Wow, 5 reviews for just the prologue… I am surprised. I didn't expect to get any, in fact.

Thank you; Iblamepie, Invader Johnny, ShadowDragon357, Emmazippy577 and the elf from Alagesia, for reviewing. Oh, and thanks guys for sending me links on where to find the episodes online. I will look through them in my spare time. Eventually.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Danny Phantom. Or Candor.


Sacrifices

Chapter 1; Clunks'n'Clanks


An African-American; looking more-or-less his age, walked in. His green eyes were glazed, burning holes in his PDA, his rimmed glasses seemed to be the only thing protecting them from dissolving in the tiny gadget. Following him, entered two adults, looking in their mid-twenties, undoubtedly his parents.

Three messages hit him at once.

Look up. Smile. Give a warm welcome.

He didn't need to be told twice. Before he could stop himself, he seemed to have made his way half way across the room, shook both the parents' hands, and said some form of greeting he was vaguely aware of.

No. This had to stop. He needs control of his actions.

Offer them the brochure. Invite them to stay in the city.

Instead, he said, "Would you like to take a seat?" The three complied, and soon the four were seated – the kid having no idea as to what's going on, being so interested in his PDA – looked up for the briefest moments. He met Danny's' eyes, and smiled. Danny smiled back.

Offer them the brochure. Invite them to stay in the city.

No. 'Don't go straight to the point. Make small talk.' He instructed himself.

"So," He began, "What brings you to Amity?"

The mother, gave an annoying glance at her son, who shrugged sheepishly, and replied, "Our son, Tucker, needs to be disciplined," She said it so calmly, so sweetly, anyone could easily have mistaken it for something else.

Danny looked at the boy, Tucker, and raised both eyebrows.

Invite them to stay in the city. Invite them to stay in the city.

"Well," Danny said after examining his red beret, "He seems fine to me." Tucker gave him a smile, gratitude sparkling in his eyes.

Invite them to stay in the city. Invite them to stay in the city.

"Yes, but he spends so much time on that thing," The mother stated glaring at the PDA Tucker clutched in his hands, "That his grades are decreasing. He is becoming a social outcast! He needs friends! He needs to get out the house more! He needs fresh air! He needs a life!"

Danny winced as she ranted on and on, and gave Tucker a pleading look. To his surprise, Tucker seemed to be having difficulty holding in his laughter. So did his father, apparently.

Invite them to stay in the city. Invite them to stay in the city. Invite them to stay in the city.

"…you will help, won't you?" The father asked, patting the mother on her shoulder, trying to calm her.

"Yes. We can. But are you sure you want to put your child in this city?" He asked. Tucker seemed to tense up at the distress in his voice, his giggles now gone. But Danny couldn't help it.

Another innocent teenager, who must have done nothing wrong, will enter this city and lose their identity. They will be robots. Photocopies of each other. Have the same interests, have the attitude. No distinction. No ideas of their own. No control. No right to speak and say, or do what they want to on their own free will.

Slightly taken aback by the question, the father took a few moments of consideration. Then, after what seemed like sluggish centuries, he said, "No, we came to an agreement. We know what's best for our son, and we would like you enroll him in the city," His voice, had an icy tone to it, something that he should not mess with.

"But, we can come visit him, right?" The mother asks, suddenly all teary.

"I am afraid not," Danny supplies, with no hint of remorsefulness in his voice. But as he starts to fill in the forms, he glances at Tucker with what he hopes is a reassuring glance. Tucker responds with a strained smile.

After the paperwork was complete, the date set, the three left.

Go home and finish homework.

Danny sighed and slumped in his chair. Another innocent youth will be joining the others.


Clunk, clunk, clunk.

Currently hunched over his study table, Danny stiffened in his position, pen still hovering millimeters above the page. He listened. One met with silence, he resumed scribbling a last-minute project essay, which, knowing him, was probably due in the next day. He froze, however, when he heard it again.

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

Something in the back of his mind was nagging him that he should abandon homework, like always, and check it out. The other part of his brain, the more rational one (that suspiciously resembled Jazz); he supposed, was telling him to ignore it and continue this piece of homework. After a few seconds of having a mental debate frozen in place, he resumed working, pen scraping on paper once again.

Clunk, clunk, clunk.

Well, he was going to fail English anyways. Giving up, he tossed the pen aside, got up, transformed, and flew invisibly out of the room.


I don't really like the shortness, but I wanted the first chapter to be up as soon as possible, and I needed to get Tucker involved. Sam's first appearance is close, don't worry.

Yeah, I don't really like Tucker's parents being strict, but come on, Tucker is so innocent that only super-strict parents will send him to a city like that.

Ok, thanks for reading guys, and please review! Don't hesitate to ask questions.

Next update, a week from today. (But if I am in a good mood, I might post it earlier.)

~Mark the tiny giraffe.