Author's Note: I'm so happy with the reviews I have been getting. For the record I do not own Dani, Vlad, or Skulker. Guess who the ghost is at the end and win a prize! Here we go.

A Different View: Episode One - Chapter Three

(Dani's House: Morning)

The ghost girl blinked sleepily at the alarm clock next to her bed. It blared out a pattern of beeps that couldn't have possibly been more annoying. She sat up in bed and shut it off. Her body groaned and complained at the movement but she willed herself into a standing position. "Oh it's gonna be a long day." She murmured to herself.

After a hot shower and a change of clothes she was feeling miles better. Fortunately her teachers hadn't assigned any homework so she was in the clear there. Shouldering her backpack, Dani walked out her front door pausing only long enough to grab an apple for breakfast.

She walked casually through her neighborhood and towards the school. It was another thirty minutes before classes started, which was plenty of time to get there. Dani munched on her breakfast and read the notes Erin had given her. She could already tell science was going to be difficult for her. "What the hell's a catalyst?" She asked herself as she neared the school.

"Dani!" A girl's voice called.

She looked back and saw Erin jogging to catch up to her. "Hey. How'd you sleep?" Dani asked stopping so the girl could catch her breath.

"Not bad. How about you?" The blonde asked in return.

"Better than usual. I'm just not a morning person." She said rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Say Erin. I asked Rob why that jerk called him a fag. But why'd he call you a freak?"

Erin shrugged. "I think it's because of what I can do."

Dani's curiosity was now peaked. "What can you do?"

The blonde paused as though considering whether or not to show her friend. "Do you have a phone?"

"Uh yeah. Dani said pulling out the small device Danny had given her about a year back in case she ever needed him.

Erin snatched the phone from her hands and started eviscerating it. In a matter of seconds Dani's phone was dismantled. "Hey! What are you doing!" Dani cried trying to get her phone back. Erin pulled it away and continued messing with it. "Erin! Give my phone back!"

"Ok." Erin replied as she placed the phone back in Dani's hands. To the ghost girls surprise it was back together. "You now have unlimited minutes, full 3G coverage, and twenty percent more battery life."

"What!" Dani said amazed. "That's why they call you a freak! Because you can do… this!" She said as her phone picked up full bars no matter where it was.

"Well not exactly. I have an affinity for electronics. And about a year back when the other kids found out what I can do they buddied up to me. It wasn't a real friendship but I didn't see that at the time. I upgraded their phones, updated their computers, and even hacked into the schools computers to forge report cards." She sighed. "When I finished doing all these things they ignored and made fun of me. And when some of the teachers noticed the grade changes they denied everything and blamed it on me. I got expelled for the semester and they got off with a suspension."

Dani watched her friend speechlessly. "Erin…"

"It's my fault. I was stupid." The blonde said staring at the ground.

Dani placed a hand on her friends shoulder. "You didn't know they would do that."

"I guess. Anyway when I came back they gave me a nickname. Techno freak. Eventually it just dissolved down into freak." Erin said shrugging.

The ghost girl's eyes glowed green for a second. Fortunately her friend was looking down at the pavement and didn't notice. 'I'm sorry Erin."

Erin looked up and half smiled. "It's ok. I'm kinda used to it."

The two friends continued down the sidewalk. Upon entering the school Dani was met with a few strange glances. "Uh what are they staring at?" Dani asked.

"It's probably about the fight yesterday. Word gets around fast here." Erin replied following Dani's gaze over the other teens.

"Great. Just what I need." Dani muttered as they entered their first class of the day.

(Lincoln High School: Three P.M.)

Dani and Erin stood up immediately once the bell rang. Following the crowd of students they exited the school. "Two tests tomorrow and a five page paper due!" Dani said exasperated.

"Do you need help studying? I could come over tonight and give you a hand." Erin offered.

"Will you please? I really need some help." Dani asked her friend.

"Sure. Do you want to call Rob to see if he can help you with that paper in history?" Erin asked pulling out her phone. Suddenly Dani stopped beside a chain link fence and was staring out at the baseball field.

"Uh thanks Erin but I think I'll just ask him." She hopped the fence and started walking towards the dusty baseball diamond. Erin went around the fence, following Dani. Sure enough there was Rob, out on the pitcher's mound holding a baseball in his right hand with a glove over his left.

"Ok Davie. Choke up on the bat. Don't try to smack it this time. Just a good solid hit." He spoke to a kid about seven years old. He was holding Rob's bat and had an oversized helmet on his head. It was a little comical.

