Thank goodness for free wifi at work… This started out as something totally different but then it grew a life of its own. To be honest I love the way it came out and if not for the dreaded Phantom Planet I could totally see something like this in the show happening. In any case enjoy!
Danny and his class go on a field trip only to get captured by Vlad! What will Danny do?
The Courage to Protect.
What seemed like a life time ago Danny had loved field trips, it was a chance to get out of school and just have a good time. Since getting his powers however, Danny had begun to hate them. Leaving school meant he wasn't there if a ghost attacked and ever since a certain incident where Danny and Valerie had disappeared on a field trip several hours from Amity Park to fight a ghost, his parents had volunteered to be a chaperone each time. Right now they were sitting on a fancy bus in the very back their seats facing each other over a small pull out table where cards lay strewn about. Sam sat next to him while Tucker and Valerie sat on the other side next to each other.
"It wasn't even that big of a deal." Danny complained to Sam, Tucker, and Valerie. "I mean we came right back to Amity Park safe and sound. For pity's sake we are 17 now!"
His friends gave him sympathetic looks and Valerie shrugged. It was because of that incident that she had found out his secret identity. Danny had to rescue her from a ghost that hated her father. Walker had gotten involved because the ghost had dragged her into the ghost zone and one thing had led to another with her discovering his secret. She had taken it rather well and since then had become a valuable member of Team Phantom as Red Huntress. She had even started dating Tucker recently to his absolute joy.
"I don't know Danny." Tucker said slinging one arm around Valerie's shoulders "If I were them I would have freaked too. I mean you guys were there then poof! The next thing we knew you two were calling from Amity Park which was still 3hrs from us. We are all lucky you two didn't get completely banned from field trips after that fiasco."
"We went through a portal. You know how portals mess with time and distance." Danny sighed and the others chuckled while Tucker leaned into Valerie.
Valerie slapped Tuckers arm off her turning her cards away. "No cheating Tucker, and while I do kind of agree, his parents being chaperones every time is just plain ridiculous."
As if on cue Dannys father Jack lumbered back over to them a wide grin on his face. "Everything going ok back here kids?" his voice boomed covering their groans and everyone else's giggles on the bus.
Dannys head hit the table and Sam forced a smile to her face as she answered tersely "For the fifth time in the past forty minutes yes we are fine. Thank you for constantly checking up on us on a moving bus where we have no way to go anywhere."
Jack completely missed the sarcasm and beamed "No problem kiddos! Just doing my chaperone duties!" A ham sized fist pounded his chest as if in emphasis "I'm doing a bang up job huh kids!"
The three of them face palmed as Danny slowly started beating his head none to gently against the table. Jack continued to stand there completely oblivious to their discomfort until Valerie spoke up.
"Mr Fenton I thought I heard Dash complaining about motion sickness. Why don't you see if he is ok?"
"Great idea! It's probably Ghosts!" Jack boomed and rushed back up the aisle.
"He's going to kill me for that when we finally get off this bus you know." Danny said his voice muffled by the table.
Valerie winced "Sorry Danny. I wasn't thinking."
Danny sighed and slumped back in his seat not a mark to be seen on his head "Its fine we haven't done our little dance today anyways so at least he will have a reason."
"Why do you put up with his crap? When I was first kicked out of the A list and I started hanging with you guys he tried that with me I nearly broke his arm." Valerie asked.
Danny went bolt upright his eyes blazing and flickering a greenish color. "He tried to hit you?!" Danny snarled
Valerie dropped her cards to the table seeming to accept that the game was over. "No he didn't. If he had I really would have broken his arm. Besides I can take care of myself when it comes to humans. We all can."
"Even still he tried to bully you." Danny growled under his breath. The thought of Dash laying a hand on one of his family was more than enough to bring his fiercely protective instincts to the surface. "That's why I take his crap. It doesn't hurt me at all to be hit by him and I'd rather be picked on than someone who couldn't take it." Danny answered
"Your hero streak is showing." Sam whispered kissing him on the cheek and Danny blushed.
