Back in Amity Park Team Phantom were on their nightly patrol, making sure that nothing was out and about that would threaten the peace and safety of their town. As they traveled in their different directions they all saw that there really wasn't a lot going on that night, which was odd certainly for them. Letting out a bit of a disgruntled sigh Danny reached up to his Fenton Phone and called the others. "Guys, I think we should pack it up for the night. There's nothing out here and there hasn't been a single peep of anything the entire time we've been patrolling."
"I think you're right, Danny." Feeling the same thing Sam agreed as she drove down the street on her scooter, finding nothing as well. "It's like all the ghosts decided to just all take the night off together."
Seeing that they were right Tucker nodded as he felt his stomach grumble for the umpteenth time that night. "I'll say. We've been out for so long I've missed my pre-bedtime snack and I'm about to miss my bedtime snack."
Unable to believe that Sam rolled her eyes and shook her head at how ridiculous it sounded. At her end Nyreena shook her head as well but she gently smiled, seeing it as Tucker being Tucker, and softly giggled in her throat. "Well, it just may be possible that they're so tired of us defeating them right and left they needed a break to recover their digni-"
At that moment a crash in an alleyway down below caught her attention, making her stop in mid-air and look around as her senses were on high alert for any signs of ghostly activity at the source. Picking up on something that she couldn't quite make out she figured that a little back-up wouldn't hurt. "Hey guys, I think I might have found something. I'm at an alleyway behind the music store. I'm going to see what it might be and try not to engage it until you get here." Getting a confirmation from the others she headed down and landed at the opening of the alleyway, gripping the handle of her sword as she slowly stepped inside.
Carefully looking around as she kept her senses on high alert she could feel that there was something ghost-like hiding somewhere in the alley but there was something strange about it that unsettled her quite a bit. It was as if there was something truly…dark and evil about it. Almost reaching the end of the alleyway she wondered where the ghost was hiding when her senses picked up on the familiar sense of Danny landing behind her and the others pulling up on their scooters. Turning to look at them Danny led the way over and gave Nyreena a curious look. "Did you find anything yet?"
"No, not yet." Letting out a sigh Nyreena shook her head as she started to feel a deep foreboding fill her body. "I know it's in here but it's very good at making itself hidden even from my senses."
Starting to pick up on what she was feeling Danny nodded as an unsettling look crossed his gaze. "And if it's anything like what I'm sensing now, I think we all need to be-"
"Guys, watch out!" Suddenly seeing something burst out of a pile of rubbish behind them and barreling towards them at an incredible speed Tucker pointed at it and cried out in terror.
The others gasping at the same time as they saw it, Nyreena turning around to see it, Danny quickly grabbed Tucker and Sam and pulled them to the side while Nyreena quickly jumped up into the air and flipped over as the creature ran under her then skidded to a stop when it realized what happened. Landing on the ground and pulling her sword out Nyreena watched out of the corner of her eye as the others came up beside her as the creature looked back and snarled at them, baring his fangs and glaring at them with a red-heated gaze. Surprised at that the teens gasped and looked at each other with a freaked out look.
"What in the world is that?!" A bit terrified Tucker quickly started backing away and hiding behind Danny. "That's not like any ghost we've ever faced before!"
"Tucker's right! How are we going to handle something like that?" A bit freaked out herself Sam took a hesitant step back as a deep fear started to take her over.
Starting to get scared himself Danny shrugged as he kept his eyes on the ghost, wondering what it was going to do. "I….I have no idea."
Trying to be brave for her friends Nyreena kept her eyes trained on the ghost like Danny did, at the same time holding it at sword point in case it tried to do anything out of the blue. As she did she kept trying to figure out what else she was sensing from it besides its ghostly energy. As she did she heard it hiss as she noticed the intense hunger that consumed its gaze. "Hunger….must…must feed…." Starting to get a pretty good idea on what she was sensing she gulped a bit as she tightened her grip on her sword. "Uh guys….I think…we might be dealing with a hybrid ghost of some sorts."
"What makes you say that?" Looking over at her Danny got confused at what she was getting at.
Getting an unsure feeling about her theory Nyreena shuffled her stance as she kept her eye on the enemy. "Well, with the way it's acting I think it's part ghost and part….vampire." Then noticing something she looked closer and noticed that there were two festering spots on the ghost's neck and gasped as she realized what must have happened. "Or it's a ghost that got turned into a vampire with nothing but blood lust on its mind! It's….it's a feral vampire!"
The moment she spoke the last word the hybrid snarled in fury and leaped forward, flexing his claws as he went in for the kill. Gasping in shock Nyreena motioned for the others to get out of the way while doing the same. "Everyone, move! We can't let it get us since we don't know what it's capable of!"
Completely agreeing to that everyone else quickly got out of the way as the creature barreled by, blinded by his hunger to realize that his prey had moved out of the way. Stopping a few feet away when it realized what had happened he looked back and roared in annoyance at how mad he was. Seeing this and wondering what they could do to stop this Nyreena suddenly got an idea and looked at Danny. "Danny, I've got an idea. It's a long shot but I think if it works we can free the ghost from its rampage and stop this altogether."