"Are you gonna talk all day or are you gonna throw the ball?" The kid replied with a smirk that was surprisingly close to the one that frequented Rob's face.

Rob laughed and said. "Oh you want me to bring the heat buddy? Because I'll throw one you'll never hit."

"Yeah right! You throw slower than gramma!" The boy retorted.

"Alright. If you hit this one I'll give you my pay for this week. WHEN you miss you have to take over my chores for a week. Deal?" Rob said.

"I can think of a few things I could use that money for. Ok. But it has to be right over the plate. A valid pitch alright?" His little brother said back.

"Of course. Now get ready. Because here it comes." Rob rolled the white-red laced ball in his hand as Davie gripped the bat tighter.

Dani and Erin stood on the sidelines watching the interaction between the brothers. Robs shoulder rolled in his socket as he hurled the ball straight at the plate. The ball sped through the space between the two boys. Davie smiled wide watching the balls trajectory and swung the bat right at it. But somehow the ball slowed down and dipped below the bat. It impacted with the cage and Davie turned in astonishment that he had missed.

"Hey that's not fair!" Davie shouted as Rob laughed and walked over to his little brother.

"It's completely fair. But don't worry. The only chore I have this week is laundry." Rob said as his brother pouted. "If you don't make a big deal out of this I'll get you ice-cream when this week is over."

Davie looked up carefully. "Double scoop?"

"Is there any other kind?" Rob asked smiling as he lifted the kid up and onto his shoulders. He turned and finally noticed the two girls watching them. "Hey girls!" Rob said walking over to them.

"Hey Rob." Dani said. "Who's this?" She asked smiling at the kid.

"I'm Davie." He responded down to the girl. "You're cute. What's your name?"

"Davie." Rob scolded while Dani blushed lightly and Erin giggled.

"It's ok. I'm Dani. It's nice to meet you Davie." She said to him.

"Nice to meet you too." He said as his brother set him down.

"Think you can make it home on your own?" Rob asked his little brother.

"Sure. You gonna be home for dinner?" Davie asked.

"I don't think so. Tell mom not to wait up." Rob said.

"Sure thing bro." He said handing Rob his bat back and taking the glove and ball from him.

"Bye Davie." Erin and Dani said. He responded by waving at them happily as he went.

The trio started walking back down the sidewalk towards Dani's house. They each talked about their days and had a laugh here or there. "So how'd you do that thing with the baseball?" Dani asked.

"Hm? Oh you mean that throw I did? It's called a slider. It's a pretty interesting baseball pitch that slows and dips at the last second." He responded.

Dani nodded while Erin nudged her as sign to ask him for help. The girl waved her friend off so Erin spoke up. "Hey do you think you could help Dani out with a paper she has in history?"

The ghost girl glared at her friend and said. "I was going to ask him."

He smirked "Sure I'll give you a hand." Rob said. "But on the subject of dinner, how about Mexican tonight? I'm feeling tacos big time."

"That does sound good." Erin agreed.

"Alright. First Taco Bell, then my house." Dani said. "It's gonna be a long night for meARGH!" A bright blue glowing net wrapped around her body knocking her to the ground.

"Dani!" Rob and Erin yelled simultaneously. They ran over and started freeing her when a huge glowing mechanized suit hovered to the ground in front of them.

"You!" Dani cried in shock as her friends freed her.

"You know this guy?" Rob asked tightening the grip on his bat.

"Uhh…" Dani said quietly searching for an answer.

"I am Skulker! The ghost zones greatest hunter! And that human is coming with me." He said pointing at Dani.

"Ghost zone?" Erin whispered.

Rob scowled and stood up. "I don't care who you are you aren't taking her anywhere!"

"Hm. Bold but foolish human." The ghost replied holding up his gauntlet towards Rob and firing two missiles straight at him.

Rob winced and closed his eyes bracing himself for the explosion. He heard the rockets blow up in front of him but he didn't feel the impact or the heat from them. When the teen opened his eyes he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Dani was in front of him in a fighting stance. She had one hand outstretched and a green incandescent shield was in front of her. The girl lowered her arm and the shield dissipated.

Skulker took a subconscious step backwards. "A halfa! Another one! That's why Masters wants her so badly. Well the challenge has just gone up, and so has the price." He thought to himself as his suit prepared itself for battle.