Valerie and Tucker grinned at the exchange, since they had started going out Sam and Danny had finally become a couple as well. They all worked together well both fighting ghosts and as a group of friends. As if in agreement that the game was in fact over they all tossed their remaining cards into the pile at the center of the table.
"So do we even know where we are going?" Tucker asked gathering the cards and sliding them back into their box.
"Nope." Sam answered "Supposedly it's a surprise they even sent this bus to pick us up."
The bus made a turn bouncing on a dirt road and the four glanced out their window curiously. They seemed to be in the middle of nowhere with no one around which seemed extremely strange. Slowly the bus rolled to a stop brakes squealing slightly as the wheels dipped into another pothole jolting everyone roughly.
"Excuse me good sir why are we stopping?" Lancer asked
The four overheard the question and their heads whipped around already looking for signs of trouble
"Wait does Lancer not know where we are going?" Danny asked something about this whole thing suddenly not feeling right. A gasp escaped his lips a blue mist exiting his mouth and the four of them practically leapt from their seats.
"We need to get off this bus!" Danny yelled capturing everyone's attention at once.
"Dear boy its already far too late for that." Plasmius said his voice echoing over the pa system the bus had. He shimmered into view just outside the front windshield.
Students screamed, his parents yelled GHOST, Lancer feinted as their so called driver disintegrated, and a pink smoke began to billow in from the vents as students tried to scramble away from said vents. Swiftly Danny slipped behind his friends and turned intangible ready to rip the back of the bus open but as soon as his hands made contact with the metal a current went through him so strong he almost lost consciousness. Choking back a scream Danny stumbled back into Tucker who caught him and swayed, whatever was in the gas making everyone sleepy. Valerie had her gun out but its blasts were ineffective on the windows and Sam had cloth pressed over their faces though it didn't seem to help. Tucker dropped to his knees taking Danny with him and weakened by the previous shock Danny swiftly lost consciousness in the pink haze. The last thing he heard was Plasmius's evil laugh echoing dully in the confines of the bus.
Sam woke first and groaned as she sat up. Valerie was half on top of her still passed out and Tucker lay nearby but Danny was missing.
"Danny?" Sam yelled not caring who heard her as she took in her surroundings. They were in a rectangular cell completely devoid of any items of comfort. Bars that glowed slightly crisscrossed the front of the cell that were too small for even a small child to fit through. The other five walls around them were white with no distinctive features. A white wall stretched as far as she could see on the other side of the bars and she couldn't tell from her position how far said wall was from them.
Her voice seemed to wake Valerie up because she groaned managing a semi upright state. "What happened and where are we?" she asked.
"Fruitloop got us, we are in a cage again, and Danny is missing." Sam summarized and Valerie swiftly got to her feet swaying slightly as a wave of dizziness passed through her.
"I'll check Tucker and the walls you want look out?" Valerie asked
They had been captured a few times in their exploits and since they were almost used to waking up in cages or restraints they had broken down jobs for each of them when such a thing occurred. Sam nodded moving towards the bars and looked out. The back wall was one massive cage. One that she was happy to see contained the rest of the missing class as well as her teacher and Dannys parents. She didn't see Danny though and that worried her most of all. She could hear groans as the rest of the class awoke and Lancers exclamation of "Eye of the tiger! Where are we?"
"The field trip from hell." Sam muttered then looked down the other way. There were no other cells but there seemed to be a door about half way down the hallway. The hall dead ended with nothing else of note to take in rather than the cameras all over the place.
Tucker groaned, a sound Sam was happy to hear and once he was awake Sam told them of her observations. Tucker checked himself and blanched "My PDA is gone!" He cried leaping to his feet as he checked himself again. Sam and Valerie checked themselves over too and discovered that they too were technology and weaponless.
