Even with Ghost Writer's lesson from last year, can we really expect Danny to make a full 180 on his attitude towards the holiday?
(Fenton Works: Laboratory – 9:47 a.m.)
"You're sure you don't want to come over this Christmas?" Danny asked as he continued leaning against one of the few lab tables not severely stained with ectoplasm. His cell phone rested between his ear and shoulder, while his right hand dexterously twirled a pencil every so often and his left held a sheet of paper steady on the table.
"I don't wish to intrude, Daniel."
He continued spinning the writing tool with his fingers. "You wouldn't be. Dad would be ecstatic if you came over for not just Thanksgiving, but even Christmas this year."
"It's not that I don't wish to. It's just that Danielle will be coming over for the holiday. We'll be spending the next few days together at my mansion."
While Danny was jotting things down on the paper before him, he was still listening attentively. "So you managed to contact her after all? That's great!" He paused briefly looking over his writing, "the only reason she visited the Ghost Zone for Thanksgiving was because the Box Ghost is good at being annoying." Danny began to vigorously scratch over one of his sentences. "How he managed to find her is beyond me."
"Which is why she is receiving a cell phone for Christmas."
"Good idea, Vlad." Danny stated as he looked over his paper, before promptly erasing a large margin of his writing.
"If I'm not intruding, Daniel, what is it that you are working so actively on? I can hear the scratching of the pencil lead against the paper like you're going to tear it. Wherever you are, it's eerily quiet for a day like today. Especially in your household."
Normally, Danny would have held this conversation with Vlad in the privacy of his bedroom to avoid his father's inevitable intrusion if it was discovered. However, this morning it took a fair amount of willpower to resist rolling his eyes at being awoken to his parents' traditional debate – being heard from the Ops Center that was in the process of being decorated. Which happens to be outside of the building that is his house, that is reinforced with the personal family security measures consisting of titanium and steel. Yet the boy could clearly make out his mother's statement on reindeer being incapable of flight and how even if they could they would burn up in the atmosphere…and then something regarding one of the laws of thermodynamics. But at that point Danny was already exiting his bedroom and descending the stairs.
Eraser shavings were blown off the sheet before Vlad got a response. "You know about what happened last Christmas right?"
"Which part? The Ghost Writer trapping you in his work, Christmas almost being ruined in Amity Park, or all your enemies helping you fix the mess?"
"All of the above." The younger halfa didn't wait for a retort from the elder. "Truth be told, I'm not confident that I've completely gotten over my hate for the holidays."
Vlad hummed as a form of confirmation that he was paying attention in the conversation. "…Is that so?"
"I promised myself last year, that I would do better in the next Christmas. I'm going over a memo of things to do and watch out for this Christmas before I meet up with the others at the mall today. Jazz said that I don't have to suddenly convert my entire outlook on Christmas, but at least try to adjust my attitude and actions while I'm around others." Danny began twirling his pencil while reviewing his list again. "So my goal this Christmas is to just not act angry or irritated towards anyone. I'm still tempted to ecto-blast some old Christmas decorations that were abandoned in the attic again."
"Just don't destroy his library this time."
That got the teen rolling his eyes. "Shut up. I wasn't even going to do it in the Ghost Zone." Then he paused, eyes widening in thought. "I'm surprised you're not even going to comment on the part about blasting away pieces of Christmas for venting."
"That's if you need to vent. And why should I comment on it? It's not like I've fully gotten over Maddie and Jack. I still sometimes use Jack holograms for target practice."
Danny straightened and raised a brow at that last statement. "…Oh."
"My point is Daniel, things take time. My jealousy and anger towards your father along with my desire for your mother lasted for two decades, and has only recently begun to settle. Your hatred for Christmas lasted since early childhood. They both require some time to adjust to."
"…Thanks, Vlad."
The billionaire on the other end of the line hummed in response. "You have my full support in your endeavor." This got the boy smiling fondly. "Though if I could suggest on an alternative method of your coping…"
As Vlad was speaking, the teen listened while making his way towards the genetic lock. His eyes reflected the ectoplasmic green of the opened portal.
…
(Amity Park Mall – 10:07 a.m.)
Valerie and Tucker watched, amused. Every classmate they have come across have carefully backed away or fled in terror immediately after being greeted by their goth companion. No matter how many years it has been, Samantha Manson being cheerful may as well be considered a premonition for the apocalypse among those that know her attitude well enough.
"So, she's like this every year?" Valerie rested her arm on the table they were waiting at.
"Apparently," Tucker responded while checking the time on his PDA. "Wonder what's keeping Danny…"
The huntress continued watching Sam's rather unnatural demeanor while responding. "Probably a ghost attack. Nothing else makes him late. Though it's probably not serious."