Erin and Rob looked at each other then at Dani who was standing in front of them protectively. She looked back at her two friends and couldn't help but wonder. "Will we still be friends?" Her face was pasted with the remorse at them finding out her secret even though she had no choice but to do so. Remorse was slowly replaced with determination. "Well. May as well go all the way."

A white halo of light burst from her stomach and moved over her body transforming her clothes to her uniform, her eyes to bright green, and her hair to white. Green energy glowed from around her fists as she looked up at Skulker. "Why can't any of you just leave me alone?"

"Don't look at me child. I never would have come after you if not for my benefactor." He said charging up a canon from his wrist.

"Vlad." Dani whispered as her eyes glowed bright green with rage.

Skulker charged at the teen and threw a massive fist at her face. Dani countered by rolling underneath his blow and firing an ecto blast into his back. He landed on his hands and knees growling at the hit. The hunter turned sharply and activated his wings propelling his suit forward with tremendous velocity. Dani followed suit, taking off away from Skulker and into the night sky as her legs transformed into a tail of spectral energy.

A targeting system came over Skulkers right eye and red glowing reticules surrounded the Dani's body followed by an audible beep. "Oh that's not good." She said. A second later some kind of canon appeared over his right shoulder and fired three huge orbs of energy at her. "Definitely not good!"

Dani twisted in mid air avoiding the first two and ghosted through the third one. "Hold still whelp!" Skulker yelled as several more flew in her direction.

"Um… no." She said performing more aerial acrobatics in an attempt to dodge the projectiles. Dani ghosted through one more and with a flick of her wrist sent a bolt of green energy straight into Skulkers mechanical chest.

He yelled up at her half out of pain half out of frustration at being unable to hit her. "That's it! I've had enough!" The shoulder mounted canon clicked once and began firing dozens of the blasts at her in the style of a machine gun. Dani dodged and ducked for what seemed like an eternity until finally she accidentally twisted when she should have turned.

The orb smacked her right in the chest sending shockwaves of electricity through her. She screamed in pain and fell to the ground, her body letting off wisps of steam and smoke. The asphalt cracked as she impacted. Dani tried to get up but her muscles refused to move. The electricity had tazed her and was keeping her from moving. Skulker landed down the street from her and aimed his canon. "One more should do it." He said confidently as it fired once, sending a single glowing ball straight at her.

Suddenly a figure moved in front of Dani placing itself in the way of the ball. Rob glared at Skulker determinedly, and choked up on his bat. Just before the ball hit both of them he swung with all his might and smashed it back. The ball doubled in speed flying at Skulker. He never had the chance to move as it hit his chest sending punishing waves of electricity through his suit.

Rob dropped to a knee shaking a bit as some of the electricity had shot through his bat and into him. Dani looked over at him. "You… you helped me."

"Of course I did. We are friends aren't we?" He asked through gritted teeth as he willed his numb muscles into a standing position.

"But why? I mean I'm…" Dani tried to say before Rob interrupted her.

"You wanna ask questions?" He lowered the handle end of his bat down in a gesture for her to grab it so he could pull her up. "Or do you wanna kick some butt?"

Dani stared at him in shock then smiled and grabbed the bat letting Rob haul her to her feet. "That's my line." She murmured to herself. She looked up at him. "So how do you want to take this guy?"

"Let's share. Just say switch when it's my turn." He said rolling his shoulders.

"You got it." Dani replied as Skulker stood, shaking off the hit he had just received.

"Ladies first." He said as Dani charged forward. She quickly cleared the space between them and with a flip through the air to increase her momentum she firmly planted both of her feet into Skulker's chest and pushed off in a powerful kick. As the girl landed she rushed him powering both her fists with ecto energy. She hit him quickly with several ecto charged punches to his chest. He stumbled backwards winded from her assault. Dani yelled "Switch!"

Rob ran forward and smashed his bat upwards into Skulkers jaw. Pieces of metal flew off of his suit as the boy turned and hit the ghost in the stomach. He growled and threw a punch at the teens face. It found its mark and sent him flying backwards through the air. He landed on the ground and, using the momentum from the punch, quickly rolled into a kneeling position as he groaned out. "Dani switch!"

