Author's Note: Second chapter to the first episode. Took me longer than expected but oh well. I hope you all like it. I do not own Dani, Vlad, or Skulker. I really hope you enjoy this.

A Different View: Episode One – Chapter Two

(Lincoln High School)

Dani stared at the enormous building just trying to take everything in. The large brick walls and cement walkways surrounded a grassy natural area with a flagpole in the center. She swallowed and began her slow walk forward. Teens had formed small groups outside completely shutting off others from their conversations. Even though Dani had fought and beaten spirits that could make a grown man cry, somehow she found this much more intimidating.

The black and navy backpack she wore was slung over her right shoulder as she ascended the few steps to the front doors. Once inside she was surprised by the sheer number of teens walking through the large opening hallway. She looked around and found a room at the side of the entrance with a small black sign that read Office.

As Dani walked in an older woman with curly brown hair looked up at her and smiled warmly. "Well hello there. You must be the new student, Danielle right?"

"Um yeah I am." She said back smiling a little. "But you can call me Dani."

"Dani it is then. I'm Mrs. Harris. It's nice to meet you." The woman said holding out her hand for a friendly hand shake.

Dani returned the hand shake as Mrs. Harris picked up a few more papers for her. The office door opened and closed again as a slim girl with short blonde hair and glasses walked in. "Oh good morning Erin. Glad to see you are feeling better." She said as the girl looked up and smiled shyly.

"Thanks Mrs. Harris." She replied.

"Erin this is Dani Fenton." The older woman said.

Dani smiled half at the fact she had used her preferred name and also that she was being introduced to someone. "It's nice to meet you." Dani said holding out her hand.

Erin watched her nervously before reaching out to accept her greeting. "Nice to meet you too."

"Erin, would you mind showing Dani to her locker and homeroom? Maybe show her some of the more important parts of the school?" Mrs. Harris asked smiling.

"Um sure." Erin said. "Follow me." She walked out of the office with Dani following close behind her.

"Thanks Mrs. Harris." Dani said waving back at the kind woman.

"Have a nice day hun." She called after the girl.

Dani ran forward a little to catch up with the girl who was currently reading Dani's schedule. "Hmm. It looks like you have the same basic schedule as me. Except for third period. You have American history in that room." She said as the two girls passed an empty classroom.

"So it's algebra first period for both of us right?" Dani asked as she looked the blonde over. The girl had a few freckles on her cheeks and arms. She wore a pair of skinny jeans, with a gray t-shirt that had some band's name over it, and a bright green hoodie tied around her waist.

"That's right" She said nodding. "Um if you like I could… copy the notes we've taken so far for you."

Dani looked at the girl and said. "Thank you. I really appreciate that."

Erin nodded smiling at her as they entered the classroom. Dani walked up to the teacher and introduced herself while Erin sat in the middle of the desks. As the class started Dani took a seat next to her new friend. She received a few glances during the class but overall everyone was too busy either writing the notes or sleeping. As she busily wrote down the notes she smiled despite the boring material.

(Three hours later: Third Period)

After algebra the two girls had English together. The class time was spent watching a movie which gave the girls more of a chance to talk with one another. However, soon the new friends had to part ways as Dani entered her third class of the day. History, with Mr. Lancer. "Lancer… Why do I know that name?" As Dani walked in her vision settled on a middle aged balding man with a slight paunch.

Elliot Lancer looked up at the new student wandering in with a mild interest. "Hello. Can I help you?"

"I'm a new student. Danielle Fenton. But if it's ok I'd prefer to be called Dani." She said shaking her fifth hand of the day.

The teacher thought. "Hm. Fenton… Where have I heard that name before? Maybe from my brother..." He looked at Dani and asked. "By any chance, do you have any relatives from Amity Park?"

Dani smiled. "You mean my cousin Danny?"

Lancer wrinkled his brow, thinking she was making fun of him by using the same name. "Your cousins name is Dani as well?"

"Oh his name's Danny… with a Y." She said putting emphasis on the letter.