"Fruitloops getting smarter." Tucker bemoaned and Valerie punched him in the shoulder.
"Not smart enough." Swiftly she pulled two bobby pins out of her hair and twisted them into a set of lock picks. A small braid over her ear contained a small torsion wrench.
"Nice" Sam murmured impressed despite herself before the opening of a door caught her attention once more. She flew to the barred door ignoring the screams of her stupid classmates. Plasmius floated down the hallway dragging a limp Danny.
"Danny!" Sam shouted horrified to see blood dripping from his body onto the floor.
"Back away from the door girl." Plasmius snarled and Sam glared at him through the bars.
"Make me you sick bastered." Sam snarled right back.
"What did you do to my baby?!" Maddy screamed from the back cell making Sam roll her eyes.
Plasmius ignored her and lifted Danny a little higher by the back of his jacket his hand glowing a eerie pink. "Move or I rip his throat out."
Sam swallowed hard. He seemed serious, more serious and insane than normal which made Sam pause. Slowly she backed up and Plasmius slid a key into the lock before throwing Danny inside the cell. Sam caught him and Plasmius slammed the door shut locking it all the while glaring at the four of them.
"The walls and doors are Ghost proof so don't try anything stupid, although those cuffs should prevent that. I'll be back in a few hours to try and convince you dear boy. Hopefully you will have a better answer by then." Plasmius said then turned and shot an ectoblast at the other cell causing more screams. "After all I don't think I have enough provisions or patience for everyone to survive."
Danny growled semi conscious his voice weak as he turned in Sams arms."Never you crazed up Fruitloop." He hissed and Plasmius sneered then turned and stalked away.
"What happened?" Sam asked as she gently removed his hooded sweatshirt and began tearing it up for use as bandages. It was torn up anyways and Sam could see several gashes and burns decorating Dannys skin. Two cuffs encircled his wrists and a belt that looked vaguely similar to the specter deflector encircled his waist.
Danny sighed. "I came to before we got here and tried to take him out. He shorted out my powers and knocked me out. When I came to again I was tied down with these on my wrists and he was demanding I join him or else. I refused, obviously and he started threatening you guys. He brought me here so I could see you before he started killing you."
Sam, Tucker, and Valerie looked at him in horror. "Kill us? Has he finally gone off the deep end?" Valerie demanded.
Danny grimaced "I think so. He was really serious. I can't risk you guys and I didn't see any way out when he was dragging me back here. We are literally in the middle of nowhere. If I join him he promised to set you guys free."
Sam shook him the fury on her face easy to read. "Don't you even dare think about joining him. We will get out of this. You protect us and we will protect you. Just like always."
Danny smiled raising one hand to Sams face before pulling her down into a kiss. "I love you." He said and Sam blushed.
"Mushiness aside Sam is right. I know how he works because I once worked for him. No matter what you do it will never be enough. He will hold everything you love over your head and if you try to resist well…" Valerie trailed off one hand rubbing at a spot on her collarbone. She had once been employed by Plasmius to hunt Danny down but once she realized who he was she had refused. He had turned his technology against her badly injuring her and it was only the intervention of Danny and his friends that saved her life.
Danny nodded sitting upright with Sams help "I know but I can't let him hurt you and with these stupid things on I don't know what else to do." He flashed the cuffs on his wrist at her and Valerie grinned
"I see keyholes on those." She said and scooted forwards lock picks in hand.
Within 15 minutes she had managed to get the cuffs and the belt off Danny. Sighing in relief Danny had tried his smaller powers while being mindful of the cameras and found them fully operational. Sam handed him the ripped off portions of his jacket sleeves to hide the fact that he no longer had the cuffs on as Tucker pocketed them for later use. They hid the belt under the remains of his shredded jacket.
"So do we want to pop the cage now or wait till later when he comes back?" Tucker asked.