The ghost girl ran up his back and using him as a vault jumped into the air until she was just above Skulkers face. As she did a set of rocket launchers appeared out of his left gauntlet. He fired the first one at the girl while she was in midair but it missed her entirely. Meanwhile Dani fired a powerful blast of energy into his face knocking him back further. As she landed she threw a whirlwind of energized bolts at his chest. Skulker groaned in pain and fired another rocket at where she was crouched. But Dani rolled to his other side as the rocket destroyed the space she was just in and continued her barrage. Skulker tried again but missed as she leapt straight at him. However, he was ready this time. He snatched Dani out of the air by her neck and held her aloft. As he squeezed she managed to choke out the word. "S… Switch!"

Rob didn't have to be told twice. He jumped through the air, his bat raised over his head, and his face contorted into a savage cry. In one swift motion he brought the bat down on the ghost's arm and crushed it, completely severing it from the suit. As Dani landed to the ground Skulker staggered attempting to block the merciless blows that Rob was raining on the suit. Huge chunks of metal fell off the ghost's suit.

The ghost girl stood and ran in to help. The two humans looked at each other, nodded, and attacked as one. Rob's bat smashed into Skukler's right as Dani's foot slammed into his left side.

The hunter fell to the ground. Too many of his systems had been damaged. The suit was of no use anymore. While Rob stared at the ghost in interest, Dani went to her backpack and grabbed the thermos that went everywhere with her. She activated the miniature prison firing a white beam of light straight at the ghost. It enveloped the suit, sucking it in. Skulker didn't put up a fight. He didn't even have the energy to scream a dramatic no. Dani replaced the cap on it and the light on the side flashed green indicating the capture was successful.

The ghost girl looked up at her two friends anxiously. Rob and Erin both walked up to her. He was sweating profusely and breathing hard. A slight trickle of blood came from the corner of his mouth. No doubt because of the punch Skulker had thrown at him. Erin looked up at him then back down at Dani, more confused than anything. Dani sighed and turned back into her human form. "Look… I understand if you… if you don't want to be friends with a half ghost…"

"No. We don't want to be friends with a half ghost." Erin said as Dani looked at her friend helplessly.

"I… ok." Dani said starting to walk away her eyes welling up with tears.

"Uh Dani. You didn't let me finish." Erin said placing a hand on the girls shoulder. Dani looked over her shoulder at the blonde who was smiling kindly.

"We don't want to be friends with A half ghost." The girl said placing an emphasis on the a. "We want to be friends with Dani Fenton." She said happily.

Rob added. "And if that means you come with a ghost half that just makes this all the more awesome."

Dani turned and looked at them both speechlessly. "You… I… Really?"

They both nodded smiling and Dani hugged Erin tightly in pure joy. Her friend hugged her back as Rob walked up behind both of them.

He patted Dani's back and said. "Well if we are going to hunt ghost's you had better tell us everything you know."

Dani's eyes widened at this. "What? No no no you two are not hunting ghosts! I don't want to put you two through that."

To her surprise Rob started laughing. "Kinda late for that don't you think?" He asked gesturing to the mayhem they had just caused.

Erin spoke up. "I'll research on the subject of ghost capture. There's bound to be a few things I can come up with to give you guys the upper hand." She sounded excited.

"Now hang on just a second this isn't a bunch of jerks in the lunchroom. This is gonna be dangerous. You two could get hurt." Dani said desperately.

"Neat." Rob said with a smirk.

"Hm. This tech looks familiar." Erin said to herself as she picked up a piece of Skulker's suit.

'But… but…" Dani said trying to unstick her tongue so she could voice her concerns.

"Look you may as well face it. We aren't going to let you do this alone." Rob said to her.

"Yeah. Besides, this is way cooler than bio-lab." Erin said smiling.

Dani looked at her two friends then sighed realizing that whether she liked it or not they were in for the long haul. "Alright. If you two want to help me you had better listen carefully. I'll tell you everything I know." She said as she walked back to her house with her friends in tow. As they walked she thought. "Well almost everything…" As well as her friends had handled her being half ghost she was still unsure of how they would handle her being a clone.

(Vlad's Mansion)

The billionaire sighed and rubbed his temples in frustration. "Incompetent, imbecilic, over glorified trash compacter." He said as he watched the footage of Skulker's defeat through the camera on his suit. It was a miracle the camera had survived. They half ghost and her giant of a friend had creamed the so called "ghost zones greatest hunter."

Vlad shook his head and walked back over to his computer. "So you have a few friends helping you out Danielle? Well luckily so do I." A holographic diagram appeared and rotated in midair. It appeared to be a green skinned ghost, with black glasses, a long coat, and a terrible smile. Vlad smiled as the computer located him and opened the ghost portal in the room.