"Ah I see." He said nodding while still searching his memory for what his brother had told him about the Fenton's. "Well class is about to start. You can go find a seat."

Dani turned and searched through the small crowd of people for a seat. It was a little more intimidating for her this time as she didn't have a friend to sit beside. She finally settled on a seat near the back and moved through the tight rows. Her body turned sideways so she didn't bump into anyone.

Upon reaching the back she placed her backpack down and sat in the hard plastic seat. She grabbed the book that was supplied by the school from under her desk and flipped it open to the passage Lancer had started reading from.

(Thirty minutes later)

Everyone in classroom had the blankest expression possible. Dani was no exception. How this man managed to drone on about this subject was beyond her. Her eyes wandered around the classroom in an attempt to keep herself awake. Finally, looking to the right she saw something that caught a bit of her interest.

The guy sitting next to her was actually watching the board with a look of interest on his face. She glanced up at Lancer who hadn't moved from that spot since the beginning of class then back at the guy. "Hey." She whispered at him. His expression never changed and he didn't move.

She checked Lancer again then reached over and tapped him. He turned his head towards her in a quizzical expression. "What?" He mouthed.

Dani grabbed a marker and wrote a large note in blue highlighter on her notebook page and showed it to him. "How can you possibly still be awake?"

He read the note then smirked bemused and reached up to his ear. When his hand came back down there was a small flesh colored device in the shape of a hearing aid. She looked up at him puzzled until he mouthed. "Wireless headphones." Then he showed her his I-pod to gesture between the two.

Dani couldn't help but chuckle a bit. Luckily she stifled it so their teacher wouldn't notice. The guy reached over and set it on her desk gesturing for her to put it in. She picked up the single headphone and inserted it in her right ear. Despite being unable to hear it when it was in her hand the music came through very clearly once in its place. The Eagles played over the single headphone and Dani, having never heard them before, sat back and listened. She was very thankful for the distraction and as she listened to the music it started to grow on her.

The ghost girl looked over at the guy next to her and smiled. He nodded then went back to watching their teacher with mock interest. Dani took this opportunity to get a better look at him. He was tall. About six feet in height. His shoulders were very broad and he looked rather stocky. If it wasn't for the fact he wasn't wearing a letter jacket she would have guessed he was a football player.

He wore a pair of baggy jeans, and a dark blue hoodie that looked pretty plain. His hair was dark brown and his skin was a bit tan, as though he had been working outside recently. Her eyes moved down to his backpack which was dark green and to her surprise had the handle of a metal bat sticking out of the top of it. "He plays baseball?" She asked herself.

(An hour later)

The bell rang sending the students on their way. Dani walked next to the guy she had just met and noticed that for every two of her steps, he took one. She pulled the headphone out of her ear and handed it back to him. "Thank you. I thought that class wasn't going to end."

He took it back and said. "Yeah, Lancer can get long winded at times. But he's a fairly easy teacher. If you read the chapters he goes over you can pass his tests."

Dani had halfway expected his voice to be three octaves lower than hers. Instead it sounded fairly normal pitched. "Well thanks again. I'm Dani by the way."

"Robert. Call me Rob." He said glancing around to avoid people in the hallways as they turned towards the cafeteria.

Dani watched him carefully until she inhaled and took a chance. "Hey would you like to sit with me and my friend Erin at lunch? It's ok if you don't want to I just thought I'd…"

"Sure." He said shrugging his shoulders. "It will be a nice change."

Dani smiled happily. "This is so awesome! I have two friends now!" She thought to herself.

As they walked to the entrance Dani spotted Erin sitting on a bench and ran over to her. "Hey! How was biology?" The bubbly ghost girl asked as Erin stood up still seeming a bit shy.

"It was fine. We talked about the osmosis of plant cells and… Oh. Um. Hi Robert." She said timidly as the veritable giant walked up next to Dani.

"Hi Erin. And would you please call me Rob for once?" He asked with a smirk. The girl just nodded and the three of them went into the cafeteria. They set their backpacks down in the chairs at the end of a long rectangular table. After a while they all came back with their food and sat down to eat.

