Welcome back to chapter seven! I hope you all like it. Oh and if you see a fuck up tell me and I'll fix it. Tell me anything, seriously. Especially if my rating isn't correct…I hope it is. ^_^ Review!
Oh and get ready for an awesome twisty! I know it's been slow, and I'm sorry. I'll try to do better. Anyone want to buy me the rights to Danny phantom? No? Darn.
**Danny POV**
I struggled in my blankets. Great. The sun was coming up already. I looked over to the alarm clock, and it was already seven. I sighed. I didn't want to get up; I wanted to go to sleep. But noooo. Another fucked up dream and I was awake at six. And I didn't go back to sleep. I think Vlad knew that I would have trouble sleeping because he still hadn't told me to get up or set my alarm clock. I groaned and put a pillow over my head. He really was being nice. So I decided to eat breakfast with him and get my ass out of bed. Anyway if I am going to start school I have to get used to getting up.
I sat up abruptly. As I made my way out of bed and into the bathroom I thought about Dani. When was she coming for the cure? Would she get our message? And would she accept Vlad's help and stay with us? She did need a place to stay. I just hope she stayed with us, because I could use her help too.
I brushed my teeth with new toothpaste Vlad bought. It tasted like cinnamon. Usually I don't like cinnamon stuff but I didn't mind this. Huh. I spit into the shiny sink. I really was changing. I stripped out of my pajamas and stepped into the shower. I would just take a quick one. I let the warm water flow over my back as I sighed. What would I be doing today? Vlad would teach me about the ghost zone when he was done with the cure…but what would I do until then? Wandering was out of the question. I didn't want to get lost again, no way no how.
Hmmm…I scrubbed my scalp with a shampoo that smelled like cinnamon…what was with all this cinnamon stuff? I was thinking about making an updated version of the Fenton thermos…Maybe one that was smaller, and not so noticeable. Like, in a gun form. HA! That is defiantly not inconspicuous. I started to build one in my mind. A laser to aim would be helpful as well… Maybe I would go to that huge gym I found while exploring and work on my aim. It did have bull's eyes anyway.
The handle would be bigger than a normal gun, because that would be where the ghosts would be contained. I turned the water off as the last of the suds went off of my body. I opened the curtain and looked into the mirror. I still had circles under my eyes, but they weren't so prominent…just a little dark and sunken in. Scary. I grabbed a fluffy towel and dried my body off. I wrapped it around me as I darted to my room. Huh. My room. I was just starting to get used to calling it that. But I wouldn't be staying here for long anyway.
I went to my closet. I blinked as I noticed that most of my clothes were black. I like black, but I never considered myself Goth or anything…I grabbed a pair of black cargo pants and a green belt. I laughed as I saw how much it looked like ectoplasm. The belt was a double belt too, making a cross across me. I liked the look. I pulled on some black chunky boots with a white strip across the sides. They were barely noticeable because the pants were so long. I stood and looked in the full-length mirror. Good so far.
I smiled. I really, really like these new clothes. They made me feel different…like the real me. I wasn't trying to blend in with a pair of jeans and a T. I was wearing what I wanted, and no one was going to judge me for it. And if they did, who cares? I grabbed a black silk T and buttoned it. I slipped my mom's necklace underneath. Yes, I had worn it to bed. Why not?
I pulled out my trench coat. It was white and black, but mostly white on the outside. The inside was black while the outside had some black stripes and linings. I slipped it on. The coat went down to my knees. Cool. I grabbed my watch and cell phone as I made my way out the door and down the stairs. Like always, Edmund was waiting at the bottom, with Mads. I picked her up after fastening my watch and followed Edmund to the dining room.
"Did you sleep well Master Logan?" I shrugged, which he interpreted. "Well, I hope you sleep better tonight. Might I say, you look rather hip this morning." He opened the door for me.
"Thank you Edmund." I set Mads down gently and stroked her head.
"You're up early this morning Daniel." Vlad was apparently surprised. I shrugged and made my way to my seat, which had my pills and a glass of water waiting.
