Summary: AU. Caught in the middle of Vladimir Master's evil plot to take over the Kingdom of Amity, Prince Daniel is turned into a half-ghost. Now he must flee for his life, hide in the company of two new allies, and fight his way back to the throne. DxS
Disclaimer: Butch and Nick own Danny and Co.
Chapter 4: Truce
A dark skinned young man was running frantically through the busy streets of the market. He held a piece of parchment rolled up in his right hand and panted heavily as he searched the streets for a girl in a tattered brown dress.
He spotted her sitting on the steps of a pub, and what looked like crying, and giddily jumped up in exclamation.
"Sam!" he yelled through the crowd, which was slowly pulling him down the street. She looked at him and quickly wiped her tears, grinning.
"Excuse you!" he said to a large man that had rudely pushed past him. He squeezed through the crowd toward her. "If I could just -- do you mind -- I'm walking here! -- Hey! Watch it!"
Samantha laughed at his pathetic attempt to make an impression on the people who obviously considered him no more than an ant.
He finally got through to over where she was, but tripped and fell at the last moment. Still laughing, she helped her friend up, who was wearing a dirty gold shirt with brown trousers, a torn red cape, and, most notably, a bright red hat.
"Not...funny!" he said as she lifted him onto his feet. He was panting from running and shoved the parchment in front of her face. "Sam! Look at this!...The prince...is missing!"
"So?" she said scowling, and pushed it out of her face so she could unroll it and look at it.
"Why should I care if some snobby little father's boy is -- ?"
She stared at the paper with at a sketch of the prince and a sum of money for his safe return. His dark features formed obvious shadows across his face, which was mostly hidden behind a black mop of hair. It was a handsome prince -- er, she meant price.
She blushed slightly at her thought and rolled it up again, shoving it back at her friend.
"What of it, Tucker?"
"I'll tell you what of it!" he said jubilantly, finally catching his breath. "We find the prince, and we'll be rich! And we'll have our honor back!"
She stroked her chin for a moment, pondering. "Or, I have a better idea," she said seriously. "We find the prince and exchange him for something far more valuable. We tell them to let the ghosts free!"
Tucker cocked his eyebrow. He really looked forward to the money idea much better. After he had befriended Samantha and joined her protest for ghost rights, he had been forced to leave his village, just like her. Apparently they were an embarrassment. Not that he really cared, but he did miss his bed! And he really was sick and tired of convincing stubborn people that ghosts weren't all bad. Not that it wasn't for a good cause, it just seemed pointless.
"We'll have our honor back!" he said, smiling.
"And we'll free the ghosts!"
"And we'll have our honor back!"
She grimaced at him. "But, most importantly, we'll free the ghosts. Right, Tucker?" she said through gritted teeth.
He gave a nervous laugh. "R-Right."
He had to admit, at times he wondered if he still hung out with her because he wanted to help her or because he was plain scared of her.
Samantha got up from where she was sitting on the stone steps and the two began to walk down a shady alley so to avoid the busyness of the market. Both were contemplating on how they should begin their plan until they heard a commotion in another part of the market and ducked at what appeared a wab of energy flying toward them running through the building behind them.
They both looked at each other with meaningful glances and ran toward the place where it seemed the disturbance had come from. Samantha went in front of him when they were in proximity of the sight and, seeing the commotion, she held a hand back, signaling for him to stop, but his inattentiveness caused her to bump into her.
"Tucker!"
"Sorry," he whispered. She pulled him and herself down behind a market stand as she watched a group of people standing around what looked like a man in a black cape floating in the air and a woman with a scepter pointing at him threateningly.
Samantha gasped as he slowly lifted her head up enough to see what was happening. He was a...ghost.
"I already told you, ghost!" the woman yelled, "Either you're coming with me, or you're going to hell. Take your pick."
"Hmm," he said mockingly. "I pick hell."
She scoffed and aimed the scepter at him, at which a lavender ball of energy shot in his direction, but he smoothly avoided it by falling back without hesitation. People gasped as he continued to lean back until he phased slightly through the earth and then back up again, forming green energy in his own hand and shooting it up at her.
"Aaah!" She was forced back against the building near which Samantha and Tucker were both hiding and they jumped.
