Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or related characters, Butch Hartman does, and I can't do anything about it.
Danny yawned as he sat up from his dreamless night. He stretched as he got up to put some decent clothing on, still being in his boxers from sleep. Being a Saturday, Danny was allowed to sleep in until eleven. Danny awoke at ten thirty, so no penalties were placed upon Danny. As Danny dressed, he looked outside at the wonderful sunny day. It looked positively gorgeous. Daniel mindlessly dressed into a green long sleeve tee (being fall, it was a tad bit chilly), baggy blue jeans, and socks and sneakers. After he had gotten dressed, Danny headed to the kitchen to welcome his parents into the new day.
"Good morning Danny!" Maddie, his mother, cried joyfully as she was placed over the stove.
'Oh no,' Danny thought, 'Mom's actually cooking.' His mental chain collapsed when he responded to his mother, "Good morning, Mom. Hey, where are Dad and Jazz?" Danny inquired once he realized neither where anywhere in sight.
"You father is downstairs working on some more of our ghost capturing equipment. Jazz went out a while ago to go to the mall." Maddie smiled at her only son while she went back to putting her attention on her cooking. "Sit down, Danny, I am making eggs and fried bologna!"
Happy that his mother wasn't cooking anything complicated or ghost related, he accepted and sat down. Danny scarfed down his breakfast as it was placed in front of him. After serving her son, Maddie made her way downstairs.
"Hey, aren't you going to eat?" Danny asked his mother.
"Oh, your father and I already ate earlier. I was just cooking for you. I was getting ready to wake you up anyway you sleepyhead!" Maddie exclaimed as she made her exit.
Danny made the conclusion that his mother was going to go help Jack, his father. Danny finished his breakfast and then put his plate and utensils in the dishwasher. He yawned again as he tossed away the last bit of sleepiness that was left in his body. He went downstairs to go ask if he could go out for the day.
"Mom, Dad." He yelled as he entered the basement, where every ghost related invention Jack and Maddie had ever created was stored, including the one that had made Danny the halfa he was.
"Yes, son," Jack said as he seemed to be screwing in something into something else.
"Well, Dad, I was wondering if I could go out with Tuck and Sam today. You know, since Jazz got to go to the mall, I just wanted to see if I could get enough money to go grab a hamburger or something. Please." Danny almost pleaded.
"Well, Danny, you have been doing the dishes this week. I guess we could give you a little money to go out," Maddie said as nodded to her husband, "It would be a good idea for you to go out anyway, you've seemed so gloomy lately. My purse is on the kitchen counter, bring it to me please. Don't go through it yourself," Maddie seemed to be a little over demanding with that final comment.
Danny almost squealed with joy as he ran back up the stairs to grab his mother's purse. 'I just hope today isn't ruined by some ghost that I'd have to fight,' Danny sighed with this thought. He just wanted a quiet day with his friends. He grabbed Maddie's purse and skipped every other step as he went back into the basement.
"Here you go honey," Maddie handed Danny a few bucks and Jack seemed to look at Danny in a sad sort of way as he received his mother's money. Danny dismissed this as he thanked his parents and made his way to call his two friends.
Soon, Danny, Sam, and Tucker were all sitting at the diner eating various meals. Tucker was eating an Angus burger, Danny some chicken strips, and Sam was eating a simple salad.
"Come on Danny, how could you not want to fight ghosts today?" Tucker asked with enthusiasm.
"Come on Tucker, you have to understand, Danny has been under a lot of stress recently. He's a freshman in high school. I mean, look at all the work we have to do! And Danny has to go through all of our problems, plus his," Sam paused, "supernatural problems."
Danny just sat back as he let his two friends argue over his own life. Danny just sat quietly eating his chicken, hoping not to get a feather in any of it.
"Guys," Danny interjected, "I don't want to talk about ghosts today. I just want to have a normal day. A nice, normal Saturday. I don't wanna worry about homework, ghosts, or anything else for that matter. I just wanna eat my food and stuff. I don't know. Everything is kinda coming down on me all at once you know."