"I didn't sleep well." He frowned, a fact I didn't miss. Well, I'm glad somebody cares. I chugged some water and popped the pills. What are they anyway? I realized I hadn't asked the specifics. Did I really trust Vlad that much?
"I'm sorry for that Daniel." I shrugged. Vlad took a bite of some fancy-looking waffle. "Is there anything I can do?" I shook my head. "Well, let me know, alright?" I nodded as Tasha came up to me.
"Do you know what you want today?" I bit my lip. I did have something I was craving.
"Do you have hot pockets?" I whispered. Both Vlad and Tasha smiled at me. Really? I wanted some hot pockets! So what?
"No, but I'm sure Cook can whip up some ham and cheese croissants." I nodded. "How about some fruit with that?" I smiled. "Alright." She swirled her strawberry blond hair and left to the kitchen.
I looked to Vlad who ate in silence. "Can I eat downstairs?" Vlad looked up at me curiously. "I want to get started on making new weapons."
"I suppose so. I'll send Tasha down with it." I smiled and stood up. As I walked to the door I noticed Edmund waiting for me. "Daniel." I stopped and turned. Vlad was looking at me with sadness on his face. He paused. "Don't blow up the lab." I nodded and left.
That wasn't what he was going to say. I followed Edmund downstairs. Well, whatever. I just wanted to start building my new idea.
**General POV**
Sam and Zack scratched notes to each other lazily in class as the teacher droned on. Unfortunately, the teacher noticed. He snatched up the piece of paper before either could say a word. Sam's mouth gaped like a fish.
"-hey!"
"You will appreciate what I am teaching better if you listened." Said Mr. Kohler.
Zack frowned. "Why? It's not like any ghosts are going to pop up and-"
"Have you forgotten what happened in Amity Park already?" Zack swallowed and stopped talking. Sure, he remembered. How could anyone forget? The ghost attacks, and then that family who died…
"That's what I thought." He walked back to the front of the class while the class giggled at the two friends. "Now, we will be reviewing-" He stopped as a hand shot up. "Yes Aerith?"
"I was just hoping that we could talk about Danny Phantom Mr. Kohler." She asked innocently, her hands twisting around her huge braid. Zack turned to look at her, a small smile working on his face.
"Well, I don't think-" The class protested. They all wanted to hear about Danny Phantom, the mysterious ghost boy from Amity Park who simply vanished. Mr. Kohler coughed, silencing the class. "I suppose since we only have ten minutes of class we could go over that certain ghost." The class cheered.
"I wonder why he left." Sam asked Zack. The black haired boy shrugged.
"Some say people didn't appreciate him enough. Others think he 'moved on'." Sam frowned.
"But he was the only one protecting the town, wasn't he?"
"Mrs. Mason, if you will." Sam started and looked to the presentation slide show that Mr. Kohler had out. "Thank you. Now as you can all see-" He clicked a button and a picture showed up. Danny phantom, with his white hair and white and black jumpsuit, floated. He was completely unaware that the picture was being taken, and instead was crouched midair looking at another ghost who was out of the screen. "This is Danny Phantom. Now, we are not sure yet if he was a menace or-" The class groaned. No way. Ever since Danny Phantom left they all knew what he had done. The ghosts now were overtaking the city, and with no Danny Phantom around, they were in trouble.
"Please class." They quieted. "Now, not much was known about Danny Phantom-" He clicked again. Another picture was shown; this time Danny phantom was fighting fiercely with a glint in his eye, protecting a boy with a red hat who was scooping up a child. "Although it seems clear he protected the citizens. It is simply an official view that we have no idea whether or not he was bad. Now this ghost in particular-" Sam began to ignore the teacher, her eyes glued to the picture. The boy seemed so familiar, even though she had never met Danny Phantom. And the boy with the red hat…he was familiar too. But for the life of her she couldn't figure out why.
**Vlad POV**
I stepped into the cold air of the lab. The official lab, downstairs. I had already checked out the cure, and it was already done spreading. I was having Edmund do a few simple tests while I went downstairs to check on Daniel. I snuck down the stairs quietly. There sat Daniel in his white and black trench, working tirelessly on a small gun like thing.
