Hey! Again, I'm sorry that I took a long time, again. Please, don't give up on me, my life will forever be hectic. Get this, I'm finally on spring break, but I only get time to do what I want at night, because my dad has my sibling(s) and I building a fence all of break. *groans* Tommorow's going to be fun. Not. I know I'm lucky that I get to have horses and such, I just wish that I could have more of a break. Oh well. There are people who are a lot worse off than I am.
Sorry bout my pitiful rant. Anyways, the answer to the trivia question is...
Guy Moon (& Butch Hartman, but you only needed Guy Moon)
And the winners are:
WingsOfTech
Kitty in Boots
Dragonian master
I now want to thank all those who favorited/reviewed/followed. You guys are awesome!
I now want to thank my amazing beta reader DizzlyPuzzled!
Now I put out another new story. Don't judge me. I get brutally attacked by plot bunnies! Anyways, it's called A New Ending. It is how I think the show should end. Because, if you haven't already noticed, I hate the ending. Please check it out.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Finally, I have a notice for you. Please read this, and then you can read the story:
*ATTENTION* KONY 2012
Not many people know, but there is a mad man in Africa right now named Joseph Kony. Never heard of him? That's not a surprise. He is said to be almost invisible. For some twenty years, he has been making an army. But not just any army, it's an army of children. He and his organization (LRA) abduct children from where they live. The children are forced to mutilate people's faces and kill their parents. The boys are turned into child soldiers and the girls are force to be used as intercourse tools. Kony has gotten to 30,000 or so children now, and is still going. People have been trying to stop him for years, but he and his 'invisible army' are as they say, are practically invisible.
How can you help this man? Well, the plan is to make him famous. We need Kony to become a household name. Make this happen. Do this by telling people about him like I am you. Please don't ignore this message. This is real. All of it. So, please do your part and get his name known. Below, I have put the links for websites and the YouTube video that might make you believe me if you don't right now. Please at least take some time out of your busy lives to watch the YouTube video.
**check my profile for the links**
Please, listen to me when I tell you that this is real and that these scared children need help. If you believe me and want to stop Joseph Kony, please copy this onto your profile and get the word out there. This needs to be stopped, and this seems like a good place for me to start. Help those poor kids please. We can finally hear their cry, so let's act on it. Please.
Thank you for listening to my small plea. Now, on with my story.
Chapter 12: Big, Big Trouble
Danny's POV
'Crud,' I thought as I rolled over in bed for about the thousandth time since I lay down at 6:00 in the morning. It had been about an hour since then and about three hours since my mom had found Sam, Tucker, and I at the park. In reality, we were fighting ghosts, but my mom jumped to a few scratchy conclusions that I would never even dream of doing. But what really kept stabbing me with guilt was her last comment before we went inside after I denied her information, she said, "…But just keep in mind that when you pull stunts like this, it hurts me inside. All a mother wants inside is for her kids to succeed and be happy. I don't want to be the bad guy…" or a little before that one, "Danny, I am your mother. Whatever is going on, you can tell me. I can help you. I want to help you. You can talk to me about anything."
Those two comments kept running around in my head at about a hundred miles per hour. The worst part of it was, was that no matter how hard I try, I have no control over my thoughts at this point. Sometimes, especially now, I wonder what it would be like if my parents knew my secret. Maybe, just maybe, then they would understand what I was going through and help me. But, I knew that in reality that would never happen. The more logical possibility was that they would absolutely hate me, and resent me. And, that is the reason why they can never, ever, for whatever circumstance, know my secret identity.
But despite my solemn sware that my parents can never know, I didn't want them to worry about me. I mean, yeah, I was in danger, a lot, but I'm not into drugs or a gang or anything else my thinks is wrong with me. I just wish they could accept what I do and stop worrying about me. But knowing my parents, and I know that that is completely impossible. They are too over protective. "Oh well, I guess it's out of my control," I thought glancing over at the clock again. "Seven-thirty. Guess I can get up. Yay grounded on a Saturday with parents trying to figure out my secret. Joy. This is going to be fun," I thought sarcastically, "Well; at least until the rest of my family wakes up I can watch a few cartoons. Maybe something good will is on for change. Doubt it."
I got out of bed and changed into my regular street clothes. I walked down stairs only to see my mom shakily sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in hand and large enough bags under her eyes to land a plane. Upon turning my head, I saw my dad with his arm around her, and my sister sitting in the chair with a shaken expression. My mom looked up at me, her gaze had fear with a pinch of anger and anxiety in it, and said, "Danny, your father and I would like to talk with you for a moment, could you please sit down?"
"Oh, crap," I thought as I sat down in the chair next to my sister's.
