It was cold outside, and the harsh winds nipped at Danny's nose as he found himself…someplace. All he knew was that it was oddly familiar, and that he felt…like something was coming.

He walked around, his hands in his jean pockets to keep them warm. Danny wasn't often affected by cold, but it was just…chilly to be outside in the open. Another harsh wind blew, and Danny could swear it was just wanting to turn him into a Popsicle.

Walking around, he located what appeared to be a park. The only thing was that everything was rusty, rickety, or destroyed. A slide was snapped in two, a couple rusty swings swung from wind, and the monkey bars looked like they would shatter upon human contact.

"What happened here?" he asked aloud, feeling guilty. He should've been there. Maybe, he could've helped them fix up the park, so the town wouldn't be a ghost town.

Ghost town. Park.

Danny gasped, a harsh wind pulse him walking back causing him to fall on the ground. This was…this had been Amity Park. He recognized the fountain in the distance, from where Sam wished she'd never met him (long story). There was no water dripping, and the bottom level was brown from icky water.

Danny instantly felt more than guilty. "I should've been here," he mumbled, walking over and leaning over the pond. It was also coated in a light lair of ice, at which shattered upon Danny's light touch.

"But you were here."

Danny swirled around, smiling with relief as he saw the familiar purple eyes. "Sam! Are you okay?"

Danny frowned, suddenly remembering what had happened in the school. He had…lost consciousness. After that…even waking up…it was all a blur…

Sam backed away frantically. "Don't touch me!" she cried, holding up her hands. "Go away, you freak!" Her eyes were filled with fear and hate, all of it directed at Danny.

"Sam?" Danny called, wondering if what he was seeing was true. "Why are you…?"

"Just go away!" she cried, reaching behind her and pulling out a ghost pistol. She aimed it at Danny, steadying her hand. "Leave now, freak! Before I make you! You've done enough damage!"

Danny's breath caught him. Sam…hated him? That couldn't be right. Why, he remembered…Danny had liked her. He did like her. But…He thought she liked him, too, even if he was too clueless to admit it.

What had he done? He vaguely recalled being kidnapped…by something…but surely he returned, right? He was there now, wasn't he? Shouldn't Sam be hugging him, glad he was safe and okay?

Something whizzed past Danny's ear, and he moved just in time to dodge a green bullet.

Sam had fired at him.

"Leave!" she hollered, taking a large step closer as she put her hand on the trigger again. "LEAVE!"

Danny took off running away, fear and guilt all up in him. Sam hated him. She wanted him gone and away. What…what was happening?

Danny turned, heading into a quick building. He had entered a church, and sighed slightly. The cross that usually was on the alter was broken and cracked, and cups were shattered across the floor, along with candles, chairs, and decorations.

Someone had been in and trashed the place.

"Danny?"

He knew that voice. Danny shot around, seeing the outside where the graveyard was. Slowly, he walked out, wondering if he could find out why he knew that voice. "Hello?"

"Is it really you?"

Danny looked down, looked up, left, and right. No one was there, and the voice sounded scared, like it needed protecting.

"Yes, it's me. Where are you?"

There was a loud crash from the distance, and out walked Valerie Gray, in her hunting suit, eyes filled with courage.

"Time for you to go to the hell you belong, bastard," she sneered, throwing a few discs at him.

Danny panicked. He was in his human form, and Valerie was attacking him. He had—she would—they always… Didn't she accept him?

"Valerie! Stop!" he cried, rolling to escape another blast.

"Stop what? A freak like you from taking over the world? Not in your dreams!" She launched a series of blasts, of which Danny luckily dodged and took off running.

He ran deeper into the cemetery, finally tripping and landing face first. He scurried behind a gravestone, holding his breath in hopes that he wouldn't be found.

That is, until his eyes fell on the gravestone.

Sam, Tucker, Mom, Dad, Jazz…all of them, on it, all of them, dead.

But…he had just seen Sam a second ago! True, she had almost killed him, but…

They couldn't be dead! He had worked so hard, given up everything… No.

Danny's breathing became sharp, and his head began to hurt drastically.

"You're a freak, Danny!"

"Mom?" Danny called, shooting up to look for the source of the voice.

"What makes you think we'd ever love a freak?"

"Tucker?"

"My own son has betrayed me! A little freak. Who wants a son for a freak?"

"Dad?" Danny's voice was weak, and his eyes began to fill up with tears.

"I can't believe I even dated you at one time! You're such a loser!"

"Valerie…?"

"I thought you were cool. I thought it was fun to help you, little brother. Now I just see what a freak you are! You insult me and science!"

"Jazz…"

"I can't believe you."

It was Sam.

"I had trusted you. Why did you have to become a freak? Why are you not normal? WHY ARE YOU A FREAK?"

Danny exploded, tears bawling out hard. They all hated him. They…no one…they had…even though he thought…

He wasn't accepted.

He was hated by the ones he loved, and everything seemed…hopeless.

North sat in his office in the Pole, staring at the ice sculpture he had made. He knew it wasn't finished, but he couldn't quiet place where he got the inspiration to make it, all he knew was that is was lovely. All he had to do was add a tad bit of texture to one of the feathers hanging, and the ice dream catcher would be completed.