Tucker sighed, "Yeah, with that big test on DNA and RNA coming up, the algebra test, all the new ghosts coming up, and your parents suspicions rising, I would be worried too."
Sam looked at Tucker angrily. "That wasn't very helpful."
Danny looked sad and distressed at the same time. Tucker had been right though. Too many ghost things and human things were colliding with his life. At night, he had to fight more and more ghosts, and his parents were getting suspicious. They didn't exactly conclude that he was a ghost, no worse, they began to think he was starting to hang out with the wrong crowd. So they jumped at the opportunity when he asked to leave and go with his loyal friends. And with all the fighting, Danny had little to no time to study. His grades were surely dropping, and his parents noticed that too. Even Jazz had asked what was going on, and Danny just told her to leave him alone and it wasn't any of her business. Danny had become much more irritable lately as well.
Danny just stared at his food while he was lost in thought.
---------Somewhere in Wisconsin---Two weeks ago-----------
Vlad Masters laughed as he held the finished vial in his hands. He congratulated his team of scientists, witch doctors, wiccans, and other medicinal staff, who were all ghosts, on their finished marvel. He had paid them handsomely with their own labs as soon as they had finished.
Vlad had hired many of the best magical and medicinal dead. He had asked for their cooperation in defeating the arrogant ghost boy Danny Phantom. They had all jumped at the idea. He explained that he didn't want him dead, but weakened.
Vlad was use to getting what he wanted. The Packers, Vlad could deal with, yes he had grown weary of them. Maddie had almost killed him, his loss of her broke him into too many spiritual pieces to count. He knew deep down in his heart that he could not have her. But that arrogant Daniel!!! He had been so full of himself, yet he knew nothing. He was an adolescent! He had put Vlad down! Masters could not take that, that ghost-boy had put down Vlad's most generous offer. And Danny had declined! Vlad would not take such disgrace, he would show that boy who was boss. He would show Jack! He would show Maddie! He would show them all.
Vlad almost threw down the precious vial in anger, until he realized what he was doing. Then he set down the vial very carefully. he thought over the ingredients. Almost every ingredient in the concoction was magical, and potential dangerous and/or deadly. The alchemists, sages, and chemists that made up the team to create the diabolical liquid had assured Vlad that none of the toxins would exactly kill Danny. All of the ingredients were grown during a full moon, to make sure their potency was up, but then many a spell was placed on each item to assure that the toxin would do the most damage without killing Daniel. The list of the main ingredients is a followed:
Ectoplasm - As carbon is to living beings, ectoplasm is to ghosts. This is the main ingredient to use to make sure the concoction is compatible with Danny's ghost half, to make sure the symptoms are the same in ghost form also.
Aconitum Napellus - Also known as Monkshood and Aconite, and is very closely related to Wolf's Bane. One of the most powerful poisons in existence. Contains the deadly poison aconitine, which slows down the heart rate, decreases blood pressure and numbs pain, and is a magical plant. This will weaken Danny down immensely. Aconite is only used sparsely, as not to kill Daniel, but to assure that Danny is to weak to fight back.
Artemisia - Also known as Mugwort, and includes the species Wormwood. This is a very magical plant that is used to raise spirits from the dead, and medicinally to treat epilepsy. This herb is added to weaken Danny's hold on his ghost powers. As most of the herbs in the potion are for weakening his physical form, Artemisia is used to weaken his ghost form.
Atropa Belladonna - Also known as Deadly Nightshade. Atropine, which is present in Belladonna, is a highly toxic white crystal alkaloid. But used as a medicine, atropine can be used to relieve spasms, to dilate the pupil of the eye, and to relieve pain and inflammation. However, it also causes life-like dreams, delusions, and high excitement. In poisonous doses it causes paralysis, excitement, delirium. This is considered the most used plant in witchcraft, and the most deadly. Also, a magical plant. This plant is foreseen to cause Danny a slight paralysis, but will cause him slight confusion and delirium before the paralysis sets in. It is highly hallucinogenic..
Digitalis perjured - Also known as Foxglove and Dead Men's Bells. Digitalis contains many glucosides, three that are cardiac stimulants: digitoxin, digitalin, and digitalun. The other is a cardiac depressant: digitonin. In toxic doses it causes blurred vision and other lowered senses. Low dose poisoning leads to slow and irregular pulse and higher concentrations will lead to a rapid heart beat and cardiac arrest. Slightly magical, but more so physical. This is used in a low dose as not to cause Danny a heart attack. All of his senses will be lowered a little in ghost form, but even more so as human.
Conium maculatum - Also known as Hemlock. Hemlock contains a very poisonous alkaloid called Conium. Conium is a narcotic, sedative, and antispasmodic. In poisonous poses it produces loss of sensation, complete paralysis, loss of speech, and gradually slowing respiration. Death then results from asphyxiation, and during this entire process the mind remains clear and unaffected. A slightly magical plant. This is used as a sedative upon Daniel. This is just another weakening agent that will kick in time.
Datura Stramonium - Commonly known as Thornapple. Thornapple is a very strong narcotic. Thornapple intake leads to the dilation of the pupils, giddiness, delirium, and mania. It also has hallucinogenic effects. The active constituents are the same as Belladonna. This will cause much delirium and hysteria. The total effects upon a part ghost are unknown, but death is out of the question.
Solamum Dulcamara - Common name is Woody Nightshade or Bittersweet. It's active constituent is Solamine which is a narcotic and can cause paralysis when taken in large doses. Dulcamara slows down the heart and respiration, reduces temperature and causes vertigo and delirium, and eventually convulsions and death. This is a non magical plant. This is another narcotic added to make the victim physically weaker. Also will cause confusion before the weakness sets in.
Hyoscyamus Niger - Also known as Henbane. It is notorious for causing delirium and hallucinations. In poisonous doses poor vision, dizziness, sleepiness occur, followed by delirium and convulsions. Henbane also relaxes involuntary muscles. Henbane is considered a magical plant. This agent was suggested by Vlad himself. He wanted Danny to personally suffer for the humiliation that Danny made him suffer.
Some other ingredients were added along with the spells to assure timing was perfect on each symptom, effect, and herb. Vlad was quite pleased, and very excited about the upcoming result. He just had to plan out a way to go and visit his nice little friend Danny Fenton.
Then he had a most clever idea.
--------Back with Danny and co.------------
Danny stared at his hands as he continued to listen to his two best friends argue over something. During the course of the meal, Tucker and Sam had switched topics over and over again, just to continue arguing. It was like it was their lives or something, to argue with one another, to see who was the supreme champ.
"Guys, could you please quit it. I 'm really getting a headache." Danny said just audible enough for both to hear. They both looked at Danny in an almost confused speechlessness, as if they were lost in the world if they weren't allowed to argue.
"Oh, Ok Danny. We're Sorry," Sam said she nudged Tucker, who had sit beside her.
"Um, yeah, really Dan, we'll quit," Tucker paused, "We're all done aren't we, we should leave now. Um...where do you guys wanna go?" He scratched the back of his head.
Danny was getting ready to say that he didn't care when his ghost sense picked up. "No," Danny said a little too loudly. He was hoping on a ghost free day.
"What's up Danny? Ghost?" Sam asked these questions even though she already knew the answers.
"Yeah, sorry guys. Duty calls. Tuck, you've got the Fenton Thermos, right?" Danny asked as the trio made their way outside of the diner and into a dark alleyway without being noticed.
"Yeah," Tucker said simply as he held up the cylindrical object.
"I'm going ghost!' Danny said his traditional call.
Ok, this is the end of Chapter 1. Horray, more or less of an intro chapter, and what's telling you...you know, what's gonna go up. Hope you all enjoy, R and R if you do! I do accept constructional criticism. So–I gotta go work on Chapter 2 now. Oh, I have this posted on deviantart too...so yeah.
