mr. Lancer saw Danny Fenton in her arms, surrounded by Tucker, Dash and Kwan and what stood out was the blood covering the back of Danny's head.
"Prince and the Pauper! What happened here?"
"He fell down." Dash said, trying cover for himself and Kwan.
"Liar. You hit him in the head with a football you jerk." Tucker practically shouted.
Lancer frowned at Dash and Kwan who glared at Tucker who just glared back. Shocking the jocks with how intensely he was looking at them. The teacher ran over and pulled Danny out of Sam's arms.
"All of you follow me." He looked towards Dash and Kwan. "Now." He said firmly.
Sam, Tucker, Dash and Kwan followed Mr. Lancer to the nurses, while Dash and Kwan meekly followed the teacher to the school building.
Danny clawed at the darkness surrounding him. He finally found the strength to open his eyes. Shaking his head from sudden dizziness, he found himself lying down on a bed. He looked down at himself and saw he was wearing different clothes. A white shirt that had black lines on the end of the head opening, sleeves, and, along with what looked to be dark black baggy pants. Danny frantically looked around to see where he was when he spotted something. Leaning against a wall, was a staff. Curiosity getting the better of him, he got up, grabbed the staff, and examined it. He heard someone clear their voice and turned to see a man. The man watched the teen with focused eyes. He slowly approached Danny and spoke in Japanese. Danny stuttered, walking away, he mutely steered away from the man, backing into the door. He turned and hastily pushed it aside and saw a beautiful view. Beyond the cattails, lush greenery covered the mountains, sparkling lakes below the cliff sides with villages working in the water along the sides of their cattle, and in the village which he was in, was a humble setting; children playing, men bringing in stack of wood, one leading his cow, chickens clucking and others working happily along the side. Danny walked around, perplexed where he was. He turned and saw the same man behind him who kept looking at him with attentive eyes.
"Excuse me, sir. I don't know where I am," The man continued to look at Danny, "I don't know how I got here. I just remember falling. Could you tell me where I am?"
The man was about to speak, but from behind the bamboo, out came two black robed swordsmen. Each held a katana as they stood in striking stance. They moved forward and Danny tried to go ghost only…he couldn't! Danny got scared, but as he watched the men come forward, he knew he was going to have to fight. Danny ran forward as the men came to him and ducked, barely missing the sharp blade that could've gotten his neck. It wasn't long till he found himself on the ground, groaning, he tried to move, and nearly missed the katana coming down near him. He rolled out of the way and tried to get up, only to feel his right leg give out from underneath and he was spun around back to the ground. Danny spat out some blood that worked its way to his mouth and felt fear grab him. He couldn't go ghost and these guys were kicking his butt. What could he do? Was he gonna die?
The man watched Danny fight and he could tell that he would not last long. He saw Danny cry out in pain and hit the ground after he was sliced on the arm. The swordsmen were about to attack again, but instead the man stepped in and delivered a kick in the chest. The other swordsman tried to slice the man's throat, but he calmly shifted to the left, avoiding the blade. Danny rolled over and watched as the two swordsmen lunged at the man. The man ducked his head from both swords twice, using his free hand, he secured his holding on one of the soldier's arms, using him as a shield from the other, whom staggered back and flipped him over and landed on to his back. The other came again, but the man again, using his arm, placed the man in what seemed to be an uncomfortable position and then punched him in the face using his fist. While using some fancy footwork, he managed to pin the first guy to the ground and threw his added weight on top of him. Taking a breath of air, he then shot himself up, avoiding the blade of the other fighter, ducked twice and threw his body to the ground, enabling him to kick the guy right in the chin, sending him backwards onto the ground with the others. The man walked calmly to Danny and spoke in the same language from earlier,
"I don't know what you're saying," The man continued to speak, "I can't understand you."
Danny said slowly, but the man gave him a look and said in English,
"That's because you're not listening!"
Danny was astounded to hear this man go from a foreign language to English in a matter of seconds. He nodded his head and was taken back as the man seized his chin. He looked at Danny directly into his eyes. Danny just stared with a straight face. The man's face softened.
"You are lost. Very far from home."
Before Danny could say anything else, he slightly bent over as hunger pains rumbled in his stomach. He had not eaten anything all day. This got a small chuckle from the man. He gave Danny a small smile and gently put a hand on his shoulder.
"Come with me."
He began to walk off into the crowd. Danny did not know who this man was, but he just saved his life back there, plus he was hungry. Danny quietly followed the man into the market.