For the first few minutes it was very awkward as the trio ate in silence. Finally Dani realized she was going to have to start up the conversation. "So Rob. What was that music we were listening to?"

Rob looked up and replied. "The Eagles. They aren't as popular as some of the newer bands anymore but I'm an eighties child. It's all my parents would play when I was younger. The music just sort of grew on me."

Erin looked up and spoke to them both. "Really? It was the same way with my parents and Rush."

Rob smirked a little and the trio started talking. Music moved to movies and movies moved to books. They were so caught up in their discussion that they failed to notice the three hulking figures coming up behind Dani.

"So you're the new kid huh?" A pompous voice spoke out behind them loud enough for the other people in the area to hear.

Dani watched as her new friends expressions changed. Erin quickly looked back down at her food and Rob's face looked up, staring at the voice in a look of pure loathing. Danielle turned towards the voice revealing three large guys. Each one was about as big as Rob and they all wore green and white letter jackets. The one in the front had brown hair and a slightly cruel smirk on his face. He was obviously the leader.

"Yes I am." Dani said cautiously.

The boy leaned down close and said. "Look since you're new I'll clue you in. You don't want to be hanging around these two."

Dani frowned. "Why is that?" She was already not liking the guy.

He chuckled and said "Well I don't know about you but I wouldn't want to be seen hanging around with a freak…" He looked at Erin, who seemed to shrink even more as he said this. "And a faggot." He looked at Rob who's knuckles had turned white. When the boy turned back to Dani he was surprised by the look of fury on her face.

"Since you're new to me I'm gonna clue YOU in." Dani said in an obvious mocking tone as she stood up. "I don't like it when people make fun of my friends." She walked forward and the guys backed up out of instinct. "So if you ever feel like doing that again, make sure I'm there. Because I would love wipe the floor with you and show this school just what kind of guys you really are. Pussy's." She said this last word with contempt.

The guy at the front snapped out of his stupor and lost his temper simultaneously. "You little bitch!" He reached his hand back and swung it forward in an attempt to backhand her. Dani's forearm shot up out of instinct and blocked the slap. She then proceeded to grab his arm and twist it back painfully. He yelled out as the tendons in his neck bulged. The guy tried his best to get out of her hold but Dani placed more pressure on it.

Unfortunately Dani hadn't noticed the guys two friends coming up behind her until it was too late. The larger of the two wrapped an arm around her neck placing her in a choke hold. Dani gasped out of reflex attempting to bring air to her lungs. Realizing she was losing air Dani tried to squirm an arm under his to push it off her neck but he proved too strong.

"If only I could go ghost! I could beat them into a pulp in no time. But I can't do it with everyone watching!" She thought frantically.

The jock rubbed his arm and said. "You're gonna pay for that." Driven by adrenaline and not even considering he was about to punch a girl, his fist launched forward. Dani closed her eyes in preparation of the blow, but it never came. A loud metallic "ping" was heard followed shortly by a scream of pain.

Dani opened her eyes and was surprised to see him lying on the ground clutching his fist in agony. She looked around and saw Rob standing next to the guy holding Dani. The bat from his backpack was in his outstretched hand and pressed against the guys throat. The cold metal made him shiver. "Let her go or I'm gonna break your shins."

He slowly lossened his grip on Dani until she fell to the floor. On her knees she coughed and inhaled deeply, grateful for the air that rushed into her lungs. She felt a soft hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Erin watching her concernedly. A small crowd had gathered around them and was watching the scene that had unfolded. Rob still hadn't removed his bat. Gesturing at the jocks fallen comrade Rob said menacingly. "Pick him up and go. Now."

They obeyed him silently, watching the teen carefully as they did. Suddenly a voice rang out through the cafeteria. "Battle of Waterloo what's going on here!"

The student's all groaned as Lancer walked in with another female teacher. They broke up the crowd and looked at the six students. "All of you. To the principal's office. And Robert you hand me that bat." Rob reluctantly obeyed him as they were shuffled back to the office.

