The New Adventures of Danny Phantom
A Danny Phantom Fanfic by Quill N. Inque
I do not own Danny Phantom
Chapter 9: The Gathering Storm
The Fenton residence, late in the evening
Danny Fenton fought to keep his eyes open as he unpacked his suitcase, trying not to glance at the ridiculously late hour on the alarm clock beside his bed. The flight back from Washington had been delayed, and the Fentons had returned home to Amity much later than planned.
Of course, being half-ghost, Danny wasn't always bound to the "eight to twelve hours of sleep" rule that was recommended for his age. On many occasions, he'd had to stay up late fighting the most persistent specters such as Skulker and Technus till the wee hours of the morning.
Statler: Now I'm starting to get a little sleepy!
Waldof: I'll join you! Sleeping sure beats having to listen to this literary atrocity!
Even so, Danny had his limits. The past few days in D.C. had been exhausting: first off, he'd been hit on the head by an angry POH activist at the airport, then he'd had lunch with the most powerful man on the face of the Earth, followed up by a six-hour grilling from a highly suspicious United States Congress, and finally an attempt on his life by a crazed priest, who'd tried to shoot Danny on the way back to his hotel.
Waldorf: A priest tried to shoot him? Disgraceful!
Statler: What was he thinking? HE MISSED!
Such ordeals would drive even the strongest of men to exhaustion, but the problems Danny Fenton faced at home were just as bad, if not worse.
The POH were growing stronger; Danny's presence on Capitol Hill seemed to have swelled their ranks, as though his visit had convinced thousands that Danny Phantom was, indeed, a malevolent and deceitful ghost bent on the destruction of mankind. The organization seemed to be everywhere, and their intentions toward Danny were becoming more and more ominous; upon returning home, his mother and father had found no fewer than four death threats in the torn remains of their mailbox. It seemed that the so-called "holy crusaders" were no longer a minor nuisance, but a rapidly growing threat, one which seemed to grow stronger every day, no matter how much Danny protested his innocence.
Waldorf: Can I join?
Of course, one also had to take into account his old crush, Paulina, and the mob of crazed fans (mostly girls), that she led. Naturally, this wasn't as serious a problem as the POH, but the whole thing was growing old fast. At first, Danny had enjoyed the attention. Now it was just annoying, seeing as how he had to look both ways before stepping outside his house.
Statler: Get your act together, ghost kid! Embrace the fangirls!
Waldorf: Something we never had, by the way!
And recently, the media had stepped up their efforts to photograph and chronicle every single part of Danny Fenton's life. He was getting so many calls from TV networks and talk show hosts requesting interviews that Jack had finally lost his temper and unplugged the phone. The ghost boy now found it necessary to take certain precautions against tabloid intrusions; such as keeping his windows shut and the blinds closed at all times. It wouldn't do for some amateur photographer to catch Danny as he was stepping out of the shower, after all.
Caught between these three factions the moment his plane had landed, Danny let out a frustrated sigh as he flopped onto his bed.
The halfa was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but it seemed like only a moment before his stupid clock started to beep again.
Waldorf: I know what that feels like!
Statler: Yeah, at least at our age we can sleep in as long as we want!
"Uggghh," was the only thought Danny was able to vocalize as he forced himself from the paradise of warm sheets and soft pillows, stumbling down the hall toward the bathroom in order to gather his thoughts and brace himself for another trying day.
Minutes later, his hair still dripping, Danny padded down the stairs, his nose twitching eagerly as he sought to identify what delicacy his mother had created. Mrs. Fenton was always obstinate about fixing a hot breakfast for her children, and it was the only part of getting up that her son actually enjoyed; it seemed as if Maddie outdid herself every day.
Statler: The question is, dripping with what?
After shoving the last of his three-cheese omelet down his throat, Danny grinned at his mother fondly. "Five stars, mom, as always."
Waldorf: Well, that's more than I can say for MY wife's cooking!
"Why, thank you, Danny," Mrs. Fenton replied with a smile, but there was nothing new about his statement; Danny said that every morning.
