The annoying buzzing noise of the alarm clock stirred Sam awake. She groaned and slapped down the snooze button.
She forced herself up and looked around her room. Empty. Danny wasn't there like he had been every morning when she woke up. Slowly the memory of their conversation yesterday replayed in her head. She had asked him for space, and he agreed to give her some.
She forced herself out of bed and began the ritual of her mornings. She showered, dried her hair, and got dressed for school. The only good thing about this morning was that it was Friday.
As promised, Danny arrived at her house to take her to school. He and Tucker rang the doorbell and stood outside waiting. Sam grabbed her things and rushed down to meet them at the door.
It was a beautiful day out in Amity Park. The sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the bright blue sky. The three friends walked to school chatting and laughing like they always did, Sam and Danny hand in hand.
Sam breathed in the crisp spring air and remarked at how amazing of a day it was.
Before Danny or Tucker could agree with her, Danny's ghost sense escaped from his lips. The ground began to violently shake. All of the citizens of Amity Park watched in horror as Undergrowth's giant mind vines began to rise up all over the city. It attached to every human in its path, all of the people falling under Undergrowth's control.
"GOIND GHOST!" Danny shouted.
He turned Sam and Tucker intangible before the vines could attach to them.
"Undergrowth's mind vines!" Tucker remarked as Danny carried both of them high into the sky and away from the evil plant's reach.
"Where is Undergrowth, though?" Sam questioned, scanning the streets from above.
All they could see was more and more mind vines sprouting, attaching to everything that moved.
"I don't know," Danny said, also searching. "We better get back to Fenton Works before he shows-"
Danny was cut off when a large hand smacked into the back of him. The three of them fell only to be tangled up in rising ghost vines. Undergrowth rose before them, laughing.
Danny looked over to Sam and Tucker, making sure they were okay before speaking.
"I guess someone forgot to call the weed exterminator," Danny growled.
Undergrowth ignored him, and looked directly at Sam.
"Hello, daughter," he spoke only to her. "Are you ready to rejoin the family?"
Sam stared at him wide-eyed, before responding bitterly.
"In your dreams," she spit back.
Danny began focusing on summoning his ice powers. He let the cold spread through the vines that held himself, Tucker, and Sam. Undergrowth could not react quickly enough before Danny shattered the ice and grabbed Tucker and Sam. He flew them in the direction of his home, only to have a vine wrap around his leg. It jerked him back, and his friends crashed onto the ground.
Undergrowth held Danny by his leg in front of his face.
"You will not interfere," Undergrowth scorned him.
Danny did not respond. He raised his hands and shot his ice beam directly at Undergrowth, who became engulfed in ice. The vine holding Danny withered away, but before Danny could destroy Undergrowth, he heard his friends cry for help.
"DANNY!" Sam and Tucker shouted in unison.
Danny looked down to see a mind vine going for both of them.
He dove and pushed them both out of the way, and blasted the vine with his ecto ray.
"You guys okay?" he asked, looking down at them.
"BEHIND YOU!" Tucker shouted, but it was too late.
A mind vine shot for Danny's neck. It attached to him and Danny stiffened in shock. Sam and Tucker watched in horror as their best friend grabbed his head and fell to his knees. He shook and fought against the vine. His eyes flashed from green to normal multiple times. He screamed and thrashed, trying to stay in control.
Undergrowth emerged from the ground next to him, and laughed as he watched Danny struggle.
After a minute of struggle, Danny became still.
"Danny?" Tucker asked.
Danny's eyes rose to meet Tucker and Sam, completely green. He smiled evilly at them.
"Welcome to the family, son," Undergrowth placed his hand on Danny's shoulder.
"Thank you, father," Danny responded in a monotone voice.
Everything froze around Tucker and Sam. Their only hope was now gone. Everyone they knew and loved was under Undergrowth's control. They were the only two who remained free.
"Your first task is to eliminate anyone who is a threat to our family," Undergrowth instructed Danny.
Danny glared over to his two friends, his hands glowing green with energy.
"I will," Danny said, floating towards Sam and Tucker.
"Danny, it's us!" Sam tried. "We're you're best friends!"
Danny ignored her comment and moved closer to them, raising his hands. Tucker grabbed Sam's wrist and took a step back.
"Danny, it's me!" she tried again. "Sam! Your girlfriend!"
"Save your breath, child," Undergrowth laughed. "He obeys me, and I command him to destroy you."
