Alright second chapter done and hopefully the structure of it will make it easy to read. I don't own Danny Phantom unfortunately so this story will make due. Hope you enjoy and make sure to leave a review whether it be good or bad.
Looking out over the horizon, watching the sun as it rises can make a guy think. Here I am, sitting under a tree, and the whole world continues on, the Earth spinning and the moon floating around it. Years ago when I was still young and naïve, I believed that one day I would become an astronaut and explore the stars and at one point I did go into space but it was for an entirely different reason and I didn't really get the chance to enjoy the view. Now that I am older I know that it is impossible, I am forever bound to Earth, or more specifically to my hometown. I have vowed to protect those I care about and the people of Amity Park. It was because of me that this whole mess started and now it is my responsibility.
In the beginning I didn't know what I was getting into but now I know that my life is forever bound to protecting Amity Park from ghosts for it is my responsibility, my duty, my obsession. I am a half-ghost or a halfa as the other ghosts call me and because of that I have had two lives to juggle, Fenton's and Phantom's. One was bullied, ignored and ridiculed, while the other was exalted as a hero and praised by those that mistreated the other. Life had changed so much over the years but only one thing stayed the same and that was my two best and only friends staying at my side. If anything, our friendships grew more since ''the accident'' especially with my best friend, now girlfriend, Sam.
Sam… gosh the single most amazing person in the entire world whether it be Earth or the Ghost Zone. From the moment we met she was always besides me doing her best to keep me in check. Of course there would be times where I had ignored her advice and ended up screwing up big time and every time I would apologize, she would just brush it off like it was nothing. How was I blind for so long about how great she was, standing up for her beliefs, going so far as to gather rallies and stand up to those in power. She's so confident in everything she does and not once have I seen her falter. Looking back I realize how much of an idiot I was for ignoring how great and beautiful she was and still is.
So much has changed since the accident and thankfully for the better. In the beginning I kept my alter ego a secret but now after the whole Disastreoid incident I no longer have to. The whole world knows that I, Danny Fenton am Danny Phantom. Of course I still had to explain myself though it went better than expected.
After the whole ceremony, Danny and Sam flew off for awhile and decided to head towards Danny's home to hang out and hopefully do something more. Once they reached Fenton Works, he transformed back into Fenton and both walked inside. Unexpectedly there were more people than there usually is. Present were the Fenton family, Sam's parents and grandmother, Danny's other best friend Tucker with his parents, and finally Valerie with her father.
"Um, guys what's going on" Sam asked with her eyebrows raised in suspicion. Danny staring at his parents, awaiting an answer.
"Well Mom and Dad wanted to know well..um.. everything, so I thought it was best if we invited over the people who had the most right to know which is why Sam and Tucker's parents are here as well as Valerie and her father." Jazz explained with a slight guilty look on her face.
"Yeah, which is why I brought along my trusty PDA, complete with a presentation composed of pictures of all of our adventures!" Tucker exclaimed in the usual pompous tone that he uses every time he starts to brag.
"And how exactly did you manage to take all those pictures without us noticing" Sam with a skeptical look asked.
"Please, you'd be surprise by the amount of things you two miss. All you two ever did when not fighting a ghost was stare at each and blush every time you got caught. Heck event to this day you still do that and you guys are dating!"
"Tucker" both Sam and Danny growled though Sam's was more threatening.
"Okay I understand why your friends' parents are here but I still don't know why exactly we were invited!" Valerie exclaimed indicating herself and her father with nervous look on her face, looking anywhere but Danny.
"Because you're the Red Huntress, Valerie and it's because of me that your life was changed. Listen the ghost dog was actually one of the old guard dogs that was put down when Axion Labs switched to a more advanced security. It was just looking for his old toy and he trashed the place along the way. I'm really sorry for everything." Danny said now looking both at Valerie and her father.
"Dammit Danny you're not supposed to be apologizing, I am. I have tried to destroy you for so long, I could have killed you. Ever since you revealed to the world that you are Phantom all my hatred for you was replaced with guilt, how could I have not seen it before, both your names sound alike and both you and Phantom even look alike. And then with Dani, all the pieces were right in front of me but I was just too blind to see it." Valerie on the verge of tears yelled.
"Val, don't beat yourself too much, no offense but your attacks are nothing compared to some of the things I faced, trust me." Danny grinned turning to his friends.
