Author stuff: I do believe that this is the shortest chapter for this fic. There is one or two that come close, but this is the only one that's barely over 1000 words. And it was the most difficult chapter to write, from what I remember. Simply because of the transition between this one and the previous.

But... yeah. I will get around to responding to people later today, as always. You folks are really just the loveliet, kindest spirita I ever met.

Anyway, coming in live from my math class again. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And I have a quiz today. Lovely.

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom. All legal rights belong to Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon.

The Court of Stripes

by iOc

Chapter 4

Sunday, 20 October 2013

The rest of the night, Danny spent it alone in his family's trailer. He kept the light off in his room as he thought everything over. Did Vlad know something? Quite possibly. But, the man actually killing innocent girls? Maybe… An old memory of his mother being… afraid of something. Her warnings to never go near… Vlad? Was it possible that his mother knew something?

He sighed, giving up on it for the night. He would think more about in the morning. Maybe talk it over with Jazz — she always seemed to know what to do. Plus, she might be able to talk Clockwork out of having him do the murder-mystery-solving-thing.

What did he know about finding a murderer, anyway? Nothing! What made them think that he — of all people — could find out what Vlad knows?

According to the L'Estrange family, being a director for films meant that he could see the larger picture — honestly, it was what they said. He could step outside the story and see things that others involved couldn't. He supposed that it made some sort of sense, in some way, but… really? That was why they wanted his help? He was just a civilian! Well, sort of. Were cirkies even really considered civilians? It was a curious thought.

Sighing, he got off his bed and turned on the light. He winced at the sudden brightness and wished that he had kept it off. His eyes adjusted, eventually, and he looked around. His room was a mess.

Danny decided to clean. It was probably for the best, plus it might help him clear his mind. Jazz said something about a clear atmosphere makes for a clear mind. Or something like that. He only half listened when she spoke most times.

He tossed dirty clothes into one pile, ones he knew were clean in another, and the ones he wasn't sure of into a third. It didn't take long — much to his dismay — but folding the clean clothes helped to waste a little more time.

When that was done, he got to organizing the miscellaneous objects and notebooks he had. He picked up the one that he most recently started working on. He flipped through it and frowned. He didn't like where he left off. He grabbed his mechanical pencil and started jotting down the ideas he had for the scene, which slowly developed into him actually working on the screenplay.

By the time he stopped with a scene not dissimilar to the one he had been in that very evening, he had worked for a good round hour. He smiled. Maybe this would be a good way for him to keep track of everything, to "see things from the outside."

"I'll need help," he said to the open window.

He looked around his room for a scrap piece of paper. He started to jot down the names of anyone he could think that might be useful. He decided that he wasn't going to be like the detectives of noir films. He was never going to work alone. It was one of their greatest faults. Having a team of people to back him up was probably the best idea he ever had.

Monday, 21 October 2013

"You want us to what?" Kwan said, glaring at his friend from across a cook house table.

"Look, I just need some extra eyes around the circus." Danny said to him and Tucker. "Vlad's easy to keep track of. I need a few helpers to watch other cirkies. Please?"

Tucker and Kwan looked at one another and sighed.

"Fine," Tucker said. "If and only if you make this into a film when it's all said and done."

Danny tossed the notebook at them. Kwan opened it and started to flip through the pages. Tucker peeked over his shoulder.

"This is kind of cool," Kwan said, setting it back down. "But, I mean, don't you think the police should be handling this?"

"Apparently the police are useless."

"Yes, one could agree with that." a voice from behind him said. He turned to see Vlad, peeking over his chair. Had he been eavesdropping?

"What do you want?" Danny said.

"Just happened to overhear what you gentlemen were talking about?" the man said. "I heard something about you making a film? Daniel, isn't it time to grow up and stop trying to be something you're not? You should focus your energy on becoming the owner."

"Becoming the owner?"

"Of the circus! You have one of the greatest chances out of all of us. Clockwork is very proud of you, you know. You could do great things."

Vlad dumped his garbage away and headed out the door. He stopped and turned back to them.

"Just remember, dear ol' Uncle Vlad, when you become owner."

With a wide grin - which was more like a sneer than anything else - he left, leaving a very confused group of cirkies to look at the three teens. Danny pinpointed everyone. Skulker and the Fright Knight (he didn't know their real names, just the ones they used on stage, unfortunately), Aragorn and Dora, Dash (one of the strongmen), Lydia and Ember (two of the aerialists), and Desiree the Fortune Teller (someone he'd never even talked to).

"Where should we start?" Tucker said.

"First thing's first, we need to figure out how the girl died," Danny said.

"Sounds… fun."

"This is not fun," Tucker said, examining the photos that had been in the folders the L'Estranges had delivered to Danny. Most of the images were gore laden and frighteningly explicit. They left the three young men quite perturbed and nauseated. Only a handful were clean, and even those had an element of unease. The grim atmosphere lay laden over their heads.

Kwan announced that he had to leave for rehearsal and Tucker soon followed after him, which meant Danny didn't have much time before he had to be around Vlad again. This brought his thoughts for the day prior back. Did Vlad honestly know anything? And if he did, did he condone the deaths of innocent, young women? These questions brought more around and all of them just piled up.

Danny sighed, setting aside the photos for a moment. He really hated to ask, but perhaps Jazz would be willing to help. She understood the human psyche better than anyone. Yes, he decided, his sister would be in on the plot as well.

Author stuff cont'd: This chapter... such a pain in my rear. Really sorry that I couldn't make it longer for all of you lovely folks. You're all treasures, really you are. Seeing the numbers alone makes me happy.

In other much more emotionally distressing news, my dog was attacked for a pit for the second time while I was walking her. If that hasn't ever happened to you, feel lucky but be prepared. Dog attacks happen very quickly. And I hate the stereotype of pits always attacking — they're wonderful dogs, but I do ask owners to please ensure that the yard is secured before letting any of your pets out, especially big dogs. My dog isn't tiny, she's average sized but small in the weight category, and she can hold her own just fine. But I hate when this happens and don't wish to see anyone lose a pet because of an accident. Be a responsible owner, please.

With love and hope,
iOc