A/N: Well, I didn't get too many reviews for that first chapter, but you know what they say: a watched story never gets reviews! Anyways, here's the second chapter! Enjoy!
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A loud knock on the door interrupted the Cryto's training class, and the random freeze blasts ceased flying as soon as the Crytos heard. The training instructor, Mrs. Frost, turned toward the door as Vlad walked in with Danny, who looked as if he had just woken up from a nightmare.
"Oh, there you are Mr. Fenton," Mrs. Frost said cheerfully, "back from your meeting already?" Suddenly, her smile faded as she noticed the troubled, pained look on Danny's face, and she simply motioned for him to sit down. She gave Vlad a worried look. "Trouble?" she whispered to Vlad.
Vlad nodded. "Memories," he answered, knowing that was all Mrs. Frost needed to hear. With a curious look at Danny, he turned and walked out of the room, with several younger Crytos calling their farewells.
Mrs. Frost sighed, sadly shaking her head. She knew that 10 years ago to this day-April 21-was when Danny had lost his home and family. She slowly walked over to her young pupil, who kept his head down, his eyes staring at the floor. "Are you okay, Danny?"
After a moment, Danny slowly nodded his head, not tearing his gaze from the ground. "I'm…fine."
For the next hour of training, Danny sat silently over in a corner of the room, turning over his thoughts in his head. Why had that horrible memory-and the pain along with it-returned when Vlad had touched the rings on his wrists? He figured it was because the rings were somewhat sensitive to touch. After all, he had never let anyone else see them, but he trusted Vlad, having saved Danny's life 10 years before.
"But then…" Danny pondered, concern flashing in his eyes, "What caused me to relive that particular moment? Why then?" Suddenly, as he sat there, lost in his thoughts, an idea sparked in his mind. Danny knew of one place that could possibly give him some answers, about the rings at least-the library. His golden eyes were fixed anxiously on the clock. Just a few more seconds...
As if on cue, the bell rang, and the Crytos had cleared out of the room faster than you could say "freeze blast." Danny walked out with Tucker, like he normally did, when suddenly he turned around and went in the direction opposite of where their dorm room was.
"Hey dude, what's going on?" Tucker asked curiously. "We have a few free hours before dinner, aren't you going to go to our room so we can play iceball like always?"
Danny sighed. "Can't now, Tuck. I have to go do a little research in the library." Without saying another word to Tucker, he ran off toward the library leaving a very confused Tucker behind.
"Research?" Tucker wondered to himself. "What kind of research?"
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"Is he back yet?"
Valerie turned to Tucker, hoping for an answer. They hadn't seen Danny for 3 hours, and the Dinner Bell would ring any minute.
Tucker shook his head. "Sorry Val, I haven't seen Danny either. He said something about research." He shrugged. "We'd better go find him."
As soon as they got to the library entrance doors, Danny stormed out, running toward the Dinner Hall as fast as he could. He hadn't even bothered to show his friends the book he had checked out from the library, or explain why he had needed to come. Valerie and Tucker hurried to catch up.
The two arrived a few seconds after Danny did, but since the lunch hall was crowded with students, it was hard to find him even with the Crytos on one side and Pyros on the other. They finally found him, briskly heading toward the table where the group usually sat. Dash was already there, apparently waiting for the rest of them. Dash had been a bully before, until he found out that Danny was the only survivor of the palebloods attacking the Cryto village. He had treated Danny with respect ever since.
"Hey, Danny! Over here!" Dash called. "I heard about you having to go to Master's office, what happened?"
"None of your business Dash," Danny muttered to himself. Apparently his friends didn't remember what day it was.
"That's what I heard too," said Serephine, a table away on the Pyro side of the lunch hall. "What happened anyway?"
"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" Danny snapped, just as Tucker and Valerie caught up.
"Danny, I don't understand," Tucker said. "What happened in Master's office anyway? Why were you going to the library and what book did you get?"
"Yeah," Valerie added, "You haven't really been yourself lately."
"Danny's eyes angrily narrowed. His friends normally helped him out, but today had been too painful for him. And now they were pestering him like this! Danny balled up his fists in anger, his eyes burning with pain and confusion. He didn't even notice that the rings on his wrists were starting to glow dark blue.
"Leave...me...ALONE!!!" Danny shouted angrily. Suddenly, a bright orange burst of energy erupted from his palms, heading straight for Dash, who dove out of the way just in time. Unfortunately, the strange energy hit a 13-year-old Cryto's hand, and she began to scream in pain.
"FIRE!! Help! It's burning me!!" She ran out of the room, escorted by several Crytos as well as Mrs. Frost, clutching her burning hand.
Danny stared down at his hands in disbelief, the bright energy still radiating from his palms. The lunch hall was dead quiet almost at once, with everyone turning their gazes toward Danny. He slowly looked around him and saw Dash, Valerie, Seraphine, and Tucker staring at him like he had fallen from the sky, and many of the younger Elementals looked almost...frightened.
"D…Danny?" Tucker said in a nervous, hushed tone. He took a long, hard look at his friend, as if he thought it was some kind of trick.
"Fenton..." Dash whispered in shock. "What you just did...if I hadn't seen it, I would've never believed it."
Danny took a step backward from all of them, as he heard the other's whispers of wonder and horror.
"Did you…did you see that?"
"Unbelievable!"
"It can't be…no Cryto ever..."
"He did it though, how do you explain that?"
"I can't…it's impossible!"
Danny couldn't take it anymore, but before he could do anything, the bell rang. No one moved for a minute. Everyone, Crytos and Pyros alike, stared at Danny in a mixture of wonder and terror. Then, as if rushed out by an unseen force, they were gone.
Only Valerie stayed behind. She gently put her hand on Danny's shoulder. "Danny," Valerie whispered softly, her voice shaking after what she had just witnessed. "What's happening to you?"
Danny stared at her for a minute, unsure of what to say. "How am I supposed to tell you if I don't even know?" He kept his head down, not daring to look his friend in the eye. He couldn't bear seeing the same horrified look that had been on the faces of his schoolmates.
Valerie sadly frowned at Danny for a minute, knowing this must be hard for him. "I hope you feel better," she whispered before walking off.
Danny was alone now. He sat at one of the now empty tables and buried his head in his hands, rolling up his jet-black sleeves and staring angrily at the indigo rings on his wrists, which were now glowing brightly. He hated them, knowing for sure now that the palebloods had indeed cursed him. Why, today of all days, on the 10th anniversary of the day his life had been ruined, did this have to happen? Why?
What is wrong with me?" Danny whispered harshly, his golden eyes brimming with tears as he pounded the now deserted table with his fists. "What kind of creature have I become?"
A/N: Well, there's the second chapter! Read and Review!