"What do you have in mind?" Making sure Sam was okay Danny looked over at Nyreena with a curious look in his eyes.
Looking back at Tucker to see if he was okay Nyreena looked over as she directed the others on where to go in her plan. "I need you, Sam and Tucker to get behind him before he rushes us again and restrain him by any means necessary. I'm going to try to use my fire to purify him of his affliction and hopefully set him free."
A bit unsure on that Tucker looked at her with a bit of a freaked out look. "And…and what if it doesn't work?"
Glancing back at Tucker again Nyreena had a sorrowful look, not wanting to say what she had to say. "Then….then I have no choice but to end his suffering and set him free from this world and the Ghost Zone."
"Then let's make sure that this works so that you don't have to." Definitely not wanting that to happen Sam led the way while running behind the feral vampire ghost with Danny and Tucker quickly following her.
Watching as the three ran behind him the ghost hissed and turned to face them, poised to attack at any moment. Knowing that she had to keep the ghost's attention on her Nyreena whistled at him, drawing his attention back onto her as the others got into position. "Hey you! How about going for something with a bit more sustenance? Say me?"
Hearing the whistle and what Nyreena said the ghost quickly snapped its attention right back to her and hissed in hunger, turning himself around to prepare himself for another attack. Glaring at him with a heated and determined look Nyreena taunted him by beckoning him forward, seeing that Danny and the others were ready for their part of the plan. "Bring it on…you excuse for what was once a ghost."
Pissed off by that the ghost loudly hissed in anger and charged, ready to leap and push her down for the feast. But just as he leaped up into the air he was suddenly pulled back by a stream of ecto energy that Danny had made, quickly using all of his strength to pull the ghost back while Sam and Tucker hung onto Danny to keep him from flying forward from losing his grip. Glad that they were giving it all that they got Nyreena got herself into position, swinging her sword around before swinging it in front of her and holding it in place. Focusing her fire power she place her first two left fingers on the side of the blade facing her and slid it across, lighting the blade up with her familiar blue fire. The moment she reached the tip of the blade she spoke an incantation that had popped into her head that she felt had the power to end this once and for all. "With this power of holy fire I ask that this purge the affliction cursing this ghost and free him to be the ghost he is meant to be!" Swinging the sword up she let out a warrior's cry and swung the sword down, sending the fire off of the blade in an arc straight at the ghost, praying that this would work.
Struggling against the ecto energy that was holding him back the ghost snarled and hissed in fury, using every ounce of his strength to break free of the teens that were restraining him. Just as he was about to get the upper hand he sensed something coming his way and looked up to see what it was. Watching as the arc of fire was coming his way the ghost got a terrified look on his face and started to panic while hastening his efforts to break free. As he did he saw how fast it was coming and even though he tried all that he could he cried out as the arc hit him straight in his chest, pulling a painful scream from him as he felt himself burning from the inside out.
Seeing that Nyreena's plan worked Danny let go of the energy he was creating, falling backwards to the ground with Sam and Tucker in tow, from how hard they were pulling against the ghost. Watching as that happened Nyreena started to move over to them to see if they were okay when a piercing cry came from the ghost and stopped her in her tracks. Looking over she gasped as she watched her fire completely consume him in a flash before it went out and the purified ghost fell to the ground. Wondering if he was okay Nyreena rushed over to him and knelt down beside him as the others got to their feet and joined her. Groaning as he was slowly coming around the ghost reached up and rubbed his head, wondering what happened and unable to mostly remember anything that he did up until that point. "Ugh, what's going on? Where am i?..." Looking up and seeing the teens surrounding him with a concerned look on their faces he felt uneasy by it as he gave them a confused look in return. "Um...I can't help but feel compelled to ask if there was something I did that has you all looking at me like that. It's a bit disturbing to be honest."
"Huh? Oh, sorry about that." Realizing what they were doing Danny snapped back to reality and helped the ghost up while the others moved back to give him some personal space. "Well, we're still a bit shook up because you sort of...attacked us while being a bloodthirsty feral vampire."
Nodding in thanks at the assistance the ghost dusted himself off while listening to what Danny said he looked up and froze in shock at hearing what he had done. "I...I did? But...but how? I...I don't remember doing any of that..." Trying to think back and remember something there was something that prickled across his skin that felt strangely familiar. "All...all I can remember is this intense feeling of something... something burning all over me that felt like it…it cleansed me from the inside out."
A bit surprised at that as she stood up Nyreena looked down at her sword for a moment, wondering how her fire was able to do something like that after all then looked up. "That's odd. I guess that whatever or whoever bit you must have...have cursed you to become that feral version of yourself and go on a crazed hunt to sate your unyielding thirst. As for that...that was my doing. I used my fire power to free you before you had a chance to hurt us." Looking off to the side she rubbed her arm a bit before she looked up at him. "I guess I got lucky at what I did to help. It was mostly instinct but I guess it was still lucky either way."