(Fifteen minutes later: The Principal's Office)

As Dani sipped from a bottle of water Mrs. Harris had given her to soothe her throat she could hear the older man yelling at Rob. She winced as he said something with particular inflection. "What is this the fifth time this year you've been in here for fighting! I'm sorry Robert but I have to suspend you again. Ten days."

She heard Rob say. "Yes sir. May I have my bat back?"

"No you most certainly may not! It will remain here until your suspension is up. And when you come back to get it I never want to see that thing on school property or I'll suspend you again. You understand me!" The man yelled.

"Yes sir." Rob said. The door opened and he was led outside where he sat next to Erin.

"Danielle Fenton." The voice said from inside the room. Her two friends looked up at her and she said. "I'm sorry I got you two into this."

Rob shook his head. "Don't be. Those assholes deserved what they got."

Erin nodded her head in understanding. "It's alright."

"Danielle Fenton!" The voice yelled. She cringed and got up walking back into the office.

The man behind the desk was rubbing his temples. "Six of you in one day. Ok. Tell me what happened." He looked up at Dani and leaned back in his chair.

Dani sat down and started telling him everything she remembered about what had happened. At several moments he shook his head but kept listening. When she finally finished he stood and walked over to her. "As far as I can tell your story merges with the others. I'm not supposed to do this but since what you did was in self defense and you are new here I'm going to let you off the hook." Dani watched him speechlessly, not believing her luck. "But no more fights. And believe me when I say if I catch you at it ever again I'm gonna nail your butt to the wall. Understand?"

She nodded vigorously as he walked her to the door. "The bell's about to ring. You may as well go home. That goes for you two as well." He said looking at the other two teens sitting on the bench outside of his office. Rob got up wordlessly and walked towards the exit, shouldering his backpack.

"Thank you sir." Erin said quietly as she walked next to Dani. When the office door closed Mrs. Harris looked up from her desk and said. "Robbie?"

Rob stopped at the doorway, sighed, and walked back over to her desk. "Yes Mrs. Harris?"

The woman reached under her desk and pulled up Rob's bat. "Look. I know this thing means a lot to you so… I won't tell if you won't." She said handing it to him.

He held it in his hands and said. "Thank you." Looking up at her he smiled and walked outside with the girls following him.

The trio walked in silence away from the school. Dani looked up at the Rob. "Uh… I'm sorry to ask you this but… are you… what that guy said?" He looked down at her. "I... I mean there's nothing wrong with it if you are!" She panicked.

"Dani relax. If you backpedal any faster you'll trip over yourself." He said sarcastically. To her complete surprise Erin giggled when he said this and Dani slowly started laughing with her.

When their giggling subsided, Rob looked at Dani as they walked and said. "To answer your question no I'm not. But… a year back my best friend, a guy I had literally been friends with since kindergarten, came out. Not to me but it's not like it mattered. I defended him and the assumptions started. I was crucified and labeled… And that's why he called me a fag." He stuffed his hands into his jacket as Dani stared at him.

"What happened to your friend?" She asked.

Rob was silent for a second then answered. "He moved."

Something told Dani he was holding back but she decided it was best not to press him. Instead she placed a hand on his shoulder. His blank expression didn't change.

Dani looked over at Erin who was watching them both sadly. Overall it had turned into a pretty depressing day. "Hey I have an idea. Let's go to my house and hang out. We'll order some pizza, maybe rent some movies. I mean it's the least I can do after getting you both in trouble."

Erin and Rob looked at each other then smiled. The blonde said. "That sounds great!"

"You sure your parents won't mind?" Rob asked as they walked back towards Dani's house.

"No my dad is working late tonight and I don't have a mom. She left when I was very young." Dani lied. For some reason she felt a lot worse lying to these two than to the adults who had frequented her house earlier.

"Oh my. I'm sorry Dani." Erin said.

She shrugged. "It's fine. You can't miss what you never had." She looked back at Rob in an attempt to change the subject. "What did Mrs. Harris mean when she said I know how much this means to you?"

