I don't own Danny Phantom. Sorry for the long wait! College is so hectic right now. But, I hope to be updating more frequently starting now!
Rumors involving the Ghost Boy wasn't something new. On Earth and in the Ghost Zone, rumors involving the infamous or famous Danny Phantom spread like wild fire. Once the spark ignited, the information would spread and grow into a raging inferno within moments. Without a doubt, any little "fact" about Phantom would be know within moment, even if it is as insignificant as the products he supposedly used in his hair. So, the Ghost Boy's arrest was the talk of both the worlds, though the opinions drastically differed. From outrage to glee, the citizens of both world didn't know how to react.
Videos of Danny Phantom's arrest soon were posted online, thus proving the rumors true. Technucs, of course, allowed all the ghosts in the Ghost Zone to watch the arrest. Within an hour, every soul in both world knew the truth. Daniel Phantom, whether he be a hero or villain, was no longer free to protect the human world. He could no longer free the spirits that the Fentons and the Guys in White managed to capture. He could no longer save the lives of humans by stopping a ghost's attack. He could no longer make a child smile by throwing a few snowballs, thanks to his ice powers. He could no longer terrorize humans, though he never did it to start with. He could no longer casually hang out with his ghostly and not so ghostly friends. But, most importantly, he could no longer simple be free.
By the time the Fentons arrived to talk to Mayor Masters, a mob was present. Public opinions seemed to differ on what to do about Phantom's arrest. Unfortunately, most agreed that humans should stay out of the mess. "It's ghost law, humans don't exactly have jurisdiction. Sure, he may save us on a daily basis, but he still broke the law. He needs to be punished." Someone yelled from the center of the mob, and many quickly agreed. What else can humans do? It's rather simple in the eyes of many humans. They may want their hero free, but they can't exactly do anything. Well, unless they wanted to go against the Ghost Zone's Laws, and who knows what repercussion that would cause.
"Who cares if the ghost stays in jail?" A phantom hater yelled. "Good riddance to that little punk!"
"We can't just let him rot in jail!" Vlad yelled, shaking slightly in his anger. For the briefest moment, his eyes flashed red; luckily, the people who actually noticed easily convinced themselves that it was a trick of the light. "Phantom wouldn't even be in jail if he didn't save us! Can you honestly not want to save the town's hero? The boy who risked his after-life in order to keep us safe?"
"Phantom is nothing to us besides a menace. He's the worse of them all! That ectoplasmic slim-ball only frees ghosts that my husband and I catch! Even ghosts that then turn around and terrorize our town." Maddie said, causing a hush to fall over the crowd. "Look, Phantom made his choices. He didn't have to fight those ghosts, but he did. He wasn't forced to break the law; he chose too. We can't help him. Besides, it's not like he's going to be in pain. The ectoplasmic-creep got what was coming to him if you ask me."
While the crowd began to protest some of Maddie's claims, no one could deny that Phantom was a ghost, as far as the majority of the world knew. Thus, while people wanted to save and free their hero, they were forced to realize that ghost laws, and ultimately ghosts themselves, were outside of their jurisdiction. Only when ghosts were in the human world were hunters allowed to get to attack and study them, if they ghosts are caught that is. The second the ghost returned to the Ghost Zone, they leave the hunter's jurisdiction. Though the occasional Ghost Hunter followed a ghost blindly into their world, those foolish hunters typically changed their ways if they managed to return in one piece.
Vlad, sensed the changing public desire. Thus, against his own desire to save Daniel, grumbled. "Of course. Phantom is a ghost, and therefore we have no jurisdiction to go after him. Well, Maddie, Jack, and the Red Huntress, I hope you can handle all those ghosts now that Phantom is out of the way. You will need all the help you can get, trust me." Without another word, Vlad dismissed the public, and the Fentons as well, before retreating into his office. His Little Badger was in jail. Not just any jail, but Walker's prison. The most despicable lair in the Ghost Zone! It would be extremely lucky if Danny could survive in there for the remainder of his natural life span!
