Thanks Pterodactyl, Sasia93, and my anonymous reviewer. To anon: I'd really like to know your penname so I can answer that review like it deserves!

Chapter 3: Changes

I don't own Danny Phantom. I just kidnap the characters and force them to do my bidding. I think Lancer's enjoying it, actually...

Lancer was supervising a history test the next morning when he caught a glimpse of a frazzled Cathy crossing the schoolyard. She probably wanted to talk to him about the reunion, and could wait in the office until class was over. He couldn't just leave to be with her, not after running out to fight ghosts as well. That got him more than enough attention already. Slightly worried, but still calm, Lancer began to walk the aisles to prevent cheating and keep his mind off what Cathy wanted for the time being.

As Lancer turned back towards his desk at the end of his pacing, he caught sight of Cathy on the other side of the window in the classroom door. Obviously, this couldn't wait until class was over. He glanced around the room to make sure that everyone was still behaving and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him worriedly.

The woman looked like she'd dressed in a hurry. Her hair was still mussed up from sleeping and it looked like she'd done her makeup in the car. She was also visibly shaking. Lancer knew from experience that Cathy generally took things in stride, so whatever had upset her must have been completely out of the ordinary.

"Cathy? What's wrong?"

"My hotel's haunted," she said flatly. Lancer tried to look disbelieving even though it wasn't a leap of the imagination for a building to be haunted in Amity Park.

"I'm serious, William," Cathy continued sternly, keeping her composure as best she could. "I went into my bags this morning to get my shampoo and a big blue man flew out of them and shouted 'I am the Luggage Ghost.' I grabbed my things and ran. This isn't funny, William. There's no way I'm going back into that room."

Lancer forcibly stopped laughing and placed a hand on Cathy's shoulder to calm her down. He looked her in the eye and said, "Cathy, it's fine. The ghost will be gone by now. They don't tend to stay in one place for very long around here."

"They?" Cathy repeated. As in ghosts, plural Lancer's face fell, as did his stomach, slightly.

"Oh, that's right, you don't know yet," he half-groaned. "The last couple years, Amity Park has become the official Ghost Capital of America. We get at least one or two major attacks a week."

"Attacks?"

Brilliant, William. Try to calm her down and you end up scaring her more.

"Yes, attacks," Lancer admitted. "But we have a very competent team of ghost fighters who keep everything under control. You don't need to worry, and I doubt it's going to affect the reunion very much if at all. And as far as anyone can tell, that ghost you described is the most harmless one. If you'd like, I can contact a few of the hunters and have them check out the room for you." Cathy dropped her hand from where it had started playing with a strand of hair.

"I think I'd feel better if they did. Just to be sure."

"All right," Lancer said. "I'll phone them once class is over. I really need to get back in there. It's a test. You can wait in the office, if you'd like."

Cathy thought for a moment before answering, "I think I'll wander, thanks. See what's changed." Lancer nodded and went back into the classroom as soon as the woman was a little ways from him.

---

As Lancer was heading to the office to phone the Fentons between classes, he caught sight of their son, Danny, walking down the hall. Lancer had long since taken to memorizing the boy's timetable, since he had needed to know where Danny was supposed to be to compare with where he actually was. And then once he'd allied with Danny as a ghostly superhero, knowing Danny's timetable meant that he knew when Danny would be taking care of the attack so he didn't have to himself. This knowledge was once again proving useful.

"Mr. Fenton?" he asked, catching the boy's shoulder in passing. "You have study hall at the moment, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," Danny nodded. "Why?"

"I'd like you to do a little favour for me." He led Danny into an empty classroom. "A friend of mine is staying at the Safe House and tells me she was attacked by the Luggage Ghost this morning."

Danny burst out laughing. "The what? He hasn't... He didn't... Oh gawd."

Lancer's mouth twitched as well. "I promised her I'd send one of the resident ghost hunters to clear her room. I was going to ask your parents, but since I saw you, I was wondering... You'll make less mess. I'll excuse you."

"Okay." Danny nodded, his features set in hard lines uncommon to someone his age. "This shouldn't take long, since it's just Box Ghost again. He'll probably be long gone by now anyway."

Danny transformed quickly and left through the window. Lancer watched him fly off, then headed towards Danny's classroom to get him out of class legitimately. The teacher, Harvey, was all right with the idea of Danny "helping Lancer with some important work business," considering it was the vice-principal who was pulling him out of class. Lancer thanked him for understanding, and then headed off to find Cathy.

Lancer eventually found her waiting in the school office. He assured the woman that her hotel room would be ghost free within the hour and that she could safely go back to it, then sat down at his desk in the office once she'd left. A minute later Principal Ishiyama knocked on his door with a serious look on her face. Lancer looked up and met her gaze. This felt like bad news.

"William? Could I have a word?"

Definitely bad news.

"Of course, Beth. What is it?"

"Your behaviour's really starting to worry me," the short woman said as she crossed the room and rested a hip on his desk. "It seems like you're a completely different person these days. You're tired, late, absent, distracted, and not nearly as strict with the students as you used to be. I know you're working on the class reunion, and that's probably part of it, but this has been going on almost all year, William. I've overlooked it up till now, because I thought it really was just a phase and I half-believed that 'family problem' excuse, but I don't anymore. It's not like you to let your life influence your job like this." Lancer could sense where this conversation was going.

"What are you saying, Beth?" he asked, his voice quavering slightly. Ishiyama's features became sterner and Lancer felt for a brief moment like one of his students.

"I'm saying that the new Lancer isn't someone we need at this school, especially as a vice-principal. You're a role model for the students, after all. I have a school to run here, and need support, and as it stands you're not giving it to me. You have until the end of the school year to bring the old Lancer back, and if you don't, the school board and I are going to have no choice but to replace you." Lancer gulped and his voice came out higher than he had intended.

"You're going to let me go? B-but Beth, this school is my life."

The woman shook her head sadly. "No, William, I don't think it is. Not anymore. There's something else that's more important. Think of it as getting more time to do whatever it is you do these days."

"I'm never going to get another job at my age," Lancer pleaded, feeling panic rise in his chest. "You know I'm barely getting by as it is."

"Then you'll just have to shape up, won't you?" Ishiyama smiled wryly. "I'm sorry, William, but it has to be done." Lancer sighed and slumped in his chair.

"Okay, Beth, I understand. I'll do my best."

"Good. And good luck." The principal left and barely a moment later Lancer's ghost sense went off.

"Hey, man, you really got it bad, don'tcha? I tell ya, you've gotta learn to chill. Feel the love."

Lancer's head hit his desk, hard. Just when he'd thought his day couldn't get any worse, Aster had to find his way out of the Ghost Zone again. Great. Just great.

---

My muse live off reviews. If you want him for the next chapter, you need to feed him.