The ghost smirked and Samantha held her breath as she caught a glimpse of his face. He had what appeared somewhat white hair and glowing green eyes, but the rest was obscured by a black cloak. She had seen that gaze somewhere else, she knew, it looked too familiar. Why couldn't she place it?
Just then, she saw him turn his back and begin to leave, but the woman with the wand had now leapt up in anger and aimed the staff at his back. She was going to kill him, Samantha knew. That was no ordinary scepter.
"Don't shoot!" she yelled and Tucker's eyes grew wide as he said "Sam!" in warning and attempted to hold her back, but she was too quick and came between the huntress and the ghost.
"Out of my way!" the woman yelled, still not brining down the scepter.
"NO!" said Samantha, who spread her arms before the ghost and the crowd held back their breath.
Daniel turned around at the sound of her voice. It was the girl from the pub. He should have probably seen this coming, but that did not mark him any less surprised.
"Woman, you're mad! He's a ghost, he shouldn't be amongst people! Now get out of the way so I can kill it!"
"No," Samantha repeated. "You can't."
"Give me a reason," she said, still aiming the scepter without a budge.
"You c-can't because he's...he's..." She searched her mind rapidly for a good excuse. Come on, come on,...think of something.
"He's my brother -- "
"He's my fiancé -- "
Samantha was startled as Tucker took his place by her side. They had both spoken up for him at the same time.
Daniel, standing behind them, rolled his eyes. Oh, they were suave.
The woman scowled. "You expect me to believe that?"
They both shook their heads violently.
"So he's your brother?" she said with a slight laugh, pointing to the dark skinned man.
He blushed and said, "Half. Half-brother."
She then pointed to Samantha. "And your fiancé? You don't look in the state to be married."
The crowd laughed and Samantha turned scarlet. "Well, that's because he's dead, isn't it? Now leave him alone so we can say our goodbyes and he won't bother you again."
The woman growled and lowered the scepter. "Fine," she spat, thought she did not seem fine with it at all. She was looking forward to ridding the world of one more ghost.
Samantha and Tucker both let out a sigh of relief and nervously turned to the ghost, who was standing behind them, arms folded. His eyebrow shot up.
"Er, h-hello darling," she said in a nervous and false tone, watching the crowd muttering around her.
"Hey brother," said Tucker winking. They walked him away from the crowd. When they were a good several feet from the scene, the woman had still been watching them carefully.
Samantha turned back to look at the ghost. "You should ru-- "
But they both yelped as the ghost had grabbed them by their waists and lifted them in the air.
"Hey!" the woman yelled, running after them. "Get back here! You traitors to the king!" She made a pathetic attempt at a shot with her scepter, but they were well out of reach by then.
Valerie lowered her weapon and furiously stomped into the ground. "Damn! I can't believe I let them get away!"
"The prince. He was here, where is he?"
She turned at the deep voice. There, behind her, floated four ghosts. She turned her septor around at them. "Now I have new prey."
The ghost smirked at her. "Waste not. We're under the protection of the queen. We too seek out the ghost prince."
"Then do you know where I may find him?" she asked.
He laughed in return. "Fool, he was here a moment ago. Can you not sense his aura? It is not full ghost."
Her eyes snapped wide. "No," she whispered. "You mean to tell me I just let Prince Daniel get away! WHAT!" She brought the scepter around and fried a basket of fish that was standing beside her.
"I will find you again, Prince," she spat, looking up in the direction where he had set off. "Now that I know what you look like."
"Don't waste your energy," spoke another one of the four ghosts. "It is our mission to bring him back so that we may win back our freedom."
She laughed and turned to face them. "Don't be so sure. Unlike you, I seek out to kill him. I'll make sure I get to him before you do. The day I let a ghost have its freedom is the day I turn against Vladimir Masters! Therefore, never! Now get out of my sight. The ghost prince is mine!"
Samantha and Tucker's eyes widened as they watched the village grow smaller and smaller below them and the landscapes that came into view. Samantha looked up at the ghost. He was looking straight ahead of him with an unrecognizable expression on his face. Where had she known him from? He seemed very tense and she felt herself shiver at the cool air that he gave off. His freezing arm around her didn't help either.
