1: Here It Goes Again
Note to Old Readers: Yes, these first three chapters are "Pumpkins and Curses". If you feel like skipping them, feel free. The fourth chapter on, however, are new stuff, which I decided to add.
Hello all. I read an old legend and I was suddenly inspired. I spent time in Study Hall making out plans for it (partly for something to do, and partly to get it out of my head). Now, I am going to post it. I'm not sure if I'll actually get it done by Halloween (as I hope), but I will try.
Just a note: I ended up rewriting this chapter. The first version sucked big time.
Now then, for the fic!
...
New Amall Parking Lot...
The bus rolled in for a stop, and Mr. Lancer stood up before the passengers.
"Alright class, we've been given a three-day holiday here in New Amall, for whatever reason. I expect everyone to be on their best behavior," he warned.
The class all snickered, but were otherwise quiet as they walked off the bus. They all were huddled in their usual groups when the figure appeared from thin air. He was skeletal in nature, with a ragged cloak and burning arms.
"Get away from here..."
The class screamed in shock and fright, but Danny, forewarned by his ghost sense, took the opportunity to run behind the bus. The rings were barely visible, and no one noticed as he ran out from beside the bus. Danny prepared to shout something to direct attention towards himself (largely to distract the enemy from attacking others, and because it was just fun), but before he could, the ghost vanished into a portal.
Danny transformed back before any noticed, scratching his head.
"What the smoof?" he wondered aloud, amidst the dying screams of the fleeing class.
(Danny Phantom Theme Song Here)
New Amall Town...
"Why'd it show up, give a warning, then just vanish? That only happens in really bad horror movies," Tucker wondered aloud.
"Well, maybe there's something worse than that ghost here," Danny said.
"I wonder if it's one of my ancestors? I did descend from the founders of New Amall," Sam noted.
"Really? So did I!" Paulina chimed in, almost mockingly.
She immediately giggled as Dash high-fived her, and they walked on. Sam rolled her eyes, while Danny and Tucker looked around at the town. It seemed strange. The houses seemed rundown, yet people were visible within them, hustling and bustling about.
"How did we even get the holiday here, Mr. Lancer?" Tucker asked.
"Well, Mr. Foley, it seems a Mr. S. R. Etsam decided to donate a large sum of money to the school if we took the students on a three-day holiday to New Amall," Mr. Lancer asked, watching his students.
"Do you know why?" Sam asked.
"Maybe he had ancestors here, too. Maybe he liked the old legends about the place. Maybe he just threw a dartboard at this school and this town on a map to see who to donate to and which school to disrupt. In any case, you're teenagers. I shouldn't have to watch your every move. You shouldn't be able to get into too much trouble in the time it take me to buy a hat and jacket," Mr. Lancer grumbled.
The teacher looked around for a moment, then walked into the small building labeled "Crane's Clothing Store". The students immediately scattered like seeds in the wind, as various fair-like activities were soon spotted within the town.
Paulina, Valerie, and Sam all walked up to the dart-throwing contest, picked up three darts, and paid the lady in unison before realizing the other two were there as well. When they did, there was a spark of competition that hit the existing barrel of rivalry.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
All three of the balloons popped for each contestant. They narrowed their eyes at their competitors' ruined balloons as if the objects had committed some heinous offense against them, before pulling back their arms, a dart in hand once more.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
Again, all three popped. The fire in their eyes were raging and the electricity in the air was lethal.
WHOOSH-WHOOSH-WHOOSH!
One popped. Paulina squealed with giddiness as the lady handed her a stuffed bear, then handed Sam and Valerie plastic figures. Their mouths were gaping wide enough to accommodate a small car.
A moment later, all three heard a voice from nowhere. It was similar to the ghost in the morning, but there was a noticeable difference: it sound much more human.
"Katrina?"
Danny and Tucker noticed the competition, turned around once Sam lost, and headed off towards the candy store. There, they would have both a place to hide from the surely ensuing wrath and the excuse that they were going to buy her candy while they were, in fact, hiding from her. Not a word passed between them the entire time until they entered the shop.
D-P
"Okay, Tucker, how much money do you have?" Danny asked.
Tucker ruffled through his pack and pulled out a five. Danny pulled out the same.
"I've got more, but I need it for food. The thing said only breakfast was served at the hotel," Tucker said.
"Ditto. Okay, get a couple of those gummi bear packs. I've seen her tear through one with a vengeance. It's not pretty, but she's a bit more pleasant afterwards," Danny suggested.
The door opened, and the boys looked in the direction of the sudden sound. Kwan and Dash walked in, smug smiles on their face.
"Alright, it's just the jocks. Alright, let's get about four gummi bear packs. They're... a buck a piece," Danny said, picking up four.
They got to the counter and set down their packages. A minute later, they were four bucks poorer, but they were also protected from Sam's anger, with luck. At least, they would have been, had Dash not yanked their bag away and held it to Kwan, who pulled out a couple of the gummi bear packs.
"Thanks for the free stuff, Fenton!" Dash cackled.
An idea flashed through Danny's mind.
"Bet you couldn't beat Tucker at basketball," Danny snapped.
"Beg pardon?" Tucker asked.
"Shah, right. That pipsqueak couldn't beat me at any sport in the real world," Dash replied.
