Summary: It has been one year since Danny received his ghost powers, and he's starting to think about how they have changed his life.

Pairing: Amethyst Ocean

When: before Phantom Planet

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom

1: I Don't Want to Be Like This Anymore

I glanced over at the alarm clock on my nightstand and watched it change to 12:00 midnight. I tore my gaze away from the bright red letters and looked up the ceiling through the darkness. On this day one year ago, I made the life changing choice to step into the Fenton Portal, leaving me with ghost powers. I shuddered when the memories of the pain I felt that day rushed into my mind but I just as quickly shook my head to banish the thoughts.

I let out a small sigh and looked around my dark and quiet surroundings. The only light in my room came from the moon and stars in the night sky and the only noise came from my less than steady inhaling and exhaling of air. I cautiously lifted one of my hands in front of my face. It looked so normal, so…innocent. I scoffed a little at the thought and abruptly lit the hand up with green energy. The bright ecto-energy's light spilled across the room, making everything appear green. Studying the energy, I brought my hand a little closer to my face, watching as it danced in my palm. Just as suddenly as the energy had appeared, I willed it away, leaving me in the darkness once again.

There was no way I was going to fall asleep.

I slowly sat up and pushed the covers off my body. Cautiously, I stood and looked around my room, listening for any indication of Jazz or my parents being awake. Not hearing anything, I thoughtfully placed a hand on my chin and looked down at myself as summoned white rings appeared around my waist and traveled over my body until I was fully Phantom. No matter how many times I watched myself morph, I would never get used to the tingling sensation. On one hand, it felt odd and foreign to change into my alter ego, but in the other hand it felt so natural, like Phantom had always been a part of me.

I shrugged a little, and pursed my lips. My eyes drifted away from my now glowing figure to the night sky just outside my window and then up at the ceiling. With acquired ease, I bent my legs and shot intangibly through the ceiling until my body was encased in Amity Park's night sky.

I softly touched down on the roof of the op center took a seat on its edge. The peaceful noises of the city reached my ears. The sound of cars traveling down the dark street and other small noises filled the air. I took a deep inhale of cool air and leaned back on my hand to look up at the sky. The stars looked so beautiful tonight, almost as if they knew the importance of this day and wanted to look their best for me. Not a single cloud in the sky dared to interfere with the utter perfection of the twinkling orbs. I passed a hand through my white hair and for the first time on this sort of "birthday", I smiled.

With a smile still on my face I slowly willed my body to float off the roof and to hover above my home. I looked down at the house and thought of my family. Thinking about how my parents still didn't know my secret even though it was floating just outside their home troubled me a little. I wanted to tell them, but I also didn't. And then there was Jazz. Oh Jazz. Of course she was the one to make the connection between Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom. She could always see right through me.

The smile on my face grew a little as I turned my back to my house and flew into the never ending sky with a specific destination in mind. Once I arrived at Sam's house I floated down to her window and peeked in. I was surprised to see Sam wide awake, sitting on her bed, reading a book. I gently tapped on the glass of the window and she jumped a little until she finally recognized me and she smiled. I phased through the glass and stood in her room.

Had she stayed up for the same reasons I had or was it just a coincidence? Did she even know what today was? As if reading my thoughts, Sam suddenly spoke up "Happy Birthday, Danny."

I chuckled a little "It's not really my birthday," I told her. "It's more like my death-day." I thought about that for a moment. Yes that's what today was, my death-day.

I met Sam's gaze as the smile fell from her face. "Don't talk like that." She told me seriously.

My own smile was also replaced with a frown as I explained "You know what I meant." Sam then slightly nodded her head and turned her attention back the book lying open on her bed.

I closed the small distance between where I stood and her bed and took a seat next to my goth friend. Looking down at the book, I realized that it was actually a photo album. The album was flipped into a page that was obviously dedicated to me, specifically the Phantom half of me. I slowly reached a glowing, gloved hand toward one specific picture in the book. I picked it up and observed it. It showed me, exactly one year ago, holding the white hazmat suit that I currently wore, only inverted, just before I had stepped into the Fenton Portal and changed my life forever. A thought suddenly hit me.

This was my last moment of being completely human.

Looking at the picture, I thought about my powers. In that moment, I decided that the bad consequences of my powers outweighed the bad. After that day and everyday leading up to the present, I had put not only myself in danger, but also my friends, family, and everyone around me. I thought about how just a while ago, I had looked at the ecto-energy in my hand and thought about how wondrous it was, but right then, looking at that picture and then down at myself in ghost form, I only saw a huge mistake. I unexpectedly stood up and faced away from Sam, who voiced her sudden confusion, "D-Danny? Are you..?"

I cut her off by spinning around and looking straight into her purple eyes with my teary green ones and stating "I don't want to be like this anymore." I abruptly willed those glowing white rings to appear around my waist and allowed them to change my appearance back into that of Danny Fenton. For some reason, I was angry. I didn't ask for this. I just wanted to be a normal kid! Ever since I got these powers, I've done nothing but put everyone around me in the line of fire.

"Danny!" Sam called to me when I made it obvious that I was about to turn and leave. I felt her grab my cheek with her hand and force me to look at her. When my bright blue eyes shining with tears that had yet to fall settled on her scared and confused purple eyes, I lost it. I buried my face in her neck, wrapped my arms around her body a little too tightly, and let out muffled cries.

I felt Sam place her own arm around my waist and rub a hand up and down my back. "I don't want to be like this anymore." I repeated in a whisper, "I want to be normal again." I choked out, my voice cracking at the end as another hushed sob escaped my lips.

For what seemed like forever, Sam and I stood there in each others' embraces. She continued to comfortingly rub my back and I let out small cries of sadness, despair, and utter helplessness.

Finally, Sam pulled away ever so slightly, keeping one hand on my back but lifting one to my red face to wipe away a fallen tear. She looked into my eyes and told me sincerely, "Danny, your powers are not a curse, but a blessing. They make you who you are. They are part of you. They ARE you." I looked away from her put she used her hand on my face to bring my gaze back to her own as she continued, "I can't pretend to know how you feel, Danny, but what I do know is that you're powers make you unique. You help people. You save them from ghosts and give everyone in Amity Park a sense of security. Even though some people have yet to see the good you do for them, you still do it... You're a hero, Danny." A small smile finally formed on my lips.

Even though my thoughts were true, what Sam had just said was also true. My powers allowed me to not only be average Danny Fenton, but to also be Danny Phantom, a brave ghost boy who risked his life for the well being of those around him. I had this opportunity that no other kid had. I could stop being defenseless Fenton and be the hero that Phantom really was. I got to fight ghost and help the people who lived in Amity Park.

As quickly as my attitude had changed before, it changed again. My powers are not a mistake or a curse, they are gift.

My smile finally grew to its full size with my realization and I focused my attention back on the girl in front of me who also had a smile now on her face. And in that moment, I could only focus on doing one thing, and I willingly let it overpower me when I leaned a little closer to Sam.

I closed my eyes and kissed my best friend.

A/N Thanks for taking the time to read this! This is my first time posting of Fanfiction, so if you could tell me what you thought of it, that would be awesome! Thanks again (: