Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom.
Ten years ago...
Nighttime had fallen onto the citizens of Amity Park. The last quarter moon shone its brilliance onto the city, with streetlights scattered about the darkened ways. Askew shadows of buildings and homes fell onto the sidewalks. Families locked up their homes and prepared to turn in for the night.
However, for one family, the simple locking of doors and windows weren't enough as a faint greenish dome encased their abode. A large sign on the roof of the town house saying "FentonWorks" along with an UFO-like vehicle behind it already gave the onlooker the right to question the mental stability of those who resided in that home.
If the said onlooker interviewed the neighbors about the Fenton family, they would probably say something along the lines of: "The parents are a crazy bunch, hunting ghosts when they don't exist," "I'm planning on calling CYS on those Fentons since those children are being raised in an unhealthy environment," and/or "If you have any sense, I suggest you leave before Mr. Fenton suspects you are a ghost."
Then if this onlooker was brave enough and knocked on the Fenton door, they would meet directly with a overweight man donned in an orange Hazmat suit, an ectoplasmic weapon aimed at the poor person's head. Of course, the matter of if they were a ghost or a human would immediately be cleared by a red-headed woman donned in a blue Hazmat suit. Afterwards, the onlooker would have left town in a cloud of dust, never to return again.
Despite such anomalies of the family, they can be quite a normal bunch. For instance, that night they had spaghetti and meatballs for dinner together. They discussed normal things like the eldest daughter, Jazz's day at school or her younger brother, Danny's day in first grade. There was some disagreement as to the idea of using Danny as a dress-up doll for Jazz. And once dinner was done, they helped each other clean up the dirty dishes.
During that one hour every evening, they would be a normal family. The children wished that those who teased them about being a Fenton could see this side of their parents but many people have the tendency to jump to conclusions before obtaining all the facts.
And so, every night, like tonight, the two would sighed at the thought and go off to Danny's bedroom to wait for that night's bedtime story.
Almost everyone close to the youngest Fenton knew of the boy's dream to become an astronaut once he was an adult. The spaceship models, posters of our solar system, star charts, and a telescope were sufficient proof of the young boy's determination to make that dream a reality.
He was looking at the Scorpio constellation through his telescope when their mother walked gracefully in to the NASA-inspired room, donned in a turquoise blue nightgown and robe.
"Looking up at the stars again, I see," Mrs. Fenton said, breaking through the child's silent observance. He quickly turned around and settled himself in his bed. Jazz sat on the edge with her legs tucked close to her.
"What story are we going to hear tonight?" the young red-headed girl wondered aloud. "Probably will have to deal with ghosts."
Hearing her daughter's concerns, she replied, "In a way, yes. But it's more of a legend."
"A legend? Mom, are you sure it's not a urban ghost legend?"
"No dear. I happened to come across the legend itself while on-line. It seemed rather interesting that I thought that you two would want to hear."
By this time, young Danny had interjected before his older sister could say anything else. "Please, Jazz. Let Mommy tell the story."
The girl made a face towards her brother but remained silent.
"Thank you Danny," she gave him a grateful smile. "There is a legend that says before ancient times, there were beings who were neither living nor dead."
"Like the 'undead'?" Jazz asked monotonously. She was clearly not enthused or slightly interested in what seemed to her to be another ghost story without using the actual word 'ghost.'
"No but something else. No one who could see them knew who or what they were. But at night, it would be of no surprise if one of these beings saved a person's life from the evil ghosts and other beings that ruled when the sun fell below the horizon. Before the saved person could express their thanks, they would disappear into the wind, leaving no evidence of ever being there."
"So it's a human with ghost powers? Like a superhero?" Danny queried excitedly, his ocean blue eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Maybe so. But they didn't have abilities like most ghosts are theorized to have. Probably because they didn't consist of ectoplasm, who knows. But they did carry rather unique weapons and had quite the skills. But for some reason, when the ancient age fell upon the world, they disappeared. Some versions say that they simply died away or gone on to another plane of existence. Other versions say that another being other than ghosts arose and they clash in a battle that ended in the sealant of these other beings by sacrificing themselves for the sake of humanity."
"Great story Mom," Jazz complimented half-heartedly and then yawned. "I'll be going to bed now."
As she left her brother's room to go to her own, the young seven-year-old was reminded why her parents were looked down upon. She loved her parents but goodness, must every bedtime story have to involved ghosts in some sort of way! Even when her mother told the story of Pocahontas, she had to involved the ghosts of the ancients in full detail! She sighed in resignation for she knew that she couldn't change her parents and their ways. After all, they wouldn't be her parents, now would they?
Danny, on the other hand, found the legend quite interesting and exciting to hear about such people saving the day. And when his mother kissed him good night and departed from his room, he couldn't help but imagine how his life would be if he had those powers as he fell asleep.
Unknown to him, an azure mist in the shape of a young child floated outside his window. A garbled childish laughter carried onto the wind currents as the shape fell away and the mist dissipated.
If you only knew...
So it's short, what did you expect? It's a prologue.
Anyway, I'm not the type of person who would hold chapters for ransom if I don't receive a certain number of reviews. I do this for fun and to share my stories with others. Though, I must admit that it is rather nice to hear from the readers of what they think, what they like, and what they dislike about my stories.
After all, there is always room for improvement and adjustment. But please, no flames!
Until next time, adieu faithful readers.