Rob answered. "I won my first game with this thing. It's my good luck charm."

Erin peered around Dani at him. "But I thought those weren't allowed in the school."

He stuffed the bat inside his bag and said. "They aren't."

This puzzled the two girls even more. "Ok so how is it you've gone this long without getting suspended?"

"Well it's not east to hide one of these. But it's also not impossible. You just have to know who to hide it from." He replied.

The girls nodded. As they approached the house their conversation switched gears towards a happier subject. Dani thought she was the lucky one out of all three of them. But inadvertently, she had given these two something they didn't have. A friend.

(Vlad's Mansion)

"So you understand what I want right?" Vlad asked the ghost standing before him.

"Live capture of this girl. As little damage as possible." He replied as a holographic image of Dani popped up from his gauntlet and rotated slowly. "But why pay me to capture a human? Surely you have other contacts that are less expensive than me." Skulker asked genuinely interested.

"That is not your concern. Or am I mistaken in thinking that the ghost zones greatest hunter can capture a fourteen year old girl?" He looked up at Skulker who scowled.

"Consider her captured Mr. Masters." The jet wings on his suit popped out as he flew up out of Vlad's basement, ghosting through the ceiling as he went.

"Hm. We shall see." He said as he activated the micro-camera he had placed on Skulker's armor.

(Dani's House: Later that Evening)

Rob pulled out his wallet and paid for the large pepperoni pizza they had ordered. He had good naturedly agreed to when Dani found that her credit card no longer worked.

"Thanks again Rob. I can't believe my card is invalid." She said while simultaneously thinking. "So Vlad finally figured it out. Kinda saw it coming though. I guess I'm gonna have to get a job."

"It's not a problem." He said carrying the pizza into the living room.

"So what are we watching? Iron man or Aliens?" Erin asked holding up the two DVD's.

(About an hour into the movie)

Both Erin and Rob were stiff against the sofa as the shiny black aliens crawled through the ceiling ducts on screen. Dani looked over at them and smiled. Movies just didn't scare her. She guessed it was one of the hazards of being part ghost. One of the reptilian aliens jumped at the characters from behind a corner causing the two of them to jump. Dani giggled at this and slowly they both laughed with her.

Eventually the movie ended and Rob was the first to say his goodbyes. "I'll see you two tomorrow alright?"

"Ok Rob. Take it easy." Dani said patting him on the back.

"Goodnight Robert." Erin said to him. He shook his head smiling as he left. The blonde girl reached into her backpack and grabbed a few papers and handed them to Dani. "Here are the note's we've taken so far in our classes. Just bring them to me tomorrow when you've finished."

"Thanks again Erin. You know I'm really glad I met you. You're a good friend." Dani said to the girl.

Erin beamed and said. "Well… I'm really happy we are friends as well. And I hope those notes are helpful."

"I'm sure they will be." Dani paused for a moment then gave her new friend a friendly hug which was returned after a bit of hesitation. "Have a good night's sleep I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Dani." Erin said as she left.

Dani closed and locked the door behind the girl. After going through her nightly rituals she crawled into bed and turned on the lamp next to it. The yellow bulb illuminated the sheets of notes. Even as Dani started to read them her eyes drooped. Five minutes later she was out cold. The papers had slid out of her hand onto the bed spread. The only lights in the room were a warm yellow glow that came from the bedside lamp and a slight green glow which emanated from the buttons on a thermos-like device her cousin had given her. She hadn't used it in months, and somewhere in the back of her mind she really hoped she'd never have to again.

(Somewhere over the U.S.)

"Hm." Skulker watched the young girl sleep from afar using a pair of goggles that read body heat. "What does Plasmius want with you?" He asked to no one in particular as he continued to monitor his prey. If there was one thing the whelp had taught him from all those battles they fought, it was to never underestimate your opponent. But for all intents and purposes this was an ordinary girl. As far as he could tell. "Well I may not know what he wants you for but that really isn't important… Tomorrow child. Enjoy your freedom while you can."