Turning to look at Nyreena the ghost was surprised a bit to know that it was her doing that he had felt that way but was even more surprised at what she had surmised. Looking away for a few moments to think it over he looked at her again and nodded. "Well, if…if you say that's what happened then it happened." Then gently smiling he took Nyreena's free hand and brought the back of it to his lips, giving it a soft kiss of gratitude and appreciation. "Then I guess that what you have is something truly special to break a curse like that. Thank you for breaking it and setting me free from being an absolute monster. I am truly in your debt and will do all that I can to repay it."
Surprised and a bit stunned as she watched what the ghost did a definitely noticeable blush appeared in Nyreena's cheeks as she nodded. "O-oh, you're…you're welcome. I'm…I'm just glad that I could help in your time of need. Af-after all, if we all didn't do something who…who knows what might've happened."
Smiling a bit more at seeing how Nyreena reacted the ghost nodded as a warm glow crossed his green eyes then looked at the others. "Indeed. It's thanks to you all that I'm free and the innocent are safe once more."
Feeling a sense of accomplishment at that the three teens smiled and nodded in appreciation. Looking at his friends as he did Danny looked at the ghost as he gave him a thumbs up. "Hey, it's what we do. No matter if it's a human or a ghost we'll always be there to help."
Nodding back the ghost smiled then softly sighed and looked from the teens to Nyreena, giving her a warm smile that matched the warm look in his eyes. "Well, I think I'm going to head back to the Ghost Zone and leave you to your work. I'm sure you all have a lot left to do before the night is over. It was good to meet you all, especially the famous Danny Phantom and the future queen of the Ghost Zone." Gently squeezing Nyreena's hand he let it go and rose up into the air before flying up to the sky.
Surprised that he knew who they were Danny looked at Nyreena than up at the ghost as he called out to him. "You know us? But how?"
Looking down at them the ghost chuckled as he stopped and hovered in place for a few moments. "But of course! I've been a close follower of your great adventures and what I've seen and heard has greatly impressed me! So keep up the good work! I can't wait to hear what you all do next!" Giving them a two-finger salute he waved goodbye and took off to the sky to find a portal back to the Ghost Zone.
Watching as he took off Danny smiled as he looked down at the others, feeling very impressed. "Wow, who knew that we actually saved a fan of ours who really appreciates what we do. Plus a ghost that doesn't want to kill us out of revenge."
"Yeah." Impressed herself Sam nodded in agreement as she looked up and crossed her arms in front of herself. "And at least now we know that we don't have to worry about him causing any harm or terror to anyone around here."
"Totally!" Happy himself that there was one ghost to not worry about Tucker nodded then pointed at Nyreena. "But of course, I think Nyreena might be getting head over heels for him."
Still looking up with a dream-like look on her face Nyreena snapped out of it when she heard Tucker say that and blushed as she lightly jabbed him in his arm. "Tucker…"
Seeing that she pretty much admitted it the others laughed at that and started walking away to finish up their patrol for the night. Coming up next to Nyreena Danny gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't be so hard on Tuck. I'm sure he meant it in the best way possible."
Gently smiling Nyreena nodded as she figured the same thing. "Yeah. Though…he may be right. I may be falling head over heels for that ghost. There's…there's just something that's familiar about him that I just can't put my finger on."
Giggling at that Sam nodded, though surprised that Nyreena admitted that Tucker was right about something. "Well, maybe when you do, he may realize that he's just the same way about you."
The others letting out a laugh at that they headed out of the alleyway while a sense of peace settled across the area. After several minutes go by without nothing happening Dracula slowly stepped out of the darkest shadows of the alley, having watched everything that happened during the skirmish. Having a deep scowl on his face he continued to look around while a couple of Order members came out as well. Getting worried one of them walked over to Dracula with a hesitant look on his face. "M-Master? Is…is everything okay?"
Eying him out of the corner of his eye Dracula sneered a bit as he looked up at the sky. "Does it look like everything is okay? I turn one pathetic ghost and he ends up making my bride to be fall head over heels for him! So no, everything is not okay!" Letting out a seething sigh he reached up and rubbed his temple, trying to calm down. Letting out another sigh Dracula lowered his hand and adjusted coat, seeing that there was only one option that he had to do. "Gentlemen, I see now that I have to take care of things myself before anything else happens. While I am I need you and the Order to find that ghost and end him for good. I can't have him getting in my way if he decides to show his face around here again. Prepare my things at once."
The two nodding in understanding they quickly scrambled back into the shadows to complete their master's orders. Sensing them leave Dracula continued to look around until he saw a small patch of Nyreena's fire still flickering on the ground. Walking over to it he knelt down and swept his fingers through it, catching them on fire as he pulled his hand up. Standing up he watched as the flames danced up and down his fingers, feeling the intense heat from them but wasn't affected by it. Letting out a soft sigh he held his fingers to his lips as he closed his eyes a bit. "Soon my love, you will forget that fool that dare tries to steal you from me. And soon, you will be mine and mine alone as we will rule the night side by side for all of eternity." Absorbing the flames into his hand, assimilating them into his inner power, he flared his coat out and walked out of the alley feeling ready to begin the first phase of his plans.