Suddenly, the door flew open, causing North to gasp as he knocked over the dream catcher. Luckily, he caught it, saving it.

The yeti that had opened the door didn't even notice as he began to spat out gibberish, sounding desperate.

North rubbed his temples. "How many times have I asked you to knock?" he stressed, but the yeti ignored him and kept rambling. Although North was having trouble catching everything he said, he caught one word. "Pitch? What's going on?"

The yeti started over.

North's eyes widened as he shot up, racing for the globe. It was all together, the lights of children blinking on and off. Even little Jamie's light blinked with it.

North expected the black sand to flow along it, but it never came. It was so quick, what happened next, that it would forever be a slight blur to everyone.

The lights shut off.

A few elves screamed in fear, utterly terrified of what was happening.

"How long has it been?"

North swirled around, hoping and not hoping o see the man who he thought was there. The only thing he saw, though, was a shadow move out if the corner of his eye.

"Eight years?"

North glared, taking out his two swords and holding then steady. "More like nine," North spat. How could he be back so soon? How did he get enough energy to…just return, even?

"Ah," Pitch replied, materializing in front of North. North held his stance, planning on slicing the Nan's head off if he took a single step closer. "Is that any way to treat a guest?"

North laughed sarcastically. "Please. This is me being merciful on you. What do you want?"

Pitch just laugh, the white fangs standing out in the dark.

"I want you Guardians to be nothing," he spat. "I want you to shrivel up and die. I want revenge more than ever before. I want everyone to fear ME!"

North launched a sword at the man's chest, but Pitch just became swallowed up by shadows. He panted as the lights flashed on the next second, light fear and a lot of shock on his face.

"I've got to summon the other Guardians."

Danny cracked open an eye, which shot open the next second. Where was he? How did he get here? What happened to Valerie? What about Sam? His family?

He sighed when he realized they were just a dream, and that they either didn't know or did love him.

But his eyes filled with realization as he realized the predicament he was in. With his arms and legs still bound, he couldn't very well move all that credibly. He could fly out, maybe, but the bands prevented him from going intangible. Did they prevent him from being invisible? Danny tried, and was happy when his entire body turned invisible, but his hope deflated when the sand didn't vanish as well.

"Come on!" Danny told himself, sending all this energy into turning the bonds intangible and invisible. He was met with no luck. He threw his head down, gritting his teeth a he tried again.

And again.

And again.

Finally, he called the blue rings to wash over him and change him into Phantom. He called a small ball of ectoplasm to light up the little prison he was in as he stood up.

To his astonishment, it wasn't even really a prison. But above him were hundreds —if not thousands of cages. He frowned, seeing the slightly dent edges and wide open doors. Apparently, something had been in everyone of them.

Anger filled Danny, knowing that whatever had him had probably caught thousands of other innocent creatures.

"Awake so soon?"

Danny shot around, stumbling backwards, and landing hard on his bum. Fear was long gone, overcome by anger and courage. It could do whatever it wanted to him, but touching others would earn it a good beating from Phantom.

"Yeah. Whatcha gonna do about it?" he challenged, his eyes lighting up the entire room from the vibrant glow.

It shrugged, the yellow eyes glaring darkly. "Nothing, really. You're a little freak, right?"

Danny's eye widened.

"The only thing you deserve is to be destroyed, but that's not something I want with you."

Danny roared, rising and running to slam himself into whatever had him captive. But it just fell into the shadows, only to rise back out when Danny passed it.

"Tisk, tisk, my boy."

"Who–What are you?" Danny demanded, turning on his heels to face the man. He was hovering over the ground, ready to fly and dodge an attack in an instant. His eyes held determination, but fear was shinning through a mask of bravado.

"Ever hear of the Boogie Man?" it asked, the white fangs becoming clear through the vile smirk.

"Sort of," Danny replied, scrunching his face. "But my parents claimed there was always a ghost. Only my friend Tucker told me about it, like, ten years ago."

It sneered in anger. "No one in that universe has feared me?"

"Newsflash, the highest fear of the world today is a ghostly invasion. Maybe a nuclear war. But seeing as some ghosts (but few) are more powerful then that…Yeah."

Danny didn't mention he was more powerful than a warhead with his ghostly wail.

"And you never answered my question," Danny persisted.

It frowned, then let a small smirk cross its face. "I am Pitch Black, bringer of nightmares. I'm also the Boogie Man, but because you lack that knowledge, let me reinforce it!" Pitch raised a hand, and four black horses charged up, ready to fight Danny, who was still in his binds. "Like them? They're my fearlings."

Danny's eyes widened in true fear as he realized what was coming next, and he was virtually powerless to stop it.

"Get him."

See, I will probably never update this fast again. Like, ever. But, after waking up this morning with SO many alerts on my phone, I was...Just...SO HAPPY! :D

Yay for feedback!

I forgot to mention I do not own Danny Phantom (even though he's hot), or any RotG characters.

Yep.

Chapter length will rang from 1,000-3,000 at most. I usually divide them in two.

If you find any mistakes PLEASE tell me! I typed this on my phone during school, and, well...There are bound to be lots of mistakes. And I didn't read over it to double-check.

Until next time,

~Jet