Took me a while to think of something for this chapter. :}

IMPORTANT A/N: Please take note that unlike in Fanning Flames and the rest of the DP universe, Ember's friendly to Phantom here. One ironic thing I made here is that Sam is interested about Ember in this AU, while in the cartoon she isn't even affected by her powers. I made that mistake in Chapter 4, I think? My bad.

So I was kinda disappointed with myself at Chapter 6 because it felt like I barely wrote anything at all. Besides, most of the things I wanna write are restricted when you're following a certain script. So starting from now on I won't follow DP transcripts anymore.

I hope I don't get disappointed here as well because I used my time watching how to bake cookies instead of rewatching Fanning Flames and now I forgot what it's all about, come on, it's been years since I last watched the whole thing.

I guess that once we get to around 10+ chapters, I'm going to reveal some of the plot twists I reserved for the story, so please stay put and click the 'Follow' button.

A Grasp at a Distant Memory

Chapter 7: Ember's Wish - Part 1

Jack was repairing his weapons, considering the things that happened last night. He felt rather guilty for doing nothing that time, sending the teens to danger. Sam and Tucker got a few close calls, Phantom getting the most hits, and Jazz…

Jazz almost died. She almost perished in front of him.

Heaven knows what he will do if Jazz happened to be hurt, and Maddie would hate him even more. He just couldn't let someone leave him again.

The telephone rang, Jack tended to it.

"Fenton Works, may I help you?"

"I am certain that you cannot help me, Jack." Came a familiar voice.

"M-Maddie?" Jack was surprised that his ex-wife would call him. "What's wrong?"

"You're asking me what's wrong? Well, you're the wrong one here, Jack!" she almost shouted.

"I don't know what you're…"

"Don't play dumb with me. I know you and Jazz were in the Circus Gothica incident last night. Haven't I told you always to keep our daughter out of the harm's way? Jack, please, I don't wanna lose Jazz too!"

"I feel the same, Maddie. I-I'm sorry. I'll try to keep her out of the harm's way next time."

"You better do. Because the time something happens to our daughter, I'll forget all about our past, Jack. And I'll take custody on our daughter. You probably won't see her again."

Maddie dropped the call, and Jack buried his face in his hands.

"I'm such a horrible father."

®® - Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman - ®®

"Care to enlighten me why did you go against my orders and went to the human world, little Phantom?" Clockwork furrowed his eyebrows at the grumbling ghost teen.

"I just wanted to help the ghosts, ok?" Phantom told his father. "I just couldn't imagine what the selfish humans might do to them…"

"I admire your bravery, little Phantom. However, if those humans never broke you from his control, you would've been a victim as well. Wait, you are."

"Victim? W-What are you talking about?" the boy rubbed the back of his head, a mannerism that means he's either nervous or lying as Clockwork observed.

"You did forget the fact that I can view different timelines without the help of the lost staff. And that means viewing the present human world timeline as well."

"Hehe. I guess… I'm sorry… But I just got to do it. I can't let those ghosts be on terrible danger, and I can't let Jazz's world be in danger too."

Clockwork sighed.

"I guess I have no authority to restrain you here, but please, please try to get out of harm's way. I don't know what I will do if ever I lose you, my little Phantom." Clockwork smiled softly at the boy, gently ruffling his snow-white hair.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Ugh. Great. I'm grounded till the start of the next semester." Sam talked to Tucker through his mobile. "I know I'm a creature of the night, but I probably won't see anything morbid inside my safe home. I badly need polluted air. This is all that damn television's fault." She grumbled, as Tucker snickered at her. "What's funny?"

"Nah, it's just that I'm luckier because my Mom and Dad happened to sleep early that night. Still as free as an American eagle."

"Are you trying to make me feel worse, Tuck?"

"No, just tryna cheer you up"

"It's not working."

"Hey, what if I go there and convince your parents to let go of you."

"Are you nuts? You just delivered the Morbid Anti-Social Youth CD to me just in front of my parents, and now they think you are the bad influence."

"My bad… Wait, I got an idea! I'm pretty sure someone as smart as Jazz won't be considered as a bad influence, would she?"

Sam smugly smiled.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP-

"Ember, that totally rocks!" Phantom clapped at the rockstar as she strummed the guitar string for the last time.

"That was sick, isn't it, Dipstick?" Ember winked at him.

"Totally, totally sick, Flamehead", Phantom commented as he walked next to the girl. "Now all we need to do is to gather all the ghosts around here, and you're a rockstar!" Phantom cheered.

"No way in hell, Babypop. All of the ghosts around here are grumpy, and you're probably the most alive… er… most energetic and positive kid around here. Other than that, they're too busy still mourning for their death."

Phantom's happy face fell down on the ground.

"Hey, dipstick, no need to be sad! I've pretty much accepted that I cannot fulfill my dream as a human, and it'll take years before I disintegrate, so yeah, better enjoy while it lasts."

Phantom smiled.

"But you know, I got a wonderful idea."

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP-

"So, Tucker, I'm bored. When is Jazz com-"

"Boo!"

"AAHH!" Sam screamed, alerting her parents.

"Is there something wrong, sweetie?" her mom's concern written all over her face.

"Are the monsters on your bed haunting you?" her dad asked.

"Mom, dad, I'm fine. I just happened to... um… got scared of the morning sunlight, yeah. Hehe."

Her parents eyed her suspiciously before they closed the door and left.

"Hi, Sam." Phantom appeared from under her bed, waving his gloved hand at her.

"Maybe mom was right about the monsters on my bed."

Phantom frowned.

"You hurt my feelings, Sam."