Danny sighed. "Now probably, It will be easier to fight him if I can go ghost and I don't want to do that in front of everyone."
Tucker grinned "I figured you would say that. So you and Sam go take care of Fruitloop while Valerie and I get these idiots out?"
Danny opened his mouth possibly to object but Sam beat him to it. "Don't even try me. I am coming with you." Sam snapped and Danny looked down sheepish
"Ok then." Valerie said clapping her hands together "Lets get on with it. I want to be in bed by 10 tonight because we have that test in history tomorrow."
The others groaned at her reminder and they all climbed to their feet Valerie going to the bars first so she could pick the lock.
"Kids are you alright?" Maddy called as she saw Valeries hands poke out from between the bars.
All four of them rolled their eyes and whispered "Standard question" at once amongst themselves before Danny decided to answer. "Yeah mom we are fine, working on a way to get us all out so hold tight."
Several voices cried out at once "Fenturd do something right? Losers helping us? Sweetie Its dangerous! And "Lord of the Flies!" were some of his favorites though.
Again all four of them rolled their eyes while Danny answered. "Yeah don't worry about it it's going to be ok."
A moment later the lock clicked and Valerie pushed the bars forward with a hissed "Yes!"
As they were about to walk out Danny froze his ears picking up something he knew they couldn't hear. "Get back in!" he hissed and Valerie swung the bars shut making sure they didn't clang. Luckily the door stayed where it was appearing closed although it was no longer locked. The door in the hall banged open a moment later and they heard footsteps approaching. Danny shooed his friends behind him pulling his shirt down so you couldn't tell he no longer had the belt on.
"Oh Daniel…" Plasmius sang in a forced jolly tone. He stopped just outside the bars and Danny swallowed hard as he saw what was in his hands. It was the Plasmius Maximus, something he couldn't afford to get hit with if he wanted everyone to have a chance of getting out alive.
"Come here boy, its time for your medicine." Plasmius sang his eyes bright with madness.
"Don't you dare hurt my baby boy!" Maddy cried and Plasmius chuckled.
When Danny didn't move Plasmius frowned "Do I need to get a hostage? I suppose I could always start with your father."
"No I'm coming, don't hurt them." Danny said his voice soft stepping forward even as Sam grabbed his hand.
"Danny…" Sam whispered a question in her eyes and he flashed a smile that said get ready.
Sam, Tucker, and Valerie tensed ready for whatever came next.
"Boy…" Plasmius ground out his hand gripping the Plasmius Maximus so tight Danny was surprised it hadn't broken.
"Do you really need that too?" Danny asked making sure his voice was pitched and whiny sounding as he stepped forward his whole body tensed and ready.
Plasmius grimaced "Extra insurance." He answered glancing down at the tool without thinking.
It was a distraction and Danny took it for all it was worth. Barreling across the cage he leapt into the air and threw himself at the cage door feet first. His feet smashed into the unlocked door and it crashed open smashing into Plasmius and sending him flying. Danny hit the ground back first for only a brief second before Sam was there pulling him to his feet. Tucker and Valerie were already out of the cage while Plasmius struggled to get up. Tucker darted for the back cage as Valerie snatched up the Plasmius Maximus before Plasmius could grab it while Sam and Danny exited the cage. She threw the weapon to Danny who caught it then the unthinkable happened. Plasmius moved faster than Danny though possible. His legs swung around catching Valeries and tripping her. She hit the ground hard and before Danny could move forward Plasmius snatched her up by the neck squeezing and making her cry out as he backed up a pace.
"Valerie!" Tucker screamed and ran forward only to have Sam stop him.
"Let her go Plasmius." Danny growled his voice dangerous.
"Ohhhh the scary eyes. Too bad you cant do more." Plasmius sneered as he flew up into the air to maintain what he felt was a superior position "Tell you what I'll give her back if you give me the Maximus back."
