The Date That Never Ends Chapter 4, a danny phantom fanfic

Chapter 4: Monotony, Attempts at Escape, and the Revelation

Hey guys. Here is the next chapter. No song to go with this chapter, besides what Dani wakes up to. I should warn you in advance, this next chapter will take a dark turn but end on the up side. If any of you have seen the movie 'Groundhog Day', which is what inspired this story, you'll know what to expect. Other than that, I hope you guys are enjoying this story. I do not own Danny Phantom or 'Dumb' by Nirvana. R&R.

***7 AM, Fenton Works***

I think I'm dumb

Maybe just happy

I think I'm just happy

Groaning, Dani rolled over to shut off her radio. It had been fine the first few repeats but it had soon become annoying.

After her first night of debauchery had ended by being knocked out by Ember, she had decided not to bother her brother or his wife again. That didn't stop her from bothering the other ghosts around the Ghost Zone. First she decided to freeze over Undergrowth's realm. Then she had Klemper annoy Skulker. She ruined Freakshow's and Lydia's date by having the strongman ghost juggle them. Her best prank was capturing Skulker and feeding him to one of his captured animals.

As the day kept repeating itself, it became more difficult to keep herself amused. She tried reading as many books as she could before she read them all. She played the guitar until she became just as good as Ember. She even learned how to master her ice powers. Eventually, Dani refused to leave her room for breakfast, deciding to smash her radio and go back to sleep.

Finally, there came a day when she decided she was through with living through the same day. She woke up, got dressed, and flew into the ghost zone without eating breakfast. By the time she reached the Far Frozen, she noticed Youngblood's ship had just arrived. She saw Youngblood walking down the gangplank, a smile plastered on his face.

Walking up to him, she could see that he was shocked to see that she was here before him.

"Hey Dani! Happy Valentine's Day"

Dani just gave him a sad smile and kissed him on the forehead. "I just want you to know that you were the best boyfriend a girl could ask for."

"Were? What do you mean?" Youngblood asked, confused.

Instead of replying, Dani began walking out onto the ice.

"Hey, wait up!" Youngblood called, frantically trying to put on his skates. Just as he had finished, he looked up to see his girlfriend take another step before falling through the ice.

"Dani!" he called, desperately trying to skate towards her but falling on the ice every time.

A minute had passed and she still had not surfaced. Giving up on skating, he took to the air and flew towards the hole in the ice. He called her name, staring deep into the water, but she never came up. He desperately wanted to jump in after her but knew the freezing cold would kill even a ghost. After another minute had passed, Youngblood broke down crying.

"NO! Dani, why?" he sobbed, mourning over the loss of his girlfriend. The other skaters tried to comfort him but it was futile. The day of love had turned tragic for Youngblood.

***7 AM, Fenton Works***

I think I'm dumb

Maybe just happy

I think I'm just happy

Dani bolted upright. Checking her surroundings, she discovered that she was back in her bedroom and had woken up to the same day again. This realization left her confused and disappointed. Was there really no way out of this?

"Only one way to find out." she said glumly.

Instead of putting on her clothes, Dani walked into the bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she began to fill up the tub, and started to rummage through the medicine cabinet. While she was searching, she heard a knock at the door.

"Dani? You in there?" Jazz asked.

"Yeah. Just taking a bath before breakfast." she replied, hoping she would go away.

"Ok. See you when you get out." Jazz said before walking away.

Dani sighed in relief. She didn't want her family to know what she was doing before it was finished. By the time she found what she was looking for, the tub was filled. Taking off her pajamas, she slipped into the warm water and tried to mentally prepare herself for what she was about to do.

***1 Hour Later***

Danny, Ember, and the kids had already arrived and decided to eat without Dani. Right as they finished, Maddie finally said what was on everyone's mind.

"Dani sure is taking her sweet time in the tub. What's taking her so long?"

Standing up, Jazz said, "I'll go check on her."

Reaching the bathroom, she knocked on the door but got no response.

"Dani! You've been in there for over an hour. I think you'll be clean enough for Youngblood."

Still no reply.

"This isn't funny, Dani. Open the door!" Jazz said.

Now she was getting worried. The bathroom was deathly silent.

"Guys, I need help! Dani won't open the door." Jazz called, trying to keep calm.