"So are you going tell them?" Jazz asked
Danny looked to his friends silently asking for their advice, both nodding their heads indicating they believed he should.
"I guess so, though all of you should sit down, this is going to take some time."
And so after everyone was seated and Tucker had connected his PDA to a projector, Danny started his tale from "the accident" to his first major ghost, The Lunch Lady, all the way to before the whole Disastreoid incident, clearing his name along the way after he explained about Walker and Freakshow. However he made sure not to mention Dan and his dark future, believing that it didn't matter and that telling the others will make them wary of him.
During his tale the parents would ask questions including Valerie at which the three friends would take turns answering. Sam's parents were not pleased when they heard that a ghost had brainwashed her and given her powers, nor were Tucker's parents when they heard about the disaster when he wished to be like Danny. After Danny had finished his story everyone sat in silence until both his parents went up to him and hugged him tightly.
Sobbing Maddie was the first to speak. "My poor baby, this is all our fault, we have been so focused in our career that we failed to protect you. We should have spent more time with you and your sister, then none of this would have happened. If only we had paid more attention, all of our gadgets always indicated you were a ghost and we always brushed it off. And all the times we hunted you, I'm so sorry." Maddie now leaning into Jack with tearing freely flowing.
"Why? Why did you keep it a secret from us?" Jack asked still holding Maddie. His eyes glazed with unshed tears. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because I was scared. When I first got my powers I was always debating whether or not to tell you but then one day you guys started talking about what you would do to a ghost if you captured it. All those remarks about experiments, dissections, and tearing it apart molecule by molecule scared me. I was scared that if I told you guys, you wouldn't recognize me as your son anymore."
At this Maddie sobbed even harder and Jack too started to cry.
"Danny we would never reject you, we love you, all of you including your ghost side. We are so proud of you, all these years we've been horrible parents and never once have we ever truly bonded nor have we ever paid any attention to you or your sister. It's our fault you had to go through all this and I know I am asking too much of you both but could you ever forgive us." croaked Jack, Maddie now lifting her head to look at both Danny and Jazz with pleading eyes.
"Of course I forgive you guys." Jazz nodding her head in agreement. "I never once blamed you, it was all my fault, I'm the one who made the decision to step into the ghost portal, it's my burden."
"That's not true Danny, it's my fault, I'm the one who suggested you go into the Portal, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have become Phantom and you know it so don't even try to deny it!" claimed Sam with both tears and a fierce yet guilty look in her eyes.
"No it's my fault, I could have given you some kind of warning. I'm the techno geek! I should have known it was dangerous for a person to enter an untested machine." This time coming from Tucker who looked disappointed in himself.
"Stop all of you, alright yeah sure you guys built the portal" Looking at his parents and then towards his friends. "And yeah Sam you talked me into going into the portal but think about it, what if I hadn't gone in. Vlad would have still had his powers and his own ghost portal. If it weren't for me, Vlad would have been the ruler of both Earth and the Ghost Zone ten times over. He would have still released Pariah and who knows how the world would be if that happened. He would have still tried to kill Dad and not one of us would be able to do a thing. It's for the best that this all happened, so, no I don't blame any of you, if anything I am grateful."
And Danny meant every word, he realized at that moment he truly was thankful for everything that has happened. With his powers he managed to do truly amazing things that no one except Vlad could do. Vlad chose to go down a dark path while he, Danny, chose to use his powers for the good of the people.
After his parents and his friends calmed down, Danny told his side of what happened during the Disasteroid incident. From fighting Vlad in space to losing his powers, and then to regaining his powers and saving the Earth. After processing everything they were told, Sam's parents decided it was their turn to talk.
"Samantha, honey, I think it's time to have a talk about your relationship with Daniel." started Sam's mother.
"Mom, if you are going to say that I should stay away from Dan-"
"It's nothing like that, in fact we approve of your relationship." Sam's father said
"Wait, what?" everyone in the room, even Sam's grandmother, asked in confusion.
"Well after hearing all of the adventures the three of you went through, we have concluded that there is no better person to protect and care for you. Of course we're still mad about all the danger you've been through but knowing that you've been able to get through it safely brings us some peace of mind." Sam's father remarked, looking directly at both teenagers.