"Nah. It's probably just his parents arguing."
"You mean the Santa exists or not debate you guys mentioned?"
Tucker simply nodded. "That one."
"I don't see how that could have kept him though. Maybe we should check if he's fighting-"
"-Can't be ghosts."
Her eyebrows rose at the prompt answer. "What makes you so sure?" she asked as she turned her attention towards Tucker.
"Right. You don't know." The male pocketed his device and turned to his companion. "Apparently, there's an annual truce in the Ghost Zone." He holds up an index finger and states matter-of-factly, "No fighting on Christmas."
"It's even one of Walker's rules," Sam added as she turned back to the group after greeting yet another holiday shopper. "But you should ask Danny for any of the details."
Tucker gazed towards the mall entrance and smiled. "You can ask right now," he pointed towards said general direction.
Sam stood up and waved for the ghost teen's attention. "Danny! Over here."
Blue eyes met purple as Danny searched the mall for his friends. He swiftly made his way towards the table while grinning rather cheerfully, to Sam and Tucker's surprise.
The three were about to greet the late member of the team…before seeing something very unexpected by Danny's side.
"Hey, guys. Sorry for being late." Danny greeted the three that just gaped at him with wide eyes. "You wouldn't believe the crowd that was on its way here," he huffed while crossing his arms.
"…" The boy was only greeted with gazes of surprise. Six eyes fixed on the companion that accompanied him. Cujo was right by the halfa's side panting and wagging his tail in anticipation. The pup was bearing some fake antlers, to accompany his partner's Santa hat.
Sam was the first to respond. "Danny…why did you bring Cujo along?"
Danny promptly picked up the pup and seated himself between Sam and Tucker, resting Cujo on his lap. "It was Vlad's idea-"
"""Vlad's?"""
"-when I called him this morning. Thought Cujo could help 'liven up your holiday,' or so he said." Danny proceeded to affectionately scratch the dog while speaking, smiling while doing so. "Seems to be working out pretty well so far. On our way here, there was this huge crowd of people." He then looked down towards Cujo. "It was starting to get really annoying since everyone was pushing and bumping into each other, trying to get here to finish their last-minute Christmas shopping. Cujo even got kicked or stepped on a couple of times. So, he ended up tackling nearby buildings and trees. Knocked down inches of snow right on top of them and buried them. Cujo and I had to phase through it since we were trapped in the middle of it." The hound noticeably huffed through his snout.
While Danny cackled at Cujo's huff of a response; Valerie, Tucker, and Sam shared a look of unease.
A few hours of wandering the mall…
Tucker, Valerie, and Sam collapsed onto a bench, heaving sighs. Danny had left temporarily to get himself a drink from the food court, leaving Cujo in the three's care. Currently, he seemed calm. The hound wasn't panting in excitement, but his tail was still wagging.
Sam looked down towards the canine, "I'm actually surprised."
Valerie glanced at the same creature seated by their feet, "I'm just relieved than surprised."
"Let's see…" Tucker pulled out his PDA. "We managed to keep Cujo from tackling the mannequins in that one department store, chewing those fake bones decorating the goth boutique Sam dragged us into, and attacking the speakers in the tech store."
The two females nodded. Apparently, Cujo did not take kindly to being surprised by the loud volume of the speakers that abruptly started when he was right next to it. Danny managed to drag Cujo away with the leash that is the Fenton ghost fishing line before the speakers would be decorated with a new set of claws and teeth marks.
Tucker continued, "Aside from my mistletoe beret almost getting torn apart-"
"That was your own fault." Valerie rolled her eyes while Sam retorted. The high-schooler put on the festive hat before the group arrived to the pet store. The boy got too close to the many cats that saw the dangling plant as a toy (or prey). Cujo and the team watched, amused as Tucker tried to save the beret from being shredded.
"-and the knocking down of one of the small Christmas trees-"
"Also your fault." This time it was Valerie.
"-we've pretty much managed to avoid destroying this mall." Tucker smiled. "We might actually get out of this unscathed with no collateral damage."
"TUCKER!" The goth shrieked, ignoring the brief attention she drew to them with the volume of her voice.
"Oh, come on! What could go wrong on at this point?"
"How about getting burned by your hot chocolate?" The three looked up to see Danny, looking rather grouchy.
Sam noticed the brown stain on the shoulder of his red, winter jacket. "What happened?"
"Like I said," Danny snapped. "Someone bumped into me on her way out carrying like two dozen shopping bags and I almost fell over into the fountain with my drink. You can see what happened to most of it," he pointed to his shoulder. "My neck is still stinging from the burn," the teen stated as he took a drink of what remained of his hot chocolate.