They flew silently until she noticed that he had began to slow down and descend toward what looked like an empty field. He brought them down onto the ground near a shady tree and let them loose.
Tucker stumbled back from him, looking at him with eyes wide. Samantha was at a loss of words. Neither of them had really been that close to a ghost before.
He turned to face his back to them, folding his arms behind them. "My name is Daniel," he spoke in a cold tone.
"S-Samantha," she said breathlessly.
"Tucker," said the other man. "Hey, isn't Daniel the name of that prince -- ?"
He was cut off as the ghost turned to face him with a deadly glare. Daniel tilted his head and smirked. "Do I look like a prince to you? I'm a ghost."
Tucker shook his head in fear. "N-Not at all. In fact, I wasn't suggesting anything. You could almost say I don't exist. Yep, pretty much invisble where I come from -- "
Daniel's face fell and Tucker yelped, snapping his hand to his mouth in realization of what he had just said.
Samantha sighed in agitation, "Don't pay any attention to him. He's a nervous wreck."
"Hey!" said the man called Tucker.
Daniel's head wondered over to the girl. Her face was weary with dirt smudged all over it as if she hadn't had a bath in days. Somehow, however, he couldn't help but note that if she washed it off, it would reveal a somewhat graceful visage.
"I offer you my thanks," said the prince in an emotionless tone. "I would have been killed had you not stood up for me. It was most...most...kind of you." He struggled with the word and adjusted his collar uncomforably. He wasn't used to speaking this way with mere commoners.
"No problem," said the girl. She avoided his gaze. After a while, the silence had returned, which turned into awkwardness, which turned into Tucker swaying on the spot, Samantha attempting to meet the ghost's glare, but constantly looking away, and Daniel contemplating on his thoughts.
These must be the two strangers that Desiree had told him about. Which meant he shouldn't leave their sight. He needed them now that he had that huntress chasing him. And that scepter – where had she gotten it from? At first he was slightly startled when he had seen her come after him, but he wasn't really worried until she shot a blast of energy at him from the staff.
"My apologies," he said, turning his back to them once more, "I haven't given you an explanation. I was afraid that had I left you at the market she may have imprisoned you for treason." That was a lie, he had considered nothing of the like. In fact, he was going to leave them behind if it hadn't been for his recollection of the mystic's words.
"Hey, thanks!" said Tucker brightly.
"I told you not all ghosts were back, Tuck," said Samantha in a glad tone.
Daniel smirked at their conversation behind him. They were fools to think such things, everyone knew ghosts were evil. Not that he was evil, but since he was a ghost he had an excuse to be manipulative. He had to get through this quest, after all, and he needed their help. He had to use them to his advantage, and it would all be too easy to do so. He already had them on his good side.
He still did not know enough of their intentions, however.
"What brings you to Fernley?" he asked them, still not turning around. He didn't want them to see any sort of expression on his face; he needed to go about this as cleverly as possible.
"Well," Samantha began sadly, "we had to escape our village because people were threatening us, saying that we were possessed because we wanted to help ghosts. We came here in search of recruiting allies. I guess we haven't been vary successful."
"That's when I got the idea that we look for the Prince of Amity," said Tucker, trying to sound wise. "He's got a bit of a sum on him. So I thought, that would help. Maybe people wouldn't shove us around anymore."
"And," said Samantha sternly, "we could trade him for the freedom of ghosts to the king and queen. You haven't heard anything of him, have you?"
Daniel smirked. How perfect. He couldn't ask for a better pair of clueless peasants. The truth was all too easy to mold.
"I do have a request to make of you," he said to them, making his voice sound as indifferent as possible.
Samantha and Tucker immediately stopped talking. "W-What kind of a request?" said Samantha. A part of her was excited. She was finally able to help a ghost. Who knew, maybe this was a start of a beautiful friendship? A mystic had once told her that she would help a great destiny reveal itself. That has partially been the reason for her chasing after ghost rights all the time; she felt it was part of her destiny, and she couldn't let it go.
"I died without making amends with my sister, who lives in the Kingdom of Casper. If I could go to her, my soul would be at peace and I could move on. I cannot do it alone, however. I will need your help," he said, attempting to make his voice sound somewhat sincere. Samantha smiled. So he wasn't of this kingdom, which meant that he was not loyal to the king, who she considered a fool and had a complete misunderstanding of ghosts.