"But what we really wanted to talk about, and I'm sure Daniel's parents would want to talk to him about this as well, is your relationship." Sam's mother said. "Now we know that the both of you are dating, so first we'd like to set some ground rules. We would appreciate it if no late night visits from Danny are made. While you are living under our roof, we do not want any male company in your room late at night. It is disrespectful and I do not want any teenage hormones getting the best of you. Heavens knows I am not old enough to be Grandmother." Danny's parents nodding in agreement.
Both Sam and Danny now completely red faced while Tucker, Jazz, and Valerie struggled to contain their laughter.
"Also we'd like to talk about curfew. Now since you are constantly fighting ghosts and seeing as they seem to appear whenever they feel like, we are raising your curfew to 11 sharp. We will allow you to get home late without punishment if and only if a ghost attacks. No coming home late because you were with Daniel, who knows where and I expect you, Daniel, to make sure she gets home safely. Understood young lady?" Sam's father asked sternly.
"Yes" she begrudgingly murmured.
"Same goes for you young man, I want you in the house by 11. Unless there is a major ghost attack you will get here before curfew, all the minor ones we'll handle." Maddie said indicating herself and Jack.
"Hey what about me!? Can't I stay out late too?" Jazz asked
"Jazz, the library closes at nine, what could you possibly be doing after?" mocked Danny
Like the grown adult that she was, Jazz stuck her tongue out at Danny in response.
"Of course you can honey, this is your last summer before college." Maddie said reminding everyone that Jazz would soon start her first year of college at Amity University.
"Tucker since you are the mayor of Amity Park we can't really set a curfew on you, but do please try to get home as early as possible" Tucker's mother said.
"Wow, I can't believe I forgot about that. I guess going through our whole adventures kind of made me forget of my current responsibilities. Crap, I won't have time to help with the ghosts, I guess this means that Team Phantom is down one member." Tuck said
"Not necessarily" Sam said turning towards Valerie. "How about it Val, wanna join Team Phantom?"
"Seriously? You really want me to join even after all I have done?" An incredulous Valerie turned towards Danny.
"Sure, you're really good with your aim and on that hover board of yours. Plus like I said, I don't hold any grudge against you and I would really like it if you joined, that is if your dad allows it."
All eyes now turned towards him, Valerie's father, Damon, replied "Of course you can sweetie, if it's truly what you want then I won't hold you back."
"Great! The next generation of ghost hunters are our very own children although I think you can come up with a better team name. Something with the name Jack Fenton in it. What do you guys think?" Jack exclaimed in a very enthusiastic tone.
"Um... I think we'll keep our name as it is." Danny said
"Well it's getting late, I think we should start heading home." Tucker's mother said with Sam's parents, Valerie, and Damon also getting up to leave.
Soon everyone was saying their goodbyes but not before Valerie was handed a pair of Fenton phones. After Danny kissed Sam goodnight, but not without getting catcalls from Tucker, Jazz, and Valerie, everyone started heading home.
Closing the door, Danny turned around to see his parents looking at him with pride.
"Son we really are proud of you, you know that right?"
"Yeah I know. Heck I'm even following in your footsteps, hunting ghosts though not in the way you expected."
"Definitely not!" laughed Jack. "Though we were serious about helping you fight ghosts. This time we won't be aiming at you."
"That's a relief, though I don't think many ghosts are going to be around for awhile. They kind of gave me a break though they didn't say for how long."
"Danny there is something that's been bothering me and I wanted to talk to you about it right now." said Maddie.
"Okay, sure what about?"
"Your clone Dani, didn't you say she's about 12 and out there in the world by herself?" an accusing tone in her voice.
"Yeah, but I managed to talk to her briefly before she left with the ghosts. She told me she is living with one of my friends in the Ghost Zone, though she didn't say who. I was actually planning to go into the Ghost Zone and look for her."
"Good, you find her and try to bring her here to visit. I would like to meet her and I'm sure Jack would too."
"Alright I'm going to head out tomorrow with Sam and hopefully we'll find her."
"Well I'm assuming you'll be heading out early so get to bed young man" Said Maddie, kissing Danny on the forehead before heading upstairs with Jack to their bedroom.
Smiling Danny went to his room, tired after basically giving an autobiography of his adventures. Lying down on his bed and closing his eyes he silently wished that he would find Dani soon for he doesn't see her as a clone nor as a cousin. He sees her as something more, something meaningful, but before he can figure it out, he slips into a deep slumber.
And there you have it, the second chapter. For all those wondering I will continue the flashback next chapter but then after everything else will be in the present. Leave a review and see you all next time.