Maddie's POV
(A little earlier this morning)
My kids are friends with Phantom.
Upon making this revelation, I bolted upright in bed, thus alerting Jack. "Maddie?" he questioned groggily, "What's wrong?" I then began to ramble on and on about everything that happened this morning, from the park to my revelation. He stopped me by sitting up and putting his hands on my shoulders and saying, "Maddie, go a little slower and in order."
Now, I admit, sometimes Jack can be a bit of a goof and kind of simple minded, but when I really needed something in an extremely stressful situation, like now, he was always the one that I always came to and trusted, even when we were kids. And if anyone he loves is ever in danger, he turns into this super hero who can stay completely level headed and strong Despite all hysteria surrounding him. I don't know what goes on in his head but some switch flips and turns him into a strong, reasonable, and understanding man that can help you get through anything. So, in Jack's arms, I began to relay the nights events as slow and as calm as I can. I finished with what has been going through my head for the past hour and then said, "I think our kids are friends with Phantom."
He stared at me for a second, but, then in his calm, level headed way, he said, "Well, we can't let this go on, we're going to have to talk to them about it, and tell them it has to stop. Plus, there could be other reasonable explanations as to why Phantom and Danny and his friends were at the park at the same time. And if it's like you said before, and Phantom is manipulating them, then we are going to have to put a stop to it by beating him up. Don't worry, Maddie, they're going to be fine. I promise."
I gave him a small smile at him and nodded slightly. "It's 7:20 now, let's go downstairs, and then when the kids come down, we can talk to them about it. Plus, you look like you could use a cup of coffee." He grabbed my hand and helped me out of bed. Then, we both changed into our jumpsuits Once changed, he took my hand gently and helped me downstairs and to the couch. Then he walked into the kitchen, he came back with a steaming cup of coffee that was given to me. Once I had taken an approving sip and shot him a thankful glance, he sat down next to me and almost immediately put his arm around me. I graciously took the action and leaned into him. He is my strong base in times where I am shaky and that, among other things, is why I love him.
After sitting there for about five minutes, Jazz came downstairs in her street clothes, looking as healthy and happy as ever, but when she saw me, her cheery domineer fell flat off her face and was replaced by a concerned, motherly look. "Mom?" she questioned, "Are you okay?"
I just looked up at her, and then Jack answered for me, "You're mother's just a little shaken up. We need to talk to you and Danny about something. Danny got into a little trouble last night, and we need to have a family conversation." Again, I saw another expression fall and turn into another, this time it was concern to fear.
"What kind of trouble?" she asked. I could tell she was trying to stay strong, but it wasn't working out very well, instead her voice slightly trembled.
She obviously knows something, but instead of answering her question, I simply said, "Go sit down, Jazz, we'll discuss this more when Danny gets down here." Her stride was choppy as she made her way into the chair. She looked someone shot her puppy by the expression on her face. She had a mixture of fear and worry in her face as she sat there staring at the stairs waiting for her brother.
She didn't have to wait long, because after about five minutes, Danny came down the steps with his regular swagger and small shirk as if he had just made a really funny joke and was just getting over laughing. I had seen this smirk on someone else, but until now, I was never able to place it. I had seen it on Phantom. "Oh God," I thought, "How long have Phantom and Danny been hanging out, that even there smiles seem to be the same, now?"
Upon getting down the stairs, his face fell, just as Jazz's did upon seeing me. But, before I even gave him an opportunity to say anything, I asked, "Danny, your father and I would like to talk with you for a moment, could you please sit down?"
He didn't reply, all he did was sit down in the chair next Jazz.
Danny's POV
As I sat in the chair next to Jazz, I began to feel my heart going about a million miles an hour, and my mind began to run for a loop on all the ideas they might want to talk about. The one that kept running around, and I am betting from the look on Jazz's face that she was thinking the same thing, was that they know my secret. They know. They know. Those words tortured my mind for what felt like an hour, but it was really only about ten seconds. I threw a glance at Jazz who looked equally fearful. "Okay, relax Fenton. You are probably just paranoid. But, if they attack, I can phase through the floor and get to through the portal in less than ten seconds. Or, I can get through the wall and make it to Sam or Tucker's. Okay, now, if worse comes to worse, you have an escape plan." Upon figuring this out, I relaxed slightly. Only slightly.
"Now," my mom began, sitting up a little straighter but still looking incredibly shaken, "To inform you Jazz, I found Danny and his friends at the park last night when I was pursuing Phantom."
"I think I'm going to hurl," I thought.
"I didn't realize it until a little earlier this morning, but I have finally come to the conclusion that-"
"NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!-NO!" I slightly screamed to myself.
