AN: Woo! Another update! Well, 3 quarters through freshman year of high school. I realized my standard for word count is going up. Can't tell if that's a good or bad thing... Probably good, because I type REALLY fast. I think I actually am not human. Maybe I'm a ghost. O.O Oh well. I hope you guys like this chapter! It was kinda fun to write. Mostly it was fun thinking of future stuff. At this point, I say screw the outline, I remember more stuff! Okay, enjoy!
Disclaimer: No matter how much I wis-... want it to be true, I do not own Danny Phantom.
Everyone stared at him for a moment, before bursting out laughing. Who would ever believe that scrawny little Danny Fenton would know better than his parents, the ghost experts, on where to go in the Ghost Zone? None of them did. He patiently waited for the laughing to die down. His parents attempted to cover their laughs, but failed and tried to catch their breath.
Zach called to him, "What, you trying to play the hero, little wimp?" Danny and his group of friends laughed in response, confusing his class.
Jack was wheezing, and Maddie was still giggling, "Danny, your father and I don't know what to do. What makes you think that you do?"
He took a breath, rolled his eyes, and admitted to them, "I've been here before." A collective gasp that the child had been in here without his parents. Jazz attempted to ignore the shifty glances thrown at her. They hoped that he was joking. Looking at his deadpan face, they knew he wasn't.
"And just what do you mean, you've been here before? Are you saying that you went against us and came in here, by yourself?" He cocked his head, and shrugged at them.
He glanced back at Sam and Tucker before replying, "No." Seeing the expectant look in his mother's eyes, he sighed and continued, "I was in here before, yes. But not alone. I had Sam and Tucker with me. Plenty of times."
Valerie let out a cough, and added, "He was in here with me, too, once or twice." The Fenton adults could only blink at her. Danny turned back to her, in shock. Was she simply lying for his sake? The only time he had been in here with her, that he could recall, was when Skulker tried to hunt them. He slowly turned back to his parents, hoping that she thought she was lying. "So, technically, I didn't disobey you. Also, is it disobeying when you get thrown and/or dragged in here against your own will?" Jack's jaw dropped at hearing this. How can he talk so casually about this? He acts like being put in here is about as bad as getting a paper cut! Maddie pursed her lips, unsure of how to respond.
"Alright, then, young man. If you're so clever, what is your plan?"
He stepped forward, nodding his head forward. Once he did this, his group came to join them. A bark surprised most of them, "Ooh, lots of people! People in one place! Why are people here? I like people! Person! Person, you should pet me!" He pawed at Jazz's leg, getting her attention. She smiled as she crouched down. He rolled over and she scratched his stomach as his tail wagged.
Danny let a smile escape at the sweet sight, before taking his, more accurate, map of the Ghost Zone out of his pants pocket. He layed it out on the ground in front of them. He put one hand to the ground, directly on the island. He took a breath, closing his eyes. Opening them, the others could see that his eyes had changed from their normal blue to a blue-green. He glanced around, looking at nothing in particular. The green energy of the Ghost Zone floated around him, seeming to be harmonious with the boy. Without looking down at the map, he put a finger on their current location. "Our current location is here. Now, we must travel here." His hand moved towards the Fenton Portal. "I suggest that first we visit here. There is someone there I wish to discuss the current situation with. We will most likely be able to stay there for a night." He pointed to an area of nearby 'uncharted' territory.
Maddie sputtered, "But Danny, there is nothing there! We have no reason to go there! We should just make a straight run for the portal." He concentrated for a moment.
"Do that, and you'll run in to Skulker's island. He is one of the more known hunters of the Ghost Zone. Knowing him, he will not hesitate to either take you hostage, or torture you to get to... someone." He took his hand off the ground, his eyes returning to normal, he looked up at them. "You have to trust me. This is the best option. I need to get everyone out of here, unharmed."
Maddie paused, taking in her son's serious expression, "And why is it that it needs to be you?"
He ignored her, turning to his friends. "Jazz, organize everyone. Make sure they have everything. Sam, check for injuries. Tucker, make sure people brought food. Ember, watch for enemies from the skies. Valerie, salvage what you can from the wreck. Dani, stay close to me, listen for anything important. Tell me if someone finds something." She nodded, understanding his meaning. He clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone, break. I'm going to check inside the Keep. Come to the entrance once we're ready."
They all nodded, going to do what they were told. Cujo barked at him, "What about me? What do I do? I wanna do something!"
Danny smiled and crouched down, "Now, your job is the most important, Cujo." He created a ball of ectoplasm behind his back, then brought it to his front. Cujo watched it intently. "You see this ball? This ball is very important." He stood, and wound his arm back. "I need you to..." He threw the ball to the other end of the island. "Go fetch!"