"Done." Danny answered and dropped the weapon to the floor before kicking it over to him
Plasmius grinned as the weapon slid to a stop a foot away. "I don't know why you want her back anyways. She was practically useless when she worked for me."
A snarl ripped from Dannys lips and he was about to launch himself at Plasmius when suddenly the man grunted in pain. Plasmius had brought Valerie close to him when he had insulted her and Valerie had taken full advantage. One fist slammed into his nose as her booted foot slammed solidly into Plasmiuss crotch. Plasmius dropped her and Danny darted forward, snatched her up before she hit the ground, then he practically flew to where Tucker and Sam stood mere feet from the main cage.
"Idiot girl." Plasmius huffed holding himself as he managed to maintain a hover mere inches from the ground. "I'll kill you first for that."
Danny took several steps away from his friends placing himself before them.
"Danny sweetheart stay back!" his mom called and Danny half turned to give them a smile.
Tucker clutched Valerie to him as she rubbed her neck though their eyes were on him silently supporting him and giving him faith. Sam gazed at him her eyes filled with such love Danny could feel it, no words were needed between them. Just beyond them the others in the cage were all staring at him with awe fear and respect etched on their features.
"I will protect you all." Danny swore every fiber of his being crying out with what needed to be done. He had always said that if it came down to giving up his secret and saving someone's life he would always give up his secret first.
"And we will protect you." His three friends said in unison and Danny knew that they would.
Pride and love surged through him, they knew what he was going to do and they would support him for better or worse.
Danny let his eyes flash green as he glared down Plasmius who had picked up the Plasmius Maximus.
"You're out of options boy. Come here before I do something drastic." Plasmius snarled at the end of his patience.
Danny stood fully upright one foot trailing back slightly as he got into his trademark fighting stance. "I will never join you, I will never become what you want, and I will never stand for you to hurt another in my presence again. So leave now before I do something drastic."
"Plasmius laughed "You wouldn't dare." He said taking a step forward.
Dannys eyes narrowed. "Very well. I'm Going Ghost!" He said and in the next instant transformed. The rings of light swept over him leaving his hair white, eyes green, and the phantom symbol emblazoned on his chest.
Plasmius stared at him speechless and Danny attacked before he could get over his shock. Snatching the Maximus from Plasmius's grip he swung it down smashing it to pieces on the floor breaking Plasmius from his shock.
"You idiot!" Plasmius roared as he slammed an ecto charged fist into Dannys shoulder. Danny took the blow with little more than a grunt and landed one of his own smashing Plasmius solidly in the jaw and chest throwing him back a few feet. Danny advanced and Plasmius lashed out his hands twisted into claws as he tried to rip out Dannys throat. Danny jerked his head back snatching the offending hand before it made a second pass. Twisting the hand sharply to the side Plasmius had the choice to either follow or have is arm and wrist shattered. His body followed his wrist and Danny chucked him bodily into the wall head first.
"Had enough yet?" Danny asked hovering a few centimeters from the ground as Plasmius pulled himself from the Man sized hole in the wall.
"You will fall!" Plasmius roared charging forward again in reckless abandon throwing ecto blasts as he moved forward.
Danny shielded everyone behind him and took a weak ectoblast to the chest knocking him back a step. Fed up Danny called on his core and thrust his hands forward a ball of green blue energy firing from his hands. Instantly the temperature dropped in the wake of his attack and it struck Plasmius mere feet from him tossing him down the hall like a rag doll where he lay totally still. He released the shield behind him and slowly took a step forward watching for any sign of movement on Plasmius part. He remained still until Danny was practically at his feet.
With the speed of a striking snake Plasmius sat up thrusting his power out in a concentrated wave of energy that smashed into the half made shield Danny instantaneously erected. The blow was a powerful end game kind of blow and it sent him soaring backwards to come to a crashing halt almost at his friends feet.