Then her expression sobered. "Be careful out there, sweetie. A lot of people are after you, and not all of them have benign intentions."
Danny rubbed the still-sore lump on the base of his skull, a painful reminder of the POH reception in D.C. "I know," he said as he transformed into his ghostly alter-ego. With ease borne of continual practice, the youngest Fenton phased out of sight and through the ceiling.
As Danny Phantom flew unseen over the town he'd sworn to protect, he felt shivers travel down his spine as he saw Paulina and her cronies lying in wait for him behind his house. That girl needs to see a psychiatrist… Maybe Jazz would volunteer, Danny added with a grin. Though I wouldn't bet on it…she has no more affection for Paulina than I do.
Statler: I disagree! Quill's the only one around here who needs professional help1
Waldorf: Only a sick, sick man could write a story THIS bad!
The red-bricked structure of Casper High loomed suddenly into his view, and Danny was jolted abruptly from his thoughts as the ghost boy wheeled a sharp right to avoid hitting it.
Touching down, he gave up on his invisibility and reverted to his human form as Danny landed beside his two friends.
"Rough night?" Tucker asked concernedly.
"You could say that."
"Was it Paulina again?" Sam asked, fully intending on pulverizing the beauty queen.
Waldorf: I wish!
"No, but I'm kinda sad it wasn't," Danny sighed. "It's those 'Protectors of Humanity' people; I saw them demonstrating at three separate locations on the way here. They're getting stronger, Tuck. It seems like every minute I turn around there's more and more of them. There's no question that they want me dead, or at least reduced to a lab rat for the GIW."
"Did you try talking to them?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, right after you guys went home last night, and I barely got away with all my limbs still attached. These guys are fanatics."
Statler: Well, what'd you THINK was gonna happen, genius?
"Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Tucker began. "But they've gone even farther. Last night, the POH targeted a bunch of people in the park who were demonstrating in favor of ghost tolerance. It was pretty ugly; no one was killed, thankfully, but…"
"But…" Danny said, prompting him to finish.
"The POH worked a number on them, and five are still in the ICU downtown. They released a statement in the paper today saying that they're targeting 'traitors to humanity' who support you and think you're a hero. It would probably be wise to upgrade Fentonworks' security."
Waldorf: Wish I'd been there…
"Have the police done anything?"
"Not yet, but you know how politics are. There are more than a few people in City Hall whose views are similar to the POH, but it seems that the organization has gone underground anyway. They're not activists anymore, Danny, and I don't think it'll be too long before the POH is packing more than just beer bottles."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but Tucker's right," Sam added. "Now, more than ever, you need to be cautious."
"You think it's possible someone could be controlling them?" Danny asked thoughtfully. "Ember, for example, has a knack for that sort of thing, like when she brainwashed all our parents with that cruise scam a while back."
Statler: Well, that's one scam I haven't heard of before!
"I suppose it's possible, but wouldn't your ghost sense have warned you if that were true?"
The bell's brazen tones echoed across the schoolyard, cutting the conversation short.
Danny tried to smile reassuringly at his friends. "Don't worry. We'll get to the bottom of this sooner or later."
As he stepped inside the hallowed halls of Casper High, a familiar (but VERY unwelcome) cheer met Danny's ears.
"IT'S THE GHOST BOY!"
As he turned to run from Paulina's gang, the ghost boy looked as if he might cry.
"Not again…"
Statler: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did you see the look on his face?
Waldorf(hefting a camcorder): Youtube, here I come!
A/N: I know it took a few days, everyone, but I'm really busy with school right now. I'll try to update AT LEAST once a week, probably on the weekends, so it shouldn't be too bad. Please bear with me, my friends, and I promise you that your patience shall NOT go unrewarded (I'll be DAMNED before I abandon my readers and let a story rot!). Lastly, I'd like to thank all of you who have commented on my story so far! Readers like you make it all worthwhile! ^^
Your humble servant,
-Quill N. Inque