"Really? Prove it. There's a basketball court not too far from here. You win, we'll give you twenty bucks. Tucker wins, you give us back the candy and sixteen bucks. Are you gonna' deal or are you a chicken?" Danny dared.
Dash's eyes narrowed dangerously, then he relaxed.
"You're on, Fenton... Heh. I'm gonna' cream ya', geekazoid," Dash taunted.
He and Kwan exited the store, snickering with glee at the prospect of easy money.
"What was that, Danny? I'm going to come home in a full-body cast!" Tucker shouted.
"Well, this places appears to be haunted, wouldn't you say, Tuck?"
Tucker's eyes widened, then he smiled maliciously.
"Oh, this will be fun," Tucker said.
Basketball Field...
"One on one basketball against this geek? That's a laugh," Dash said.
"Seriously. What possessed him to challenge you?" Kwan laughed.
"Funny you should mention the phrase 'possessed', Kwan," Tucker said, walking out on the court with a basketball in hand.
An invisible Danny Phantom smiled maliciously, if only to himself. His ghost sense went off a moment later.
"Curse you, Brom..."
Danny tried to figure out where the voice came from, but he was interrupted when Dash darted by him, ball in hand. He tossed it, but Danny grabbed it and threw it to Tucker. He managed to catch it, then threw it himself.
It would have actually gone to the right and into the stands if Danny hadn't swooped by, grabbed the ball and slam dunked it.
"Um, three points?" Tucker asked.
"It's first to ten, geekoid. Just some messed up wind," Dash grumbled.
Dash held the ball in front of Tucker at half-court, faked right, then shot above him. A few feet from the goal it was smacked straight down to the ground. It bounced high, and was smacked again: this time into Dash's face. The jock moaned as Tucker got the ball and ran down the court, "shooting" a 3-pointer.
"I don't know what you did to get so good, you little punk, but I swear that I'm gonna' win the game," Dash hissed.
"Your move," Tuck said.
Dash shot, but it was smacked back immediately, catching him in the chest. It floated around, Tucker grabbed it, then ran, "leaped", and slam dunked it.
"How'd this guy get so good at basketball?" Dash roared.
"Score's seven to zero, Dash," Tucker said with a definite cockiness about him.
"BROM!"
Danny found himself thrust backwards. A force pressed in all around him, though he struggled desperately with it. He heard the swish of hoops and a cheer from Dash's group, but he couldn't do anything.
"DAMN YOU, BROM!"
Danny gasped for breath, finding himself choking.
"I'm... not... Brom..."
A moment later, the force disappeared, and Danny could breathe again.
"Score's seven to six, now, geek. Knew it was just luck. Gonna' getcha' again, Foley," Dash taunted.
"Heh, no way, Dash…" Tucker replied, clearly losing confidence.
"Don't worry, I'm back. Talk later, cream Dash now," Danny whispered.
Tucker nodded, bent down at his knees, felt Danny grab the ball, then leaped up, looking as though he threw the ball. Perfect trajectory. Its swishing sound was music to Tucker's ears.
"How the… what the… Buh?" Dash rambled.
"Just cause I'm a geek, that doesn't mean I don't have skills in sports," Tucker said.
"Duh!" Danny hissed in Dash's ear.
"What was that!?" Dash shouted, leaping away from the source of the noise.
"Well, this place is haunted. Didn't you see the ghost earlier? Duh," Tucker replied.
"Well, what's going to keep me from not paying you and just beating your face in?" Dash asked.
"That would be me, Mr. Baxter," Mr. Lancer noted, walking onto the basketball court.
"Wha-what? Mr. Lancer?" Dash said.
"Well, after I get out of the tailor shop with my new blue hat and jacket, I find my students have become something resembling the Diaspora. Then, I discover that the football star was challenged by Mr. Foley for a bet. I don't condone bets, but I hope losing this one prevents you from doing it again, Mr. Baxter. Hand over the candy and the sixteen dollars," Mr. Lancer ordered.
"How'd you know about the bet?" Dash asked.
"Kwan told me about it, after informing me, considerably less eloquently, mind you, that you were going to win the game. Hand it over," Mr. Lancer repeated.
Dash, grumbling under Lancer's eye, forked over the money and Kwan handed Tucker the bag. The look in their eyes told Tucker he was in for it later, but he didn't care. It was worth it to see them get beat at their own game.
The rest of the day had a similar mood, though it improved when Sam met back up with the guys, and they offered her their spoils.
Hotel Room 15…
"Hey guys?" Danny asked, in the darkness.
"Yeah, Danny?" Tucker asked.
"Did you guys hear a voice today?" Danny asked.
"Right after my contest, I heard someone say 'Katrina', whoever that is," Sam replied.
"I never heard anything," Tucker said.
"Well, my ghost sense went off once today, but I heard the voice twice during the basketball game. The second time, it attacked me. I don't know why, but when I said that I wasn't who it thought I was, it let me go," Danny replied.
"Who'd he think you were?" Tucker asked.
"Oh… what was it… Oh, yeah. Brom."
"Sounds like an old-fashioned name. Not that common nowadays," Sam said.
"That's because anyone with a name like that would be laughed right out of existence," Tucker snickered.
"It sounds familiar, though… I'm certain I've heard it before," Danny said.
"Eh, we'll figure it out eventually. In the meantime… night," Tucker said.
"Night."
"Night."