"Geez, I never knew ghosts have feelings too. What brings you here all of a sudden? Didn't Daddy Clockwork ground you too?"

"Apparently grounding in the Ghost Zone is illegal."

"No fair! That's so lucky of you." Sam grumbled as she buried herself in her bedsheets.

"By the way, I have something to tell you… Do you remember of the rockstar ghost Ember I told you before?"

Sam shot up.

"What!? Yes of course! A Ghost Rockstar performing in front of me will complete half of my yearly Gothic needs!"

"Yeah… and that's why I needed help…"

"Hello?" came a muffled voice.

"Shit, I forgot about Tuck!" Sam didn't realize she dropped her phone when Phantom scared him. "Tuck, are you still there?"

"Yeah, and judging from what I've heard, your ghost boyfriend is on your bedroom. Sweet."

"He's not my boyfriend, Tucker! I don't even know the reason why he's here… yet."

"Well, if you really want to hear how my friend rocks, you should help me out here."

"Where should I start?"

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP-

"So much for your son talking to humans, Clockwork", one of the Observants stepped out from the shadows, looking at the big image shown in front of their faces. The image showed Phantom and his human friends talking to each other. "So much for trying things that won't actually happen."

"Well, at least he's doing something to try and help the ghostkind, not unlike you, who was merely 'Observants' to observe and not care to raise a finger." Clockwork smirked.

"That was our Oath, to observe. And what about you, the oh-so-great one who managed to get the most important staff in both the ghost and human zone stolen? You're practically as useless as we are now."

Clockwork chuckled.

"You're right at that part. Maybe right now, I guess I will rely on a 14-year old ghost child."

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"That sounds awful for the girl, Phantom", Sam frowned. "Dying because of a fire, huh?"

"Yeah." Phantom agreed, looking as downcast as the Goth. "She's pretty unpopular when she's still alive, but she believed she'll be a rockstar. It's sad she has to die, she's pretty cool."

"So, you're saying you want to help her achieve her dream as a human? But… How?"

"I… I don't know! Maybe a concert here at the human world? She talks about having her own concert all the time!"

"Phantom", Sam put her hands on the ghost's shoulder. "It's not that easy preparing that here, you know. Especially she's a ghost, and humans despise ghosts!"

"Ember's not an evil ghost!" Phantom almost shouted. "She just wants to sing in front of a lot of people!"

Sam's phone rang.

"Wait a second." Sam told Phantom as the ghost just stopped talking. "Tucker?"

"Yeah. I'm here on your doorstep, Sam."

"And?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "What are you waiting for? Get in."

"Hello! There's a sign outside that basically says no Tucker Foleys allowed! I never knew your parents are this overprotective! What's next, not letting me stand 300 meters near you? This is nuts!"

"Oh god, I forgot. Can you, like, sneak onto my window."

"Gee, thanks Sam."

"Uh", Phantom cut in. "I think I can help…" he went intangible and phased through the walls of Sam's room and went outside, landing beside Tucker.

"Oh, hi Phantom."

"Hello, Tuck." He grabbed Tucker by the arms and went intangible with him, phased through Sam's room again.

"Whoa, that was cool!" Tucker remarked. "You're strong, Phantom!"

"Well, strength is one of the perks of being a ghost, so…"

"Is that so? Then I can't wait to die!"

"Haha. Funny." Phantom sarcastically laughed.

"Please remind me why you called me here, Sam?" Tucker asked, flipping his PDA on.

Sam smirked and pointed her fingers at Phantom.

"Do I really need to explain it once again? Oh man."

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"So that's what happened." Tucker said, looking glum. "And you said you want this Ember chick to have her own concert here? That seems… near to impossible, to be honest."

"What should I do?"

"Well, I highly doubt authorities will give a Ghost rockstar a concert permit, let alone people attend to the show."

"Now that got me thinking. We can give a free show on Amity Park rather than a concert! How does that sound? No permits, no problemo!" Sam suggested ecstatically.

"That sounds cool man… except for the fact that Sam's grounded." Sam frowned at her friend.

"Aww…" Sam grumbled. "Now that you think about it, I'm going to miss all the fun."

"Unless you wear a peppy floral dress in front of your parents."

"That's a good idea, Tucker!" Sam said as dug onto her wardrobe, took out a pink floral dress and ran out of her room.

"That was supposed to be a joke, but I guess it might work."

"Where's Jazz by the way?" Phantom asked the dark-skinned boy.

"She's on her way right now. Told me she has to visit her mom all the way to another city so she'll be coming late."

"Her mom is from another city? But why is his dad in Amity?"

"Long story short, they're separated. Jazz lives alone and she has to visit both her parents during weekends. "

"That's sad." Phantom frowned, suddenly feeling pity at the orange-headed girl.

"Uncool indeed. She wants to help them get back together again, but her mom's kinda firm. Probably some serious family problem. I wish she'll just be more open to us so we can help her."

Phantom frowned, wondering what that silly, kind man did that made his life miserable.

A/N: Www, kind of short compared to the last one. This one is probably the most out-of-canon chapter so far, being a lot of different from the real Fanning Flames episode. However, this is an AU, so I hope you'll understand.

Next (or probably next to next) chapter there will be something big going on, this part being the calm before the storm. I'm going to involve Maddie (and possibly Vlad) soon as well.

I wish I can get more reviews, since I'm kinda losing focus when I don't receive a lot of them. I want suggestions as well, since I feel like I'm writing with less interest these late chapters.

That's it! Wait for the continuation of this chapter! See you tomorrow! (or the next day if I got lazy :P) ~AyaPie