Dani giggled as the dog scrambled after it, knocking over anyone and anything in his way, barking furiously at it. As they walked in to the Keep, Dani bombarded her original with questions, "Okay, Danny. What's up? Why haven't you told them, yet? Why didn't you tell me? Why were you all red earlier?"
He sighed, putting his hands in his pockets, "I'm sorry, Dani. I didn't tell them because I don't want it to change the way they look at me. And I didn't tell you, because... Well, I forget things sometimes! And I thought you'd already know, I guess. And I... well... I can't tell you why, yet. Maybe later, but not right now. Now, come on, we gotta check on the sarcophagus." They walked towards the room to the left. In it, were stairs leading up to an intimidating sarcophagus. Danny walked up to it, checking along the hinges for hints of tampering or damage. Once he was satisfied, he glared at it, and hissed, "You are never going to escape." He took a deep breath, and turned back, "Dani, any news?"
"No, just some speculation. Your friends are starting to suspect something. Ember isn't telling them anything, yet. It sounds like Valerie still doesn't know about you." He nodded, and they strolled back to the entrance hall. Some students were there, including Valerie, Nathan, Lester, and Dash, along with Mr. Lancer.
He glanced at them, "Did anyone go past the entrance hall?" They all shook their heads. Stepping outside of the Keep, he did a head count, finding they were telling the truth. He nodded, "Good. Best double-check that you have everything you need. We're going to be walking for a few of hours." He checked his watch. 3:30. He suspected they'd be leaving in about fifteen. He did a quick check in with everyone. "Jazz?"
"We're all good, Danny. Everyone's here. I sent everyone checked out with Sam, Tucker, and I to you. Everyone's luggage is accounted for. I also wrote you a list of those I think will be trouble for your authority, and for your secret." He nodded, walking over to Sam, who was bandaging up Jose. Jose was sniveling at the sight of the cut on his arm. Sam rolled her eyes.
"Oh, come on, you're fine. It's just a cut. Probably got it from a cut. You'll be fine. Have you already checked in with Tucker?" At his nod, she continued, "Okay, then grab your stuff, check in with Jazz. Next!" Audrey limped over to Sam, a scrape on the back of her calf. The goth put some rubbing alcohol on a cloth, then gently put it to the wound, while the cheerleader hissed in pain. "Nothing too bad, here, Danny. Just some scrapes and bruises. We don't have to worry about any broken bones or fractures quite yet. Hmm... try standing." Audrey began to stand, albeit slowly, and Sam gave her diagnosis. "You sprained your right ankle. Minor sprain, but try to stay off it. When you're walking, try to lean on someone."
Walking a short ways to Tucker, he noticed no one was talking to the techno geek, "I'm all good, here, Danny. Everyone's food was in their bags, so it survived. We should be good, for now." Nodding, the two best friends went back to the entrance of the Keep, to wait for the rest of everyone. Danny's parents had reluctantly joined them. They waited about ten to fifteen minutes for everyone to be ready. Tucker and Danny passed time talking about the newest games on the market, and who would beat the other.
Once the students had all joined them, Jazz reported to Danny, "Danny, we should get going. I don't know how long it's going to take us, but since we don't have your endurance, it will be a while." He nodded, and stood, signaling everyone else to stand.
"Alright, everyone. The plan is that we are going to walk in half hour intervals. After each half hour, we will take a ten minute break. I'm guessing we'll be there around 6:25. For safety, you guys will follow me, and do not stray from the group." He grabbed his bag and guitar, and walked, hearing murmurs and footsteps following him. He confidently stepped off of the island, only for it to extend to where he was going to step, rocks floating towards just under his foot.
They were taking their last rest when Danny looked towards the horizon and grinned. Pulling his stuff back on, he stood and looked back to them, "C'mon, guys, we're almost there!" He ran quickly towards the tower. They followed him as he pulled to a stop in front of the doors. "Now I should be able to find out how all this is gonna go down."
Valerie stood to his side, "Danny? Who are we going to see, anyway? Is it... safe?"
He knocked, turning back to the group, "A good friend. His name's Clockwork. He's helped me out of a couple tight spots. And he changed my views about some things."
He smiled in remembrance, when Mr. Lancer asked, "What views did he change?"
Danny chuckled, "He changed my views about time, and the future. Also about how your perspective in the past can change how you view things in the future/present. He once told me 'The Observants look at time like they're watching a parade. One thing after another, passing by in sequence right in front of them. I see the parade from above. All the twists and turns it might, or might not, take.'"
A creak sounded and he turned around, a broad smile on his face. "I see you've recently taken to using quotes."
AN: There you go! Like the cliffhanger? I love writing the other peoples reactions! Sorry if any of this seems far fetched! I just really like my headcanons! I can't wait for the reveals! This'll be so fun! Remember, reviews make me smile! Okay, Kasena, out!