Dani's Debut Part 1
It had been about a month since Dani has started going to school, and somehow they had managed to keep it under wraps.
…
Meaning Danny had signed every scrap of paper, arm, hand, and the occasional cheek and forehead thrust at him.
Over and over again.
It was an exhausting month.
It became almost routinely, but everyone always loved the anticipation in the air when the Phantoms would walk in, mostly because they had taken a new way of doing it.
Human style.
--Flashback--
"Well class, the Phantoms should be arriving in 3, 2, 1…" Ms. Sanderson waited. Surely enough, someone knocked on the door.
Everyone's faced became highly disappointed when two kids walked through the door, one female and one male.
The guy had a baseball cap on, and sunglasses. He wore a long sleeved slim-fit black t-shirt with the words "I can handle this. Can you?" Posted on it in red writing, and surprising white jeans.
The girl had a dark navy blue top on with the words "I'm with the ego-maniac" printed in black, same white jeans, and the same black sunglasses and cap. Ms. Sanderson was confused for a moment.
"Umm, may I ask who you are?" The guy's mouth twisted, and the girl grinned, slugging him in the arm.
"You owe me five bucks." She said to the boy in a familiar voice. He scowled at her and they pulled off the caps and glasses. The class gasped, suddenly feeling very stupid.
The Phantoms didn't actually blame them though. They knew the reason the class hadn't recognized them was for the same reason they didn't recognize their regular human forms.
Their brain didn't make the connection, because picturing the Phantoms in regular clothes was next to impossible for them.
"Do you like it?" Dani said, twirling. Ms. Sanderson laughed and nodded. She raised an eyebrow at Danny's apparel and he smiled sheepishly (do I even have to mention the girls reaction?)
"Hazmat only lasts so long." He said jokingly. They laughed.
"May I ask where you got the clothes?" Ms. Sanderson said. The class subconsciously leaned forward in their desks.
"Actually a friend of ours made them. She's into designing."
Actually, Sam had only revealed her artistic talent a little earlier, having already made several outfits for them ahead of time. Dani had taken an immediate liking to it. Danny had been wondering where this had suddenly come from.
"You know when I made that stylized D for you? I had a little extra cloth. I just experimented, made a few different designs. Turned out to be kinda fun." Sam shrugged.
"It wasn't hard to get the material needed. Plus, I figured Dani would want some school clothes. This can be especially for the Phantom's wardrobe only." Sam smiled and Danny blushed and nodded.
"I love it." He said, pecking her on the cheek and quickly trying on the shirt on, Sam politely averting her eyes and blush as Dani gagged.
The class groaned simultaneously, and Danny looked at them curiously while Dani rolled her eyes. She mouthed "clueless" to Ms. Sanderson, who giggled behind her palm.
"Did any body see you wearing those clothes?" A girl asked, kinda liking the idea of being the only one to see this Danny in casual. Danny nodded.
"I don't think anyone took pictures in the streets so-"
"You were in the streets?" Someone asked, surprised. The class shared their sentiments.
"Well yeah, how else would we get here?" Dani asked. Both cocked their heads, not aware that they were doing it, let alone that they were both doing it.
"…" The class paused for a moment. Even Ms. Sanderson sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
"I never thought a day would come where someone would ask me that question, and I'd actually answer with a 'Didn't you fly?'" Dani grinned and shook her head.
"We took it for a test run first. It was fun." She giggled and Danny grimaced.
"I didn't particularly enjoy it." He said in response to the unasked question.
"A few girls just strutted over and wrote their numbers on his arm." Dani stage-whispered, taking Danny's arm and rolling up his sleeve, showing the smudged marker for emphasis. Danny blushed scarlet, and rolled his sleeve back down hastily "Dani!"
"Well it's true!" She shrugged.
The girls seethed with jealously.
Danny laughed nervously, still red. Actually, many girls found him cuter from the new found shyness they saw. Who knew the heroic cool idol could also be so…adorable???
-- End of Flashback--
Today the Phantoms walked in wearing some new stuff from Sam. Today Danny's t-shirt said "If I could live life always smiling…" on the back it read
"I'd rather keep a straight face." Danny had declared this one was his favorite, but Dani could never be sure since he always said that to Sam every day. Then she would tell him to stick a sock in it and go take Dani to school.
Dani's shirt read "Don't you wish you were me?" Across the front. Danny had actually hugged Sam, telling her this one was perfect. Sam had blinked, then smirked and told her that had been her aim.
Danny patted her head in the usual routine, still managing to convey brotherly love, and also sent a grateful glance (another part of the routine) at Ms. Sanderson, who smiled exasperatedly. For some reason that boy never got old.
Then he saluted at the class (a joke that had been picked up sometime after Dani's soldier imitation), which saluted back at him (girls giggling, boys with lopsided grins), and he flew through the ceiling.
Dani took her seat, and Ms. Sanderson started class.
What had surprised the class and teachers as Dani had progressed was the fact that she was very intelligent and familiar with all the school subjects. As Dani had gotten out of copying old notes and old material, she was able to figure out answers to questions and equations very quickly.
Tucker had theorized that with her cloning came Danny's education. Even if Danny was next to failing in high school, he still had already been taught the things in middle school, and any high school could ace it.
However, Dani still had to study to keep up. Just depending on Danny's memories didn't always work, so in reality while everything she learned seemed familiar, it was still old in her mind, and she had to relearn it. Or something to that effect.
From there Danny and Dani had stared at Tucker and Sam had put it into English.
"You remember a lot from Danny's memories, but you still need to work and study to do well in school."
"Ooooh" Both Phantoms had replied. Sam rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. Tucker's theory did extend though, to that when Dani reached Danny's age when she had been created, the memory flow would stop, and she'd only have her brain to back her up through high school.
Sam had actually taken a liking to Dani, as had Jazz. Both girls liked having an extra girl in the group, and it made it seem a little more stronger than the boys side at times.
Not to mention knowing all of Danny's likes and dislikes could work to Sam's advantage.
Another thing that had been going on after school was the Training Sessions.
Maddie had taken one look at the basement and declared it was not fit for the "Phantoms Headquarters". Instead, she had started renovating, and within a week, she had made the basement triple the size, decked out with the latest equipment.
Here came the part where all three Fentons, Sam and Tucker stared. Maddie had simply smiled, putting a hand on Jack's shoulder.
"You didn't actually think