"Daniel." He didn't even turn around. "Can you work and listen at the same time?" He sighed and stopped his work.
"Nah, you have my attention. It's just the laser and the stream are off a few inches." I chuckled as I went up to a rather large computer.
"You can continue it later. Now, I want to tell you about the ghost zone. And I will give you the specks about whatever ghosts I know about." Daniel nodded, watching me type something into the computer.
"What about Dan?" I froze. Why in the world…oh no. he wanted revenge. I turned to him, a stern look in my eyes.
"Dan is being held at clockworks. And no, I will not tell you about Dan." He sighed, seeming to know that would be my answer. I turned back to the computer. "Now. The ghost zone is, so far, mapped at about ten sectors, although most Ghost hunters know there to only be three." The wall behind me became a screen, showing a very detailed map. "You know that there ghost portals popping up everywhere, made when a small ghost energy storm collides with a leftover ghost storm in the human world." The screen changed, showing the details of the storms. This was going to be a long lecture. But Daniel seemed to be thoroughly engrossed. So I continued.
Tomorrow we were going to be moving, and today seemed to be going pretty fast. I wondered when Daniel would get his ghost powers back, if he ever would. Then again, why did I care? I liked this schedule. It was normal, but it felt odd. Different. Oh well, I thought as I continued to talk about the ways to harness a ghost energy storm, which was invisible to all. Maybe normal is good.
But for some reason, I didn't think normal would last.
**Sam POV**
Tomorrow there is no school. Awesome. Well, they had to give us some break between semesters. Zack and I? We decided to spend our day off watching Jeff Dunham. Je-fa-fa. I giggled in anticipation. But for now, we were stuck in school, waiting anxiously for the lunch bell. Then my thoughts turned to Zack's arm. He seemed to be fine, but then again he had an unusually high tolerance for pain.
I just hoped it would stop. Of course, I hoped that every day but it still never did. I looked over to Zack, who was currently looking at Aerith. I chuckled and jabbed his arm with a pencil. He jumped.
"It's rude to stare."
He frowned. "I was not staring."
"Were to. You have a crushhhh." I leaned in, trying to get on his nerves but trying to keep my voice down so our English teacher didn't notice.
Zack pouted. "Don't make fun. It's about time you got a guy anyway."
I scoffed. "Don't change the subject. Besides, all the guys here are jerks." He frowned, and I jabbed him again. "Not you! Anyway, you need to get a guy too!"
He almost chocked on air. "What?"
"You spend way to much time at my house. You need a guy's house to go to!"
"You're not going to kick me out! What about me sleeping over tonight? What about Peanut! And jalapeño on a steeck!"
I fake sighed. "I guess I'll have to. After all, who would want to keep Peanut waiting?" just then, the teacher slammed a ruler stick on her desk.
"Pay attention!"
I giggled. I knew I might go to the office, but it was too funny to pass up. "Yes Mrs. Hof-fa-fa." Zack stifled a laugh, and for a stunned moment, no one said a thing. And then Zack and I burst out laughing. I know, it's retarded. And Peanut did it much better, but still. We just had coffee. What do you expect?
**Danny POV**
I was stuffed. I was sitting on my bed, stuffed to the brim with knowledge and food. I felt like a pig. In fact if this was a cartoon my stomach would be ten times its size. I don't know why I forced myself to eat so much. Maybe because it was too good. Did I mention how amazing Cook was? I mean, really really amazing. I could get used to being rich.
I smiled at the white ceiling. I was really tired, what with all the blood going to my stomach. I started to think of the last few days. It's been fun. And normal. Normal was good, I decided. The last few days have been important to. I've been learning, making weapons, making a cure for Danielle, expanding my relationship with Vlad and learning how to drive. I looked to the driver's license on my bed side table. The picture was normal too. Not too bad not to good. I yawned. God I was tired. I put my hand on mom's necklace. I miss her.
I didn't want to think of it, but I couldn't go into denial either. They were dead. All of them. The worst part was I could have saved them, and I didn't. Why did this have to happen to me? I closed my eyes.
And before I knew it I was asleep.
