Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom. Tragic.
Author's Notes: I don't even know what this is (other than evidence of a sick obsession with Northern European mythology). Enjoy.
Blind
A One-Shot
"Those of the Otherworld" Series
"Did you ever consider," the Other Danny said in a voice unlike the regular's, "that there are more beings than ghosts and humans? That there is a world you cannot force your way into? Only one kind can get in and get out, unless we decide to steal."
"H-how did you. . . ?" Danny stuttered. The Other Danny laughed.
"Perception," the creature replied, "can be easily altered. Enchantment is easy – well, of course, not for your lot. . . or lots, in your case. I could swallow up your life if I wanted to. You could be gone in a moment, and no one would know or care."
Danny's hand was soon illuminated by ectoplasmic energy – he was ready to shoot this thing at any moment. The target scarcely seemed to notice.
"I could numb your mind. I could drown you, slit your throat, set you aflame, do anything I pleased, and you would never know. You wouldn't hear your screams. You wouldn't hear my laughter. I could bend you to my will, make you do as I say, and you would never protest. I could spirit you away, far away, where centuries would pass like seconds before your Seeing, mortal eyes, where your life is nothing more than the ghost of a shadow, a slurred mess of obscured rememberances."
Danny was taken aback by the Other Danny's sadistic musings. He did not attack it; rather, he was curious. A few minutes ago, this being looked entirely like some kind of humanoid monster, a willowy, somehow nightmarishly beautiful thing, impossibly tall and nearly-skeletal. Its curved claws, long and slender like elongated branches, seemed as sharp as daggers, able to pierce flesh as if it were butter. Its eyes, set into its bony face like onyx stones, had no pupils, no whites, no irises, and twinkled with an animalistic characterization. Then, upon confrontation by the ghost boy, the creature's features shifted, melted until they precisely mirrored Danny's own, yet its cruel, jagged-tooth smile and voice remained the same. What was it? What was it talking about? Was it insane?
Yep, he thought. Definitely insane.
"Dude, what are you even talking about?"
"Something needs to be done with you," said the Other. "You See, for you are a spirit. Yet you are human; thus, a mortal, and you must be dispatched, for mortals cannot see us."
"Dispatched?" Danny repeated. His vocabulary was nowhere near as extensive as Jazz's or even Sam's, but being "dispatched" did not sound pleasant.
"Oh, yes," the Other Danny answered, brandishing one of its claws and grinning its Cheshire-grin. The claw slowly reached for Danny's face, yet Danny sharply jerked backward into the air, avoiding its touch. "One way or another."
Suddenly, Danny felt his back against the ground. Utterly bewildered, he tried to regain his bearings. His thoughts were jumbled – it was as if his brain had ceased to function correctly, and he could no longer think or act, let alone fight. A sudden tug at his ankle alerted him to the fact that the Other had him in its hold. The claws were at his throat, then his cheek, leaving shallow incisions as they ran along Danny's pallid skin. Danny knew enough in his confusion to feel something build inside him gradually, yet quickly. Terror. Fear. A will to survive.
"Blindness is suitable for now," it hissed, revealing the layers of razor-teeth within its mouth as it spoke, like those of a shark or a lamprey. Danny could not entirely process the monster's appearance or speech; however, the instinct of fight or flight prevailed over the thing's power.
Danny screamed – or so he thought. The scream was hollow in his ears, like an echo, and lasted for what seemed like ages. When the air had departed from his shriveled lungs, Danny suddenly felt liberated. There was nothing upon him – no creature nor its claws – and he finally felt free. The murk in his mind was slowly clearing, receding with the consistency of syrup, freeing the binds on his thought. He felt both strong and weak, for though he could now perceive and move, his thought was still lagging and his motions were slow and feeble.
The creature had not only recoiled from Danny's Wail; it was now in its natural state. It let out a gutteral growl as it laid upon a brick wall in the alley where the two had met and it bared its harsh teeth. Physically, it was now no stronger than Danny, yet it lashed out at him with its claws, attempting to win the battle still. Danny gripped the monster's wrist as firmly as he could. Ice crept up the thing's arm, causing it to let loose bloodcurdling shrieks.
"Those with the Sight must no longer See," it condemned at last. The ice consumed it entirely, silencing it, most likely killing it.
Danny, with ectoplasm dripping from his wounds and with little strength, reverted to his human form and began to slowly walk home with shaking steps, using walls and trashcans and whatever was available for temporary support when necessary.
He kept his eyes upon the sidewalk as he went, daring not to look up at those surrounding him, for fear that one may be of the Otherworld.
Author's Notes: Hm. Well, this is going to stay a one-shot unless I decide to make this a collection or something. If you honestly want to see this continued, you may pick it up only if you: 1) credit me, 2) let me know you're doing it, and 3) do the research on faerie myths. Anyone and everyone can write their own version of a sequel or continuation or something, so don't ask for permission, but please do let me know if you want to do something with this, just so I can read it.
I guess that's almost a challenge or something, right? Eh. Sorta.
Please review, I guess.