Summary: At the North Pole, Valerie couldn't believe her eyes as she watched Danny Fenton transform into Phantom. Conflicting emotions bombarded her. She needed time to think things through before taking a course of action. Was her friendship with Fenton enough to outweigh her hatred for Phantom? Just as Valerie watched Danny change, this story shows that nothing in life is fixed. DxS. The fic isn't centered around Valerie, though she is essential to the plot.

AN: This is my first fanfic! I'm not exactly a fan of writing, but ever since I watched every episode of DP on netflix, I was hooked. After watching Phantom Planet, I never believed Valerie would just stand in the crowd and smile back at Danny when he transformed. Half a year later, the story is finally coming out! By the way, I did take some creative liberties. Why would I rewrite something that happened in the show? Therefore, anything past the disclaimer will be up to my discretion.

Disclaimer: Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman. lucky him.

What Once Was

Chapter 1

Everyone was clapping, cheering for him. Overwhelming enthusiasm greeted his transformation. Everyone, but her. Fortunately for her, the expression of utter shock displayed on her face was lost among the jubilant expressions of the crowd around her. Contradicting emotions bombarded her. She had to get out of their. Valerie sprinted in the opposite direction of the people's gazes. She didn't understand how this could be possible, and they was no way she could look at Danny's face anymore.

Only one person seemed to take notice of her departure.

...

Scanning the group of people, once face stood out from all the rest. Well, one besides Sam of course. Her face always stood out to him. At the thought of Sam, a light pink started to emerge on Danny's face. It was mistaken by the crowd as humbleness on Danny's part.

Danny, reveling in his newfound acceptance, was abruptly pulled from his elation when he saw Valerie's demeanor. Confused crossed his face. Danny made a note to talk to her afterwards, as he was soon swamped with the love and support of his best friends and his family.

"Danny, you did it!" Sam cheered, rushing up to him.

"I knew you could do it!" Tucker cried, following suit.

"Thanks guys, you two are the best friends a ghost could ever ask for," Danny proclaimed, his thoughts of Valerie quickly dispelled. Danny pulling them in for a massive hug. The group of three rapidly increased to include Danny's family, classmates, and everyone present until all were clustered around Danny like penguins in a snowstorm. For all he knew, there could be penguins in the huddle! Or what that the North Pole?, Danny thought. Still, Danny couldn't help but notice his friend's absence, and tried to excuse himself from the group. Unfortunately, someone would approach him immediately after he finished a conversation. First his friends congratulated him, then his parents voiced their praise, next Jazz blabbered some psychological drivel, even Dash came and apologized for calling him a coward, followed by Paulina who claimed she knew Danny was special all along and had secretly harbored a crush on him. Finally fed up with all the attention, Danny turned intangible and sprinted through the crowd to reach Valerie.

"Val!" Danny called, regaining visibility as he approached.

Valerie jumped, not expecting anyone. She turned around and harshly uttered "What do you want, Danny? And don't call me that!"

Danny froze mid-stride, hurt evident on his features. "Valerie, I couldn't help but notice that you weren't exactly happy when I transformed in front of everybody."

"Of course I wasn't happy! Why would I be happy when I just found out one of my closest friends is a GHOST?" Valerie exclaimed, whose voice gained volume with every word that passed through her scowling lips. "I can't believe you were Phantom this whole time! I thought we were friends, Danny, I thought we could trust each other, I thou-"

"But we are friends, Valerie!" Danny interrupted, making sure to use her full name to avoid angering her even more. "All those things are true. I trust you and I even liked you. We had a thing!" His face reddened slightly at his own words.

"That's the past, Danny. What once was. But it couldn't be since I didn't want to put you in danger. I cared about you. I tried to keep you safe, even if that required that we remained soley friends. But I guess we were never truly friends..."

"Don't say that, Valerie! Of course we're friends!" Danny countered, his volume also escalating.

"Friends don't fight, Danny, at least not like we do! We're after each others blood when we fight! In your case, ectoplasm. Actually, since you turned out to be half human, BLOOD!" Valerie screamed, no longer holding back her emotions. "You tried to kill me, Danny, KILL ME! You think I FORGOT?"

Danny winced. "That wasn't me! Well, I guess it was. I meant that wasn't you! I had just talked to you so I knew it wasn't you inside that suit. It was Technus! I only attacked the Red Huntress after I was sure you weren't in there!"

Danny's explanation made sense, but Valerie still didn't want to believe it. Never trust a ghost, not even one that you thought was your friend. She told herself. However, the look on Danny's face made her waver in her thoughts. Danny was a good friend. The only one she had after the loss of her popularity at Casper High. Even though he was the cause of it, she reminded herself bitterly.

However, as Valerie observed the Danny in front of her, she felt remorseful of her previous thoughts. Here was the cute, clumsy Danny that had she crushed on for the last couple months. This Danny was begging fervently for her forgiveness, using those bright cerulean eyes of his. Oh how she loved his eyes...

"Valerie, I cared for you so much, and I still do. Please let me make this up to you somehow." Danny pleaded.

"I almost gave up ghost hunting for you..." her confession coming out barely above a whisper. As she voiced this, she realized that giving up her alias would've left Phantom the opportunity to terrorize Amity Park. How poorly thought out that notion had been. But Phantom is Danny... Her face contorting with every new thought. Unless that was his true intention the whole time, and our relationship was a façade.