Inside a small care takers restaurant, were the sounds of musical instruments being played and beautiful Asian Brunettes dancing, younger men laughing and whistling with excitement. The man led Danny up the stairs to the level above them, where he ordered noodles, cooked meat and vegetables, and tea. Danny happily ate the noodles and dove into the meat. The man smirked watching the boy eat like a starving dog. Danny swallowed a bite and looked at the man,
"I don't know where I am or how I got here and who those guys were that almost killed me, and why my powers would not work-" He slapped a hand over his mouth as he said that, getting a look from the man who looked confused.
"Powers?"
Danny stuttered and looked ready to bolt, but he found the man place a gentle hold on his wrist,
"You have my word as a warrior and teacher that nothing will leave my lips of your 'powers' while I am alive."
This made Danny relax a bit.
"Well, thanks for that. And for what you did back there earlier. Whatever you did was sick."
The man looked at him said, "No. Drunken Fist. Secret Kung-fu of the South. I'm Bai," He stared at Danny as he took another sip of tea, "What land do you come from, monk?"
"I'm not a monk. I'm Danny. Danny Fenton also Danny Phantom, from Amity Park, Ohio."
Haiku stared at him in confusion when the boy said he was also called Danny Phantom. He peered closely at Danny and then said, "You are half spirit I see." Danny's nodded, "and yet you cannot turn into your form here. Everything has a reason for what events have happened."
"What you mean that, me coming to this place has brought me here for a reason, but how do you know my powers aren't working," Whispering the end of his sentence, "What is this? Some kind of crazy dream?"
"No. Where you came from is the dream. Through the Gate of No Gate."
"Is that a parallel universe or something?"
"No, it either means you are a Zen master, or you were brought here to find yourself in order to find what you seek."
Danny looked at him confused and the man pointed to the staff behind him and said, "You carry something important."
"This? But, it's only a staff that I saw next to me when I woke up. What does me ending up here have to do with anything?"
Bai glared at the boy more and said to him, "I see someone who acts like he is in control, but he is only fooling himself."
Danny just stared blankly. However, Haiku could see Danny also had determination and a focused mind. He seemed like he was somewhat incomplete as a person. He saw the boy had a half of him gone and yet one half remained. Like yin without the yang.
"How do I get home?"
"You, must stay till you have found your yourself."
"There is nothing wrong with me. And I don't have time to "find myself. I got to get home."
"Innkeeper, more tea."
"Jeez, don't you think you've had one too many?"
Bai drank the last remains, and then he said to the teen, "Tea is my inspiration. It also good for the body. Eat your vegetables. You need it to rebuild loss of nutrition. Once you finish, we leave for my home."
Danny looked up at him and barely spoke, "I'm coming with you?"
"Yes. You need to work for your right to go home. Before you get reward, you work for it. Now eat."
Doing as he said, Danny slowly ate the vegetables.
Casper High:
Back at Casper High, the nurse was examining Danny. He was unconscious on the cot and his head was wrapped in bandages, blood leaking through the gauze. Sam and Tucker sat outside on the bench, waiting. It had been almost an hour since Lancer brought Danny to the nurse and they had yet to know what happened. Dash and Kwan had been dragged into Lancer's office for a chat and they glared at the two freshmen, promising a painful punishment for ratting them out. However, Sam and Tucker didn't care about the two jock's anger right now. They were worried for Danny. He had gotten hurt before, and taken harder beats from worse than a football to the head, but why was this suddenly so different? Why wasn't he waking up? Lancer opened the door to his office and Dash and Kwan walked subdued out, not before glaring at Sam and Tucker. Both teens just glared back with a lot of infernal rage, making the jocks a tiny bit scared. That didn't mean they were going to show it on their faces though. Mr. Lancer walked over towards Sam and Tucker.
"What's going happen to them?" Sam pointed to Dash and Kwan.
"Both are having detention and are taken off the football team till we know of Daniel's condition."
The door to the nurse's office opened and Sam and Tucker nearly collided with her.
"Is he going to be alright?" Sam asked her.
"We don't know. He's still unconscious and unresponsive. You're saying he took a hit to the head with a football?"
"Yeah thrown by Dash and Kwan." Tucker said.
Mr. Lancer came over, "What's his condition like?"
"He's in pretty rough shape. I've found other injuries on him and if that weren't enough it looks like he hasn't been eating either. I can almost see his ribs."
Everyone looked nervous as they heard this. Sam and Tucker knew he had been cutting back on eating, but they didn't think it was that bad.
"Alright, I need to call young Fenton's parents," He turned to Sam and Tucker, "If you two please could go get his sister-"
"We're on it." Sam said hurriedly and both teens ran off to find Jazz.
