A/N: After the overwhelming support and positive criticism on my last chapter, I decided to continue this story. These chapter updates will hopefully either be daily or every other day, because I am greatly enjoying writing this! Now to respond to some reviewers;
Invader Johnny: Thanks for your thoughts! Danielle resurfacing is only the beginning of returning characters! I hope you'll enjoy everything I have in mind!
"Dani? What are you doing here?", Danny questioned his cousin, technically clone. After stopping the Disasteroid, Danielle went back into the Ghost Zone. She wanted to find herself and be more than just Dani Phantom, she didn't want to be known as Vlad Masters' science experiment. "Something's happening, in the Ghost Zone. Someone is holding everyone inside. It was only pure luck that I was able to escape.", she explained. "What could hold all the ghosts in the Ghost Zone?" Danny thought. He guided Dani inside of Fenton Works to the living room. "We can talk more about this in the morning. You need to get some sleep; you look exhausted.", Danny instructed her. Danielle was struggling to stay awake, it was amazing that she escaped in the condition she was in. She laid on the couch, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Danny walked back up the stairs and went back to sleep, hoping the next day would be less stressful.
Danny and Sam were enjoying a wonderful picnic in Amity Park's park. The sun's rays were beaming down onto them. "Danny", she spoke to him ", wake up." Danny was confused. "Wake up." Sam repeated. It sounded like her voice was being changed; it was started to sound more like his mother's. "Danny, wake up!"
Danny jolted awake. He looked at his alarm clock; he had thirty minutes to get ready! He rushed to get dressed and eat breakfast and he ran to the backyard. He looked around to make sure no one was watching and shouted his battle cry, "I'm going ghost!" He zoomed through the air as fast as he could. He let Mr. Lancer know he was Danny Phantom, so he was excused for ghost related activities, but oversleeping was not excused. He could see Casper High ahead of him so he touched down behind the building, and turned back into Fenton.
He rushed into Mr. Lancer's class just seconds before it started. "Good morning class, I am glad to see that you are ALL here." Mr. Lancer said as his eyes focused on Danny. "Now, everyone turn to page three hundred eleven in your textbooks.", Lancer finished. Whatever he was saying wasn't registering in Danny's mind as he was thinking about Danielle's sudden reappearance. Mainly about what was happening in the Ghost Zone. Only one person could have enough of a hold on the Ghost Zone to intimidate the ghosts into staying; Pariah Dark. But that would be...impossible. As far as he knew, Pariah Dark was still in the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep since he beat him all those years ago. He assumed Frostbite would find a way to tell him if something as major as the Ghost King resurfacing was happening inside of the Ghost Zone.
The only way Pariah could return would be for someone to release him themselves. And, no one in the Ghost Zone liked Pariah as a ruler, so no one would even WANT to free him; so, that rules him out. But, other than him, no one else has the level of intimidation, or power, to keep everyone in the Ghost Zone. "Danny,", Sam said, "class is over.", she finished. "Sorry, must've been lost in thought." he stated. "So, word on anyone that could keep all of those ghosts in the Ghost Zone?", Tucker asked. "No. Nothing. The only one it could be would be Pariah Dark, but he's still in the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep.", Danny said. They all walked into the cafeteria, knowing it was about time for lunch.
"Don't worry Danny, I'm sure we'll figure it out soon enough.", Sam comforted as she interlocked her fingers with Danny's. "Oh, young love. How wonderful.", Tucker quipped. Danny mindlessly ate his lunch; his mind only filled with possibilities of what could be containing the ghosts in the Ghost Zone. The ringing of the bell drew Danny out of his thoughts, signifying that lunch was over. The rest of the day flew by, as Danny was fully occupied with his thoughts. There were very few people strong enough to terrify all of the ghosts to the point they would stay in the Ghost Zone. He already ruled out Pariah Dark, and Vlad Plasmius was presumably dead in space after the Disasteroid.
But that only leaves...no. It couldn't be. That monster is still trapped in the thermos with Clockwork; and, if He leaves Clockwork's lair, the paradox will affect him. He can't escape the Fenton Thermos, hopefully. The only way a ghost can get out of the thermos would be for someone to release him themselves; but, Clockwork doesn't let anyone else in his lair besides the Observants, and they know the threat that monster is. The only way to find out would be to go into the Ghost Zone himself, but that would be dangerous. If he goes in, who knows if he could get back out on the off-chance he would go into the Ghost Zone. The only way he could find out if it WAS Him, would be if he chose to reveal Himself. Which Danny wanted, to confirm his suspicions, but at the same time he didn't want, because a fight with Him would not be an easy one.
After school was over, Danny dashed behind the building, turned ghost and flew home. His parents only knew the basics of his secrets. They don't know all of his enemies and he hoped he would never have to tell them about Him or how He was created. Danny would tell them eventually, but he didn't want tell them with the possibility of His return. Maybe, if that demon sent a ghost through the Ghost Zone, Danny could get some type of information from them. But, who knows the chances that could happen. He hasn't fought a ghost in weeks. One showing up would be helpful, all his fights recently were way too easy. If the pace didn't pick up soon, his skills could get rusty; and that, is not something he would want. If he chose to go into the Ghost Zone, the best places to go would be Clockwork's lair and the Far Frozen. Clockwork's lair could confirm his suspicions, and the Frostbite in the Far Frozen could possibly lend him the Infi-Map to get out of the Ghost Zone.
But, a mission as dangerous as this one will require a lot of planning. First thing to consider would be bringing someone along. Bringing others with him would be helpful but, he wouldn't want to endanger them. Danielle has been exhausted since her escape, so that takes her out of consideration. Tucker? No. Sam? Definitely not. If he took her with him and something happened to her, he wouldn't be able to live with himself; especially knowing he could have prevented it from happening. Jazz? She's out of town for college. He cannot bring his parents, because he does not want them to see Him if He's there. Who knows what He would do to them just to affect Danny. Well, it looks like he'll just have to bring himself. This is definitely a bad idea; and Sam is going to kill him when he tells her his plan.