Seeing the worry in his sister's eyes. Danny stepped forward and knocked.

"Dani, I'm coming in. Please be somewhat decent." he said before phasing through the door.

What he saw took his breath away. Lying naked in the tub was his sister. She was extremely pale. In her right hand she had a razor blade while her left wrist had cut marks up her arm. Tub was completely red with her blood. All he could do was unlock the door so his family could see. As they saw what happened to their daughter, Jack gasped while Ember, Jazz, and Maddie began to cry.

"Why, Dani?" Maddie asked. "What terrible thing could have happened that you would do something like this?"

***7 AM, Fenton Works***

I think I'm dumb

Maybe just happy

I think I'm just happy

As Dani woke up back in her room, she began to cry. It seemed that no matter what she did, there was no way to escape this fate.

"I just wish someone would help me understand what I have to do to see tomorrow." she sobbed into her hands.

"I believe I can assist you with that." said a familiar voice.

Dani looked up and saw the Master of Time, Clockwork, floating in front of her. She jumped out of her bed and embraced the ghost.

"Clockwork! Thank God you are here! I really need your help. I've been..."

"Reliving the same day over and over again. Yes I know." Clockwork interrupted.

"Yeah. I've tried looking for you but the Observers said you were busy." Dani said. "Can you please explain to me why this is happening?"

"The simple fact is that I am controlling this time loop." Clockwork said.

Dani was shocked. Not only was Clockwork behind this madness but he did it intentionally and not by accident.

"Why? What have I done to deserve this?" she asked.

"Follow me." Clockwork replied, opening a portal and stepping through.

Entering the portal, Dani noticed that she was in Clockwork's realm. Looking around, she saw the Master of Time floating in front of a set of screens and beckoning her to him.

"It is not what you have done that I decided to start the time loop but what has happened to you and several other ghosts today."

As he finished talking, one of the screens came to life. It showed an arguing Johnny and Kitty.

"While an argument over a ruined date because of a malfunctioning motorcycle may seem insignificant to the two of us, it is the spark that leads so several more arguments, mostly insignificant but damaging to their relationship. Eventually they would split and leave the son without a father figure to look up to."

Dani looked at the screen, shocked that the two would break up over a bad date. The screen then changed, showing Desiree and Technus.

"As you have seen, neither Technus nor Desiree are able to calm their daughter down. When she grows older, she will use this weakness to her advantage and begin down a dark path that was not meant for her."

"Sorry if I sound skeptical but I find that hard to believe." Dani said, raising an eyebrow.

"Many things in life may seem small and meaningless in the beginning but have the potential to become something horrible. Warm winds can lead to the birth of a hurricane. Splitting an atom can bring about the death of millions. A single ember can set a forest ablaze."

"I think I understand." Dani responded, watching as the screen changed again. This time it showed his brother and his wife, Ember."

"You may already know of the couple's problem with Nocturne. I also believe you have experienced Ember's furry first hand. Should Ember confront Nocturne, he will not only increase the nightmares to the twins but will eventually turn them against their parents."

This concerned Dani greatly. Both Danny and Ember loved their kids. For them to fight their own flesh and blood was a hard pill for Dani to swallow.

"Last but not least, I believe that you had a difficult day. Unable to skate with Youngblood, falling through the ice, and having the rest of your date ruined by Skulker."

"So are you now going to tell me how this terrible day will lead to something even worse?"

Clockwork laughed and said, "The events of today do not seriously affect you or your relationship with Youngblood. You will, however, have the added stress and problems from other's misfortune."

"So what should I do? How will I fix all these problems and how long will it take?" Dani asked.

"That, my dear, is entirely up to you. I am merely pointing you in the right direction."

She sighed at his answer. Vague as always.

"Don't worry. You will figure everything out in the end." Clockwork reassured her.

Giving him a hug, Dani asked, "Could you at least reset the day for me?"

"That I can do." He replied, pressing a button on his staff. Dani instantly felt as if she had experienced a full day in that brief second. She felt extremely drowsy and wanted badly to fall asleep where she stood.

Just before everything went black, Clockwork said, "Sweet dreams, Dani. Tomorrow you have work to do."

Author's Note: Sorry if this chapter seems short compared to the others.