Mr. Lancer watched as the two students practically raced down the corridor and turned his head back to the nurse's office.
"I hope you're alright Mr. Fenton. With whatever has happened…" He said as he walked to his office.
At Fenton Works:
Vlad sipped his tea as he played a second game of chess with Jack. For the umpteenth time. It was taking every ounce of control to just not strangle the man sitting across from him, but he kept his cool. He inwardly smirked at what would happen when Daniel came home today to see him in his home. He had great fun planned out for when he saw the boy. However, he also knew that he had other things to worry about, especially with how he let loose a certain ghost king now…
The ringing of the house phone got everyone's attention. Maddie Fenton walked over and held it to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Ah Mrs. Fenton, this is Mr. Lancer."
"What can I do for you Mr. Lancer?"
"I need you and your husband to come down to the school."
"Any particular reason why?"
"It's Daniel, I'm afraid. Something's happened."
"What happened? What's wrong with Danny?"
The mention of Danny got the attention of both Vlad and Jack.
"He was hit in the head and he fell. He hasn't woken up since then. He's set up in the nurse's office."
Maddie gasped over the line and this made Vlad and Jack get up from their spots and rush over to her side.
"Me and Jack will be there as soon as we can. Thank you, Mr. Lancer."
Maddie put the phone on the receiver and frantically searched for her purse.
"Maddie? What's wrong?" Jack asked.
"It's Danny. He got hit in the head and hasn't woken up still."
"Well than we better get to his school." Vlad suggested.
Maddie frowned at him a bit, but nodded her head. "We need to go now."
The two males followed Maddie outside to the RV and began tearing down the road towards Casper High School.
Danny:
By the time they left the restaurant, Bai led Danny to his home. He led him through a trail in the bamboo forest and past a waterfall where the mist of the falls spread in a fog. Danny was amazed. He continued to follow Bai being led across a red painted bridge. While walking over it, Danny saw a beautiful waterfall. The water flowed majestically over the rocks, between the cracks in the rocks beautiful plants that sprouted red flowers. The sight was magical. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard Bai clearing his throat. Danny jumped a little and turned to face Bai, he just stared at the boy and motioned for him to follow. Danny walked past the waterfall and saw Haiku's home, barely hidden behind the lush greenery from the trees in the distance. The weeping willow leaves brushed gently against Danny's shoulder and he felt paranoia creep up. He was always used to having something shoot, jump, or attack him at any time. This place was strange and weird to him. However, he did feel a small connection to this place, he couldn't understand why, but for now, he was focused on where he would be for the time being.
Bai led the boy to the front entrance. With one smooth motion, he put his hand on the door and it slid to the left. Inside were mixtures of light and dark shades of brown. In the middle of the room was a small wooden table consisted of a clay teapot and cups. In the far left corner of the room was a tall lean space, where on the bottom was a ceramic Bengal tiger on display, a single pink blooming flower and a hanging piece of art of tree leaves. In the opposite side of the room, in the right corner was a brown dresser with brass knobs and on top, an incense burner. Two doors were behind the brown table and another set laid next to the back of one of the seating positions from the table. Danny was led through the doors that were from behind the seating position and down a narrow hallway. Bai brought him to a pair of doors and opened them,
"This room is yours."
Danny slowly walked into the room, there were cream colored walls, an incense burner on a small table in the right corner, a painting of a Japanese symbol and two doors that showed two waves preparing to crash. Danny took in his new surroundings and as he turned he was startled to be thrown a small towel.
"You will wash up."
Danny nodded and spoke, "Where?"
"You wash in the lake."
"In the lake?"
Bai turned to him and pointed out. Danny looked at where he was pointing at and saw there was a small lake near one of the outside dragon statues. Danny looked back at the towel and at the lake. He groaned and started to walk outside, throwing the towel over his shoulder.
The lake was clear enough to see the sandy white bottom. There was a weeping willow next to him with a low branch near the water. Danny started to strip down and placed his clothes on the branch with the towel. He stepped into the water and it felt cold, but he took a deep breath and dove in. When he came up, he was shivering. He felt like ignoring Bai's demand of washing up, but he sighed, what else was he going to do? Danny sagged his shoulders and swam around. After "washing up," and getting dressed, he went back inside Haiku's house, where he was them greeted with having Bai stop him,
"It is time to meditate."
Danny just looked at him , Bai calmly explained to him, "You will focus your mind while sitting in silence and relax through breathing exercises… now come."
Danny followed Bai into his room and was ordered to sit with legs crossed on the floor. Danny did as Haiku lit something, he blew out the flame and incense filled the room.