Watching Valerie as different thoughts rolled around in her head, Danny was on the verge of interrupting her reverie when she spoke.

"I need some time to sort this out, Danny. I'll talk to you in school," Valerie concluded, giving up. She was going to have to contemplate at a later time, preferably alone in her room.

"Oh, okay Valerie. I'll see you then," Danny responded. He turned away and returned dejectedly to his friends.

...

After noticing that Danny was gone, the crowd had quickly dispersed until an announcement was made to board the airplanes that would return the people to their home towns. The majority of the people originated from Amity Park, but there was a handful of technological and military experts who lived elsewhere. Sam and Tucker lingered around until they saw Danny walking away from Valerie. Having witnessed the acrimonious exchange between the two, neither knew what to expect from Danny.

Walking up to meet Danny, Sam asked, "Is everything okay between you and Valerie?"

"Yeah, man. It looked like it got pretty nasty pretty fast. Is everything cool between you two?" Tucker queried, joining them.

"I dunno, guys," Danny sighed. "I hope so. She was pretty mad when I had first started talking, but she calmed down quite a bit and said she was gonna go home and think about it some."

"That's a start. Maybe then she'll realize that you're the hero every claims you are, and you can go back to being friends." Sam offered.

"Just friends," Tucker smirked as Sam placed a smart punch on Tucker's right shoulder, which elicited a small whine from the victim.

"Oh yeah!" Danny exclaimed, features flipped 180 degrees as he plastered a smile on his face. "Sam, we still gotta talk."

"That'll have to wait until we get back to Amity Park. I you want me to be any sort of cooperative, you'll have to get me out of this frozen wasteland and into a thick blanket in a cozy living room." Sam replied, brushing him off.

As if reading their minds, the unmistakable voice of Jasmine Fenton pierce through the chilly air.

"You lovebirds and Tucker better get your butts into this airplane in 5 seconds before I go out there and forcibly drag you in!" Jazz screamed as she leaned out of the window of the airplane.

Any part of Danny and Sam's faces that weren't already red from Tucker's previous comment was immediately flushed as the population of those present at the North Pole watched the trio scurry onto the airplane Jazz had shouted from.

...

Danny's airplane was the first to departed, and he watched as all the other airplanes also left for their destinations. All the intangibility equipment had been dismantled, along with the operating headquarters, and was to be brought to Axiom Labs for further research.

Danny, using his intangibility powers, stuck his head out the window and reveled in the feeling of the wind in his hair. It felt like flying, but slower. Still, it was equally relaxing. He used his newly relaxed state to reflect on what had happened. He had saved the world. Again. It was just as terrifying as the first time, although it didn't require as much strength and combat as it previously had. Hopefully his enemies no longer viewed his as such, or at least would be civil to him. If he didn't have to fight ghosts, his life would be so boring. Danny laughed. Ghost fighting was tedious, time consuming, and tiresome; yet he wished to keep it to quell his boredom. How juvenile of him.

Danny pulled his head back into the airplane. Next to him was Sam. Her head was nodding in an attempt to fight off sleep. He pulled her head over to rest it on his shoulder. Sam languidly glanced up at the gesture, then quickly succumbed to sleep. Danny chuckled to himself. He was finally ready to admit that he liked Sam. A lot. And he was ready to admit it to her too. It had always been there, but he had just labeled it wrong. It wasn't the friendly love he felt for Tucker. He had thought the difference was because Sam was a girl. Now he knew that the feeling was love. Plain, simple, corny love. Not that he was going to tell her that right away. He stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed. He couldn't wait to return to Amity Park and officially ask Sam to be his girlfriend. Suddenly, Danny felt butterflies in his stomach. No wonder girls giggle so much. Minus Sam. Danny smiled. Sam. His Sam. She was way different from any ordinary girl. She was independent, strong-willed, and steadfast in her beliefs. He wouldn't have to fret over her should anything happen to her, either mentally, physically, or ghost related. Nevertheless, he would worry anyways. Looking down at her placid face on his shoulder, her brushed a strand of hair from her face. Danny vowed to always protect her, especially if ghosts caused problems for her after they officialize their relationship.

Realizing he had been fiddling with something in his pocket, Danny pulled his hand out. Opening his hand revealed a small class ring with Sam's name inscribed inside. Sam... Danny thought. I know! I'll give Sam the ring! As suddenly as his face had lit up as the thought, it quickly fell. The ring was previously intended for Valerie. At least she hadn't know about its existence. It also brought about the fact that Valerie didn't trust him anymore. Danny could only hope that she would look in retrospect and see how good friends they once were. However, things that once were can't always be. People change. Feelings change. Life changes. Everything can flip in the blink of an eye. Danny allowed a smile to grace his lips as he looked down at his shoulder to the slumbering Sam. But sometimes it's for the better.

AN: First chapter done! It's 3 in the morning and it look me less than 3 hours to crank this out. Let me know what you think, and any suggestions or constructive flames are welcome. I have no idea a) what's going to happen in this story b) when I'm going to update, but it'll be less than a week, and c) how fanfiction works so let's see how I can get this on. Also, if you see any spelling or grammatical errors please feel free to inform me.