The three shifted and made room for Danny to sit at the end of the bench, next to Tucker.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it."
"I know, Sam. And I'm not angry at her either. But, let's just face it. It's like Tucker on Valentine's Day-"
"Hey!"
"Christmas is just not the best time of the year for me." Danny took another sip of his drink before sighing, resting his elbow on the armrest and crossing his legs in a relaxed position. "So, where's Cujo?" He asked rather nonchalantly.
"""What?""" The three promptly turned towards where the ghost pup should be – and of course is not.
Before any more was said, the team gazed towards the center of the mall, the sound of barking and yipping fading and heading towards that direction. The small, green furball of ectoplasm apparently caught interest in the gingerbread house among the many decorations around the mall Santa. Yes, it was edible, and smelled greatly of cinnamon.
"Cujo, no!" "Come back!" "Here boy!" None of the team's call for Cujo's attention reached the hound.
Surprisingly, Danny remained silent, rather he was perplexed on why Cujo hadn't noticed it before when they first entered the mall. Wait, it might have been because they took the entrance on the other side of the mall. Yep, that was probably it.
Cujo forced his way through the crowd surrounding the Santa. Halfway through the crowd the hound just phased through the rest of the way.
Unfortunately, things can never be simple with Cujo around. The barking apparently startled the reindeers that were brought along into the mall to add authenticity to the mall Santa's performance. All eight began grunting and stamping in apprehension – until they saw the glowing ghost hound that is Cujo appear before them. Then they started panicking. And they stampeded away from the creature, ignoring the boundaries containing them.
Panic quickly ensued…more or less. Apparently, the citizens of Amity Park were so accustomed to ghost attacks at this point that they are (concerningly enough) desensitized to threats as simple as animals. But when eight reindeer, armed with durable antlers, that are capable of reaching speeds of dozens of kilometers per hour, are loose, one should know when to keep their distance. Especially when said animals are currently not sedated.
Cujo however, took the panic as an invite play…or he may have seen them as pray. It's kind of hard to tell with him. He was panting and his tail was wagging though.
Forgetting the appetizing smell of sweets, Cujo began going after the reindeer in haste. But ended up getting his fake antlers tangled with the LED lights decorating the surrounding area. As the spectral canine continued dashing in circles, going after one reindeer before targeting another, he got the mall Santa wrapped firmly in to his festive seat with the Christmas lights. Cujo himself ended up getting the decoration enveloping his body as well, but was too occupied with chasing to notice.
Soon, a cry for help was heard throughout the mall as the bearded man continued to be towed around with Christmas lights by a green ghost dog wearing fake antlers. The poor human couldn't move because the lights also wrapped his arms to the chair.
Team Phantom watched with mixed reactions. Valerie was shaking her head in disappointment, like it was to be expected. Tucker and Sam were gaping with their mouth open. And Danny…was chuckling.
Rising from her seat on the bench, Sam turned towards the only other ghost in the vicinity. "Danny! Aren't going to stop him?"
The teen didn't even shift from his comfortable position on the bench. "Why? We've gotten Cujo to hold himself back all day. He should enjoy himself today too." He took another sip from his cup. "Hey, Tuck. Think you could record this for me?"
"Seriously, Danny?" Sam crossed her arms.
"It's fine. No one's gotten hurt and nothing's been broken yet. See?" The halfa waved an arm towards the surrounding environment. Danny apparently qualified Christmas decorations as "nothing." Because aside from the many shattered ornaments and ripped streamers that would inevitably be removed within the next couple of days, the mall itself was still intact. "Besides, you really want to clean up a mess made by Cujo on Christmas?"
Sam promptly collapsed back onto her seat and just watched, getting herself comfortable as well.
"Face it Sam, something was bound to happen when it's that dog. Especially after Tucker jinxed it," Valerie sighed and stared blankly at the scene unfolding before them. "You know, this image is oddly appropriate…considering where we live." She pointed towards Cujo and the mall Santa.
In all his festive glory, was the biggest victim of the holiday this year being hauled around by a spectral pup wearing antlers, pulled along with LED Christmas lights as a makeshift reign, seated on a wooden throne-like chair of a sleigh.
Danny gulped down his remaining drink. "When you're done recording, Tucker, I need a good picture of this to send as a card to Vlad and Danielle," he cackled.
Tucker gave his best friend a smile and nod, motioning with his hands that the job would be handled.
The two females shared a look with each other. Valerie shrugged and stated, "at least he's not being a grouch this year."
Sam looked over towards the black-haired teen, observing his amusement, and just sighed. "It's a start…"
Danny laughed, "Best Christmas yet."
Cujo apparently makes any day better for Danny.
Happy holidays, humans!