"Danny!" they cried as one running to his aid
Danny sat up shaking his head as they helped him up to his feet. "Forgot about that move." Danny said sheepishly looking down at his burnt forearms where the blast had made it through the shield "Meh what's another scar right guys?" Danny asked eliciting a chuckle from them.
"Look out!" A voice screamed from the cage drawing their attention away from Dannys already healing injuries.
Plasmius was back on his feet stalking towards them a look of maddened fury on his face.
"Get behind me and cover your ears. Its high time I finished this." Danny said and once he was on his feet again his friends nodded backing all the way up to the bars whispering at the others to cover their ears as they did.
Danny braced himself, took a deep breath, and as Plasmius was only three feet away hands glowing with a deadly pink glow he unleashed his wail. The walls shook from the force of the blast and it smashed into Plasmius knocking him off his feet and sent him careening into the very back wall. Danny could tell he was screaming as wave after wave pounded him.
The wail stripped Plasmius of his power reverting him back to human before knocking him totally unconscious. Danny cut off the wail the use of so much power reverting his own self back to human as well. He swayed and Sam caught him swiftly wrapping one of his arms over her shoulder as one of her arms went about his waist keeping him from falling to the floor.
"We need to put the belt and cuffs on him before he wakes up." Danny managed refusing to black out.
"Tucker and I will handle it. You have some questions to answer." Sam said before lowering him to the ground. Valerie came over and sat down next to him propping him up as he regained some of his strength.
"Hey Danny? That was pretty awesome." Valerie whispered and Danny laughed
They ignored the shouts behind them as they watched Sam and Tucker work. After grabbing the belt from the cell Tucker went with Sam and together they managed to put the cuffs and belt on Vlad. He was still unconscious so they dragged him into the cell they had been trapped in before locking him in since they had found the keys in one of his pockets.
They returned to Dannys side and crouched down eyeing Danny curiously. The cell behind them had long since gone silent and Danny sighed.
"I hate this." He said just loud enough that only his friends could hear.
They grinned at him and with their help Danny stood before turning and facing his classmates, parents, and Teacher. They were all gawking at him and Tucker pressed the keys they lifted off Vlad into his hand.
"I know you all probably have a ton of questions and that's fine but before I let you out you have to promise to save your questions for the bus. I don't want to find any other nasty surprises waiting for us and I don't need to be distracted as we try to get out of here. Agreed?" Danny asked and over a dozen nods answered him. "Good. Follow Tucker, Sam or Valeries, orders if I have to fight anything else."
With that said he transformed into Phantom once more and floated over to the cage door where his parents and Lancer stood. "Heh, I guess this explains all my late absences and homework huh?" Danny asked trying for a joke. Lancer simply nodded seemingly unable to do anything else and Danny unlocked the cage backing up as it swung open.
His parents still hadn't said anything and Danny shifted in the air nervously "Uh mom, dad…." He didn't get to finish as they lunged at him sweeping him up in such a tight hug that Danny nearly went intangible for sheer self preservation.
"We are so proud of you son." Jack said as they released him
Maddy swiped a tear from her cheek as she nodded saying "My baby boy is a hero."
Danny felt a great weight lift off his chest. He had told Vlad once that his parents would accept him for who he was because he was their son. He hadn't been totally sure though since it had really only been lately that they had started to believe that not all ghost were evil ectoplasmic scum. Danny looked over his parents shoulders at the rest of the class who were for the most part gaping and in various states of shock. Danny grinned and turned his back to them he would answer any questions they had on the bus.
His friend waited for him and he moved to their sides wrapping one hand in Sams. Whatever this place threw at him, whatever life threw at him, Danny knew he could take it. He had his friends, he had his parents, hell he even had his teacher in on his secret and they all had accepted him.
As they moved towards the door that would lead to their freedom Danny whispered
"I will protect you all."
"And we will protect you." A dozen voices answered
Danny grinned and knew that they would.
Whew that was a long one! Hope you enjoyed it!