It was dark, really dark. I heard a crackling laughter. I squirmed…Dan. I twisted and turned. I'll kill him, I'll rip him to shreds.
"How?" He floated up to me out of the darkness. "With what powers will you hurt me with?" I clenched my fist. "And by killing me, you're only killing yourself."
"I'm not you! I never will be!" I cried out. "You killed them!"
"No Danny." Dan had a white light spread across his body, and there he was standing. Danny Fenton. "I am you. Danny Fenton, the sole survivor of the Nasty burger explosion." He crackled evilly. "You killed them."
"Shut up. I'm not you! I'm not Danny Fenton! I'm Danny Masters!" I cried out. "I'm different now!"
He laughed in my face, his red eyes blazing into mine. "Yes, and you will continue to be different until you snap and become me." He started to fade away. "I'll be waiting…" NO! I lashed after him, but he was gone. Maybe he was right. I was a failure. It's my fault, I killed them. My blood boiled.
"Danny!" I heard a voice scream my name and I turned around. There they were, strapped to the Nasty Burger Sauce heater. No. I ran forward, towards my family. NO.
"Mom! Dad! Jazz! Mr. Lancer! TUCKER!" I screamed as I saw their pleading eyes. I tried to go ghost, but the light fizzled out. I was too tired. I tried to run faster. All was hanging in the lines. I looked up.
There was a light, and all the sound went out. All I heard was a screeching high pitched noise as I looked into the white light.
"MOM! DAD! JAZZ! TUCKER!" I couldn't hear myself scream. The white light was blinding, but I forced myself to look. The white light illuminated their five bodies. They were just black shadows that I saw get ripped and shredded. I couldn't look away. They began to get smaller, and smaller. Their bodies were being ripped apart. I sobbed.
Why didn't I run faster? Why didn't clockwork help me? Why didn't I save them before I defeated Dan? Even if I got hurt, I should have tried harder. Even letting mom and dad know I was Danny Phantom…I sobbed. Danny phantom. I wasn't Danny Phantom. Not anymore. I didn't deserve to be. I killed them and it was my fault.
I pleaded to the darkness. Someone...something. I wanted to rip myself apart. I wanted to die. I wanted to let the darkness take my ghost half and let my ghost half kill me. I was going to. I made up my mind. I didn't care, why should I? Vlad would do it; he would do anything for me. He wouldn't even hesitate.
"Please don't." I sobbed in the corner of the darkness, not even caring of the blue glow that was illuminating my back.
"Why not?" I growled back. "I deserve to die. And then, I can see my family. And if I don't, then at least I'll be free of this pain."
The figure growled at me too. "How dare you think that? What about the future of Amity Park? People will die!"
"WHY SHOULD I CARE?" I yelled, and for an instant my eyes glowed an evil red. "I killed my family and my best friend. Why should I CARE?"
I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. "Because Your mom and dad and Jazz wouldn't want you too. Neither do I." I looked behind me, my eyes filled with tears.
"Tucker." He smiled gawkily at me. My heart sank, it felt like it was ripping itself apart. "I'm sorry. It's my fault." He fell beside me, still with his hand on my shoulder.
"No its not. And you need to promise me you won't rip yourself apart over it." I shook my head.
"You're not real." He scoffed.
"Come on! I'm not real?" I looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Alright how about this. In fifth grade my hamster died and you helped me bury it."
"You would know that if you're a figment of my imagination."
He rolled his eyes. "God you're annoying. And stubborn. Alright, how about this then. In eighth grade you took that blond to a dance, but only because I told her you had a disease." I started.
"Hey!"
Tucker laughed. "Oh come on. She was the hottest chick in the class. Anyway, I did it for you cuz you're my best bud."
I stared at him. "B-but your dead. And this is a dream. "
He shrugged. "You're part dead. And the dream part will resolve itself soon. Anyway, you have to promise."
I shrank inside myself. "Why? I want to die-"
Tucker growled. "Don't make me hack your phone and send embarrassing texts to everyone in the town." I blinked. "Don't let me ever hear you say that again. I will kill you myself. And then bring you back to life. And then kill your afterlife."