"Either-"
Finishing her sentence, I thought, "…Danny is really dead and is Phantom or he is half ghost and is Phantom."
"…you guys are friends with Phantom or he is manipulating you in some way. Now-"
At this point I find myself sit forward in my seat and exclaim, "WHAT?" To my surprise, out of the corner of my eye I can see my sister doing the same, and heard her say the same thing at the exact same time as myself. When I examine my parents, I see defensive looks plastered on their faces. Jazz and I did a double take between each other and our parents. There was a long pause before we both relaxed a little bit at the sudden revelation that our parents didn't know my secret, and my parents both did a few double takes between each other and us. It was a tense moment, but it gave me a little time to think at least. "Okay, Fenton, relax; think about what to say next. They obviously don't know that your half ghost, which is a miracle. So, they think I'm friends with myself. Wow, how ironic is that. Let's see, I could tell them…I could tell them…"
I wasn't able to finish my thought process due to what my mom said, "We know you will probably lie to us," Ouch. "But, we are really concerned about you two. Ghosts are not to be messed with, no matter how popular or nice they may seem, they are soulless, manipulative protoplasms with a post human consciousness, in other words, as much as Phantom may seem human, the bottom line is, he is a ghost." Double ouch.
"How do you know that?" Jazz countered. As much as I like her as a sister and as a smart as I know she is,why the heck would she say that! We are already over our heads in deep well, you know, we don't need any more evidence tipping the tables to the guilty side. If they find out we're 'friends' with Phantom that is just one step away from realizing that I'm Phantom. But instead of saying anything to her, I just shot her a glance that seemed to say, "Cut it out! Do you want to just come out and tell them that I'm Phantom? If we keep calm, we'll be fine."
She sent me back a guilty glance, and then I said to my parents, who were also, as it seems, taken aback by Jazz's comment, "I mean, really, have you guys ever actually tried to get along with a ghost? What makes you automatically think that they are all evil?"
"Well, Danny," my dad began, "from the research we've studied and gotten ourselves, we have learned that there has never been a benevolent ghost."
"But were the people who conducted the research kind to the ghost in question?" Jazz asked calmly. 'Good,' I thought, 'She got my message.'
"Well," my mom began, "well-well, no, I guess. But that's not the point. Look, kids, the point is, Phantom has been known to do so pretty bad things. We don't want you in with that kind of thing. And if you aren't friends with him, and he's actually using you guys…"
"What! No! Never!" Jazz and I both yelled in unison and standing up. We both then did a double take between each other and our parents. "Oh crap." I thought. I took a deep breath and then looked at my very confused parents and replied in the calmest voice I could use at the moment but really it sounded quite high pitch, just like it usually did when I was nervous, "I mean, judging by what he has done lately, gives me the sense that he is not evil. I know he has done a few things in the past, but maybe they were just accidents." This came out like more of a question than a statement.
My whole quiet scheme wasn't working out quite the way I planned it. I looked over at Jazz, and she seemed to be thinking the same thing. I looked at my parents, and they both looked like they were trying to figure out exactly what was going on here. So far, by the expression on their faces that I caught as I was sitting back down, they were extremely befuddled. After about a minute, my mom said, "Kids, we would like to think that you would have enough common sense to know that all ghosts are evil," she put up a finger to stop me from replying here, "and incredibly dangerous," another finger, "but, obviously, we have taken your common sense for granted too much. Look, kids, we don't want to be mad at you or punish you, but we are worried about you. Now, you won't be in as big of trouble if you can just tell us if you are either being used by Phantom or are, and God forbid, friends with him. So, which are you?"
"Oh crap," I thought for the about the billionth time today. Jazz looked at me; she obviously wanted me to take the lead on this one. I was both pleased and frustrated by her action. Pleased, because she respected my touchiness on this topic and how I didn't want to tell them my secret. Frustrated, because this meant that I had to get out of this by myself, and quite frankly, that was harder than fighting Pariah Dark at the moment. "Ummm," I began, it wasn't a very strong lead, I admit, but it was the best thing I had for the moment. "We, and don't freak out, happen to know Phantom. I guess we're slightly friends, if you will. He's actually very nice once you get to know him."
"Jazz?" my dad asked, probably wanting to get her take on the situation.
"Danny's said it all," Jazz said simply. I made a mental note to thank her later for not elaborating on that.
"What about Sam and Tucker?" my mom questioned.
"What about them?" Jazz inquired. Okay, thank her twice.
"I know that they're in with Phantom, too. They were with you at the park, remember?" my mom said. "Damn," I thought.