Tucker pulled Sam behind him just in time. Danny fired an ecto blast in the spot she stood. The cement burned and green smoke rose from where she had been moments before.
She stared at Danny, tears beginning to stream out of her face. He looked back at her with a dark smile on his face.
"Next one won't miss," he promised.
Tucker pulled Sam forward, and the two began a sprint towards Fenton Works.
"AFTER THEM!" Undergrowth commanded.
Danny did not hesitate. He bolted after his friends.
"We have to get into the Ghost Zone and get Frostbite to help us!" Tucker explained to Sam as they ran.
They dodged Danny's blasts left and right, nearly getting hit a few times. Tucker and Sam barely made it to the front door. Suddenly, a vine wrapped around Tucker's waist and pulled him back.
"Tucker!" Sam cried.
The vine dragged Tucker over to Danny and Undergrowth. Danny raised his hand, smiling.
"Wait, "Undergrowth inspected him. "He is able-bodied. We shall put him to work before disposing of him."
Undergrowth snapped, and a mind vine sprouted out and attached to Tucker's neck.
"Sam!" Tucker cried. "GO!"
Sam could only watch in horror as Tucker's expression began to fall. His eyes became glazed over in a bright green. The vine that held his waist released him, and he landed looking up at her.
Danny, Tucker, and Undergrowth all smiled up at her. She looked helplessly back at them, knowing she couldn't win.
"I have reserved the job of destroying her for you," Undergrowth looked at Danny.
Danny smiled darkly and nodded.
"It will be an honor, father."
When Danny looked back up, Sam was gone. He scowled when he realized the front door was open. Sam had made it inside and was descending the staircase to the basement. He phased through the ground, following her.
Sam had just made it to the Spector Speeder when Danny arrived in the room.
"Stop, Sam," he called.
She froze opening the door, and looked over to Danny. He raised his hand out to her.
"You are a threat to my family," he told her. "I can't allow you to live."
"Danny," Sam chocked out. "Danny, it's me. It's Sam. Your Sam. You promised you would always protect me. You love me."
Danny raised an eyebrow at her, but his expression remained dark. He smiled.
"The growth is far more important than you will ever be," he replied.
Before Sam could even comprehend what he had just said, he shot an energy blast at her. The force knocked her into the Spector Speeder, and she clutched her stomach in pain.
Danny only laughed as she raised her hand to see is covered in blood.
"Now die," Danny whispered.
He raised his hand once more, charging his power and aiming directly at Sam.
She looked down at the control panel of the Speeder and slammed her hand down on the start button.
Danny watched in shock as the front windshield closed her in safely. The ghost portal opened, and the Speeder's rockets roared. Before he could stop her, Sam took off into the Ghost Zone.
Danny rose up to follow, but Undergrowth appeared.
"Hault," he commanded.
Danny stopped and bowed obediently before him.
Undergrowth glared at the now closing portal. He knew he wouldn't be able to control Danny in the other realm. The vine would not spread long enough.
"Father," Danny spoke. "I've inflicted serious damage on her body. There's no way she can survive in the Ghost Zone as injured as she is."
Undergrowth pondered for a minute. He was doubtful until he noticed some of Sam's blood pooled on the ground.
"Very well," he finally looked back at Danny. "You have pleased me."
Danny smiled darkly and bowed again.
"Thank you, father," Danny responded.
"Come, son," Undergrowth commanded. "I have many plans for you."
Danny nodded. Undergrowth phased through the ceiling of the lab. Danny looked down at the blood, and back to the portal one last time before following.
Meanwhile, in the ghost zone, Sam floated idly in the Speeder. She had managed to grab the emergency first aid kit from under the seat and tried to stop her bleeding. When she had a majority of the blood wiped, she looked to her stomach to see the left half of it was completely burned and cut. More blood quickly spilled out of her wound, and she began to feel dizzy.
'There's too much blood' she thought to herself. 'My only chance is to find Frostbite and see if he can help me.'
She tried the cloth to her stomach tightly, hoping to stop some of the blood.
She then turned on the autopilot feature.
"Realm of the Far Frozen," she managed to say.
The dashboard responded with multiple beeps, and a virtual map appeared. It traced a route from Sam's current location to an island across the Ghost Zone.
"Expected time, three hours," the Speeder announced as it took off.
Sam could not stay awake any longer. She fainted on the seat as the rocket flew through the darkness of the Ghost Zone. Little did she know, she was the earth's only hope.