I chuckled, tears still staining my face. "It's still my fault."
"OH get over it!" Tucker stood and pulled me to my feet. "We have, I can tell you that. The only reason I'm here is to make sure you get back on your feet and get some friends. And get over it."
I shook my head. "Not gonna happen anytime soon, Tuck." He shrugged and began to walk off. "Wait, don't leave me!"
He turned back, straightening his funky barrette. "Don't worry. I'll see you when you get up." I blinked.
"Promise?"
"Dude. We're sixteen." He smiled. "But yeah, promise."
I struggled in my sheets. I want to make sure it's true…I want to wake up and tucker be there. I couldn't open my eyes. I moved my hand really slowly to my thigh. I pinched myself and my eyes darted open. I sat up quickly. The moon cast a murky light into my bedroom.
"Tucker?" Please be there, please be there. "Tucker you promised!" He can't leave me. I sighed. It was just a dream. Just a stupid, stupid dream. Well in that case, I might as well rip myself apart and-
"Dude." Tucker's blue form danced next to my bed.
"TUCKER!" I clapped a hand to my mouth.
"Dude not so loud." He hissed as he sat down next to me on my bed.
"You're…here."
He raised an eyebrow. "Well, yeah. Hey, I didn't expect you to wake up until morning." I shrugged, still watching him with a skeptical look. "Anyway, I'm not leaving. I'm here, ghostly glow and all." He laughed. "So what's been going on since I left? Met any girls?"
I stared. It wasn't a dream, he was really here. Tucker was here. I blinked. "ummm, I'm living with Vlad now."
His face crunched. "The fruit loop? Has he made you his evil apprentice yet?"
I shook my head. "Nah. Tuck, listen he's been surprisingly cool with it all." I moved over so we cold both lean against the wall.
"Well? Tell all. Everything."
"Okay, but can you tell me anything on your side? Did you see mom and dad? And jazz? What's it like?" he held up a hand.
"Sorry bro. I signed a strict no-tell the living anything contract." Now it was my turn to raise an eyebrow. "Well, technically your only half living. I'll tell you a little bit. Let's see…Jazz is worried like crazy, talking about how the traumatic experience will totally fuck you up." I chuckled. Jazz… "And then your mom was all worried too. Talking about Vlad and how she wished you would have told them about Danny phantom a lot sooner. Your Dad, well, you know. He's Jack Fenton." We laughed. "He's still having trouble accepting the whole…dead thing. Before you ask, I am the only one in ghost form. The only one allowed to this plane right now. We decided you needed me. So, Jazz and your mom and dad are sleeping and gathering energy, and they're putting it into me so I can stay here."
"What's it like? The other side?"
Tucker shrugged. "Sorry. That's a surprise."
I hummed. "Well, I'm glad you're here. And mom and dad and jazz are all right."
Tucker laughed. "Alright, another thing. I don't think it's a good idea for everyone to see me all the time, so I'll wander with you so only you can see me. Just bring the PDA."
"huh? Why your PDA?"
"Dude. You're the son of ghost hunters and you don't know about objects?" I shook my head.
"The object is the one thing you can be connected to. I decided on the PDA, instead of a place or location or anything. Carry that, and I can follow." I nodded.
"Right. Okay." Before I could ask more, Tucker jumped up.
"Tell me everything! Right now!" I looked at the clock. It was two in the morning, and I couldn't think of a better way to spend my time.
"So Vlad's nice. He's got a cat, named Maddie but I call her Mads. We're moving tomorrow and the new house has a pool."
"Sweet!"
"I know. I got my driver's license, Vlad taught me to drive. He bought me all these clothes and a new phone! I'm starting school in Kith Ridge on Monday. I'm going to be taking Martial arts with a private instructor! I'm so excited. I started to build this new tech gun that combines the Fenton thermos and a ecto gun so I can-"
I talked animatedly. I was so excited. I started to tell Tucker about Dani and the cure. I was really happy. It didn't change the fact that they were dead, and I had killed them. I still felt guilty as hell. But what are you gonna do?
Talk to your dead best friend of course.