"Now…Close your eyes."
Danny closed his eyes.
"Slowly breathe in and out…inhale…exhale."
Danny breathed in and out and paused when he felt a hand on his arm.
"Now…let all distractions clear your mind. Focus on what you dwell upon the most. Let it fill you and then see it."
Danny took deep breaths and as he let everything out of his head, he felt something filling him. Danny started thinking about his family. He was seeing how badly he treated his sister when she was trying to help him. Soon, his thoughts dwelled on Sam. He remembered that when he fought Ember she hypnotized him with a love spell, but he knew he did have feelings for her. She had been friends with him since they met, and she stayed with him since the day he got into the accident with the portal. He felt stupid for not seeing it earlier. Despite missing his family and friends, he was also nervous about his absence in Amity Park, what was going to happen now that he was no longer there?
Bai opened his eyes when he heard the boy shuddering. He pulled the boy out of his thoughts by tapping his shoulder. Danny gasped, feeling the sweat trickling down his face.
"Are you alright?"
Danny startled looked up at Bai. "I'm OK, just…?"
He didn't know what to say, but then Bai spoke out, "Afraid?"
Danny was about to say 'no' only to realize he couldn't exactly lie to Bai slumped forward and said, "Yes. It's just ever since the accident, and taking up the responsibility of protecting the town, I see myself...different. I'm now used to being hunted down by people. I can't stand up for myself when getting bullied by people at school and now that I can't use my powers here, it makes me feel like half of me is gone, but I don't remember what the other half is that's here with me."
Bai was taking in the boy's words, understanding how the accident had him choose a different path and said to him, "Maybe, it's because you think too hard to be two different people when you are really the same person."
As Danny heard this, he really started to think more about Haiku's words. He was two people, Danny Fenton, who was a typical Casper High freshmen and Danny Phantom, a crime fighter who protect Amity Park. Then again, was he trying too hard to be both of those persons when he really was the same person? What was it worth it? With getting bad grades, missing curfews, multiple injuries and a crazed-up fruitloop who apparently had his mind set on killing his father, dating his mom, and making him his son? Where was he really standing from with all of this? Before he could think of anything, Bai said,
"We make dinner and then we sleep. We have a long day tomorrow."
By the time it was night, Danny was in the room lying down on the floor, covered with a light blanket. He was trying to sleep, but it was no use. He was doing his best to not cry, but he started to let tears come out. He felt lonely and broken. He was always with his friends or his family, but right now, he was alone…he was all alone.
Casper High:
Sam and Tucker, and now Jazz, were sitting on the bench outside the nurse's office. They hadn't been allowed to go see Danny yet. The teens were all nervous. Danny wasn't waking up and the blood continued to seep through the bandages. They all turned as they heard running and saw the Fenton's and Vlad Masters behind them.
"Where is he?" Maddie asked Sam.
"He's still with the nurse." Sam said.
"I want to see him." Maddie tried to go to the door.
"They won't let us in." Tucker said.
Both teens turned to Vlad Masters, who looked at them with a smirk. Both teens face's hardened at the man.
"Mr. and Mrs. Fenton?" The nurse opened the door.
"Is Danny okay?" Maddie asked.
The nurse stepped fully out of the office.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. Were any of you aware of that injuries he has right now?"
"Injuries? We were just told he got hit in the head." Maddie asked tentatively.
"Well, from what I found, he has multiple bruises, some scars, and if that weren't enough you can see all his ribs."
Maddie and Jack were horrified at what they had heard, and Vlad himself was having a hard time keeping his composure. The nurse sighed and said,
"Personally, I think he needs a few days to heal from the head wound. He hit the back of his head hard against the pavement. Keep an eye on him for any dizziness or if he seems off-balance. If it seems to get worse, than I suggest he goes to the hospital."
"Can we bring him home now?" Jack asked croakily.
The nurse nodded and opened the door for the man. Jack meandered in and stopped at the sight of his son. His skin pale, blood seeping through the bandages that covered half his head, he could see Danny grimacing loudly, like he was fighting off pain. Jack came forward and with a tenderness no one thought was possible to come from the big man, lifted Danny, bridal-style. Jack came out with Danny and Maddie immediately fawned over her son, while Vlad hung back. He looked at the boy's head and grimaced as he saw the blood. 'Must have been a hard hit.' He did feel worried for his little badger, seeing as he was not waking up. However, this could also work to his advantage. Vlad's mind started to concoct what he could do in the meantime. For now, he would just wait for Danny to awaken.