"Why would we help you?" said Tucker, frowning.
"Tucker!" Samantha whispered warningly. "Go on," she said adoringly to the ghost.
Daniel's smirk turned into a malicious grin. "Because I so happen to know where the prince is hiding."
Samantha and Tucker gasped.
"You do?"
"Haha. I knew you were the good guy. So you'll tell us, right?" said Tucker, placing a hand on Daniel's shoulder, smiling.
Daniel glared at him from the corner of his eye and Tucker immediately removed his hand, his face falling. "Heh. Sorry," he said.
"You do this for me," he said, turning around, "And, in exchange, I will tell you the location of the prince. Trust me, no one will find him without my knowledge."
Samantha beamed and brought her hands to her chest as if holding them to her beating heart. "Oh, thank you! You don't know what this means to us! Of course we'll help you!"
"I don't know..." said Tucker, looking at Sam. She scowled at him angrily. "Tucker!"
"I just don't, Sam. I mean, you can't just trust a ghost just because you think he's handsome!" he told her. Samantha blushed furiously.
"I-I don't -- I never -- "
While she struggled with her words Daniel frowned. He was afraid of this. The girl had a very open heart, the boy was somewhat harder to break through.
"How do we know we can trust you?" Tucker said.
Samantha didn't retort but faced the prince. "Surely there is a way to prove your loyalty?" she said.
Daniel thought about their indecision for a while and then smiled. He pulled out his sword. It was silver with markings embossed into it and a black and green crest wound about the handle. At first sight of it, they stepped back in fear, but he bowed before them on his knee.
"The sword of a knight. We are sworn to loyalty, I would never go back on my word, I swear by it."
He felt like such an idiot bowing before a couple of peasants. He was a prince, he bowed to no one but the king and queen. But he knew it was the only way to win over their trust.
He lowed his eyes as he knew they consider this. He peaked through one eye to look at Tucker to see if this affected him anyhow. He seemed to be deep in thought. Daniel closed it once more and awaited their approval.
"Of course we believe you," said Samantha, gushing.
Tucker let out somewhat of a groan and nodded his head. "Fine," he said. "Sir knight. We'll help you."
Daniel would have laughed if he didn't have to keep his calm. Too easy.
He stood up and returned his sword to his side.
"We have an accord, then?" he said, holding out his hand flat out in front of him.
"An accord," said Samantha, not taking her eyes off of him and placing her hand on top of his.
"An accord," Tucker echoed and placed his hand on top of hers.
"Long live the king!" said Daniel.
Samantha scowled at this but reminded herself that he was from another kingdom.
"Long live the king!" she and Tucker said at the same time and the three lifted their hands from the center, sealing the deal.
Daniel smiled secretively as the two began walking through the field.
"Er, which way?" asked Tucker. Samantha shrugged and looked at Daniel.
He wanted to answer but he felt something briefly on his hand. It was...warm. He looked at it quizzically. Impossible. He touched it with the other and felt the dead of his ghost hand against it. Immediately, it died once more. What was going on? He really did not need this right now.
"Daniel?" said Samantha. "Everything all right?"
He winced. He wasn't used to people speaking to him informally. Usually it was either "your majesty" or "your highness," but he supposed he could cope. For now. Besides, the aftereffect of the truce is what bothered him most. He formed his hand into a fist and dropped it at his side. "Yes. Fine," he said, walking toward them. "We're due north."
Hmm. Told you Danneh could be the antagonist. Heh-heh. Kidding. You really didn't get to find out what was going on in his mind before much, but now you know how Daniel works. As a prince, he was already arrogant, but now that he's been turned into a ghost, not only has his human half been shoved into the background, but he is also unable to let his emotions recall themselves as easily as when he was in his human state. And that's kind of what Tucker and Samantha are about. They're not just there to walk next to him, they're also there to help him recall his human half. I guess it's sort of the topic discussed in TUE when Danny decided to get rid of his humanity and, what was left over? His ghost half which actually betrayed Vlad. I kind of wanted to play up on that side of him a bit more. Eh, he's not all too bad once you get to know him. Riiight. Will he ever change? We'll see.