"They are the same as us. We're all friends with him," I said. After this comment, my sister looked at me like I was crazy. "But they don't really do as much stuff as Jazz or I do with him. They really don't know him. They just know him 'cause of us." I added quickly.
"And how much do you do with him?" Mom asked.
"More than you know." I wanted to say, but in reality, I just shrugged.
"Regardless," my mom began, "You kids are not allowed to talk, 'hang out', or do anything with Phantom. He is a dangerous ectoplasmic ball of post human consciousness." I felt my fists ball up at this point, but my sister's glare insisted that I kept cool, and I knew she was right. I took a deep breath and kept on listening to what my mom was saying. "He is a monster and despite your teenage thoughts, he can't be anything but bad." Keep cool Fenton. "We never thought that we were actually going to have a problem with you two. You seem like smart enough kids, so why did you guys follow the grove with all the other teens and worship him?"
All my anger was about to erupt, when I said, "Mom, we don't worship him, we're friends. Plain and simple."
My parents simply shook their heads. "Look, kids," my dad began in his serious, disappointed tone you knew to listen whenever he used, "We are very disappointed in you. You took advantage in our trust, and that makes us incredibly sad. So, as punishment, and because we have lost some of the trust we have in you two, both of you will have to wear Specter Deflectors."
My mouth literally dropped upon my dad saying this. I looked at Jazz and then back at my parents, I could feel the fear flooding into my mind, thus being shown in my eyes. I knew how much those things hurt after being touched by somebody with one on, so I don't even want to know what is going to happen if I have one on myself. Trying to find a way around it, I said in a nervous voice that I did not try to hide, "Don't you think that is a little extreme?"
"Danny, you earned our trust and now you went off and broke it. We don't know what else to do with you two. Besides, the belt only hurts ghosts, you'll be fine," my mom explained.
"YEAH, BUT I'M HALF-GHOST!" I wanted to scream at them; instead, I just nodded solemnly, trying not to make eye contact. I felt Jazz's concerned eyes on me. I knew that she couldn't do anything, and she knew that she couldn't do anything to stop my parents when my dad began his walk downstairs to get the Deflectors. My parents were going to unknowingly kill me. I was a goner. I felt the need to cry. My only chance was if I could get to Tucker and have him disable it. I had to get to his house as fast as possible.
I glanced at the clock, it was eight-thirty. If I'm not grounded, I should be able to get out of here and sneak over to Tucker's. Knowing his parents and Tucker, they probably didn't ground him; they probably just took away his PDA or cellphone or whatever other electronic he has been playing with the most lately. Sam, on the other hand…well, I'm going to have to see for myself what kind of cruel punishment her parents are putting her through.
My dad seemed to be walking in slow motion as he made his way up the stairs and into the living room with the new Specter Deflector in hand. It was exactly the same as the old one accepts for the fact that it no longer had a key, instead it had a ten letter code and was much more painful. But, hopefully the code will be easier for Tucker to manipulate than a key.
He did Jazz first, and then walked over to me. I cringed as he locked the thing around my waist. I could already feel the electricity coursing through me. It seemed to eat away at my body. Molecule by molecule. Once he locked it, the pain just increased. I tried to keep as straight a face as possible despite the pain. I tried to ask if I could leave the house, but no words came out, the pain was just too much. My parents like usual, didn't notice, but Jazz did, and I think she also saw my need to get to Tucker's. "So, since we have to wear these, are we still grounded?"
My parents both looked at each other and then at us. After looking at us and used that 'mental connection that most parents had with each other and then came to a conclusion by my mom saying, "Well, I guess not, but your curfew is being temporarily moved to four o'clock, okay?" I was able to nod and Jazz did as well.
As we walked out the door, I heard my mom dad yell, "Be home by four, or you will be grounded!" We got into Jazz's car. The whole world seemed kind of fuzzy and all the sound had a buzz over it.
Jazz obviously noticed my pain and began to speed a little faster down the road. "To Tucker's?" she asked. This took a second for me to process, but upon processing it, I was able to nod. "You're going to be okay Danny, we are going to get you through this, I promise." I hope to God she's right, because I don't know how much longer I can hold on to my consciousness.
It is a little bit longer. I thought that might make some of you happy due to my painfully short chapter last time. *winces*
Anyways, the next trivia question:
In which Danny Phantom episode did a ghost throw a car engine at some police officers?
Remeber, whoever guesses correctly will get their pen-name put in the next chapter.
I have no clue when I will get the next chappy out, sorry.
*Yawn* Good night everybody, errr good morning if you live on the other side of the world. Or Good Day. Hi. Bye. I'm confused. XD
Please review.
~Pheek out