However, Vlad's worries suddenly slipped away. While Vlad Masters could do nothing, Vlad Plasmious could do everything. With his signature smirk, Vlad slowly made his way to his lab. Once he arrived, he glared at the Ghost Portal built in the wall, the neon green almost mocking his inability to do anything at the moment. With a sigh, Vlad forced his eyes away from the portal and stalked over to his desk. With a pen in hand, Vlad began planning. With every idea written down, his resolve hardened. In fact, his eyes were a vortex of red and blue from the whirlwind of emotions within.
Outside of Amity Park, people watched the short broadcast of the debate. Sadly, many found themselves agreeing with the notion that nothing could be done to help Phantom. Phantom wasn't human, again as far as most humans know. They couldn't risk freeing him! For all they knew, their actions could spark another large scale ghost invasion! While some people cried over the loss of their hero, and others celebrated the arrest of the ghost boy. Phantom's after-life was now out of their hands. If he escaped or was freed, it must be by his own hands or another spirit's. Humans simple were not willing to take the risk of endangering their planet and its inhabitants to save the someone who was already dead. Besides, what's the worst that could happen to a creature that was already dead? Humans arrogantly believed nothing horrible could happen to the child, and many vowed to feel no sympathy for a being that couldn't even feel pain.
Well, humans besides Tucker, Sam, and Jazz that is. The second the trio could, they made their way back to the Vlad's Mansion. Without a word, he let them into his home. Though the Team Phantom did not completely trust Vlad yet, he was their best hope in saving Danny. Quickly, their planning was underway. Four heads, and yet the rescue ideas were all fairly mediocre. Though, even this could not sway the individuals to give up their planning. So far, they had only made up a lie to explain why Danny was suddenly missing, and even that cover could be blown with just a careful questioning session.
Now, while the humans begrudgingly or happily believed the ghost kid deserved his fate, the ghosts themselves reacted in an unexpectant way. While Phantom may have seen some ghosts as enemies, the majority were lamenting his lost. Sure, there were the die hard enemies, like Aragon and Skulker, but many of the spirts had begrudgingly accepted the young Halfa after a while. Sure, they may fight; but many ghosts had began to pass off his aggression off as the result of him being raised by ghost hunters. Besides, he was only a very young spirit after all, and his quips and his attitude slowly wormed its way into their cores. A child with a smile like Danny's just had that effect on most beings.
However, everyone's reaction changed by noon of the second day of Phantom's arrest. Around the human world, and on the contraband TVs in the Ghost Zone, TV's suddenly crackled to life. Walker's stoic face filled each screen, and his eyes were sparkling with glee. "Why hello humans, and you lawbreakers in the Ghost Zone. I bet your wondering what is about to happen. Well, I figured you would love to watch you hero suffer. Or what is it you like to call him? Public enemy number 1,was it? No matter, Phantom's punishment will be played on this channel round the clock if you wish to watch. Technus is putting this online as well, so those with internet access should be sure to tune in as well. Have fun. Oh, and do cover the eyes of any little ones in the room. I'm not sure they would want to see this." Walker said as his image faded.
Moments later, a imaged of a bruised and bloodied Phantom appeared. He lay on the ground of a concrete cell, white hair tinted a strange combination of red and green. The tinted hair partially covered his face, though not the strange metal color around his neck. Cuts and even burns littered his body, and people felt their hearts squeeze at the sight of Phantom looking so broken. Long gone was the cocky smile many had come to love, and in its placed was a pained grimace. As people around the world watched, they saw Phantom painfully shudder. Moments later, a groan passed his lips. Blinking, Phantom slowly managed to sit up, which caused his hair to move out of his face. Pain-filled eyes, both of which were dimmed, seemed to stare into the camera. It felt almost as if the ghost child was staring into the souls of the viewers. While not everyone liked Phantom, every human pitied him in that moment. The celebrations of his capture abruptly ended, and ghost hunters felt a little guilt at seeing Phantom in such as state. But, the viewers could do nothing besides watch as Phantom took in his surroundings and the metal color around his neck. And, they quickly learned that they couldn't even change the channel. They could either watch the child, or avoid television all together until the broadcasts were over. As expected, the majority of both worlds decided to keep watching the poor child. The humans believed it wouldn't be so bad; while the ghosts knew the truth, yet were still unable to look away form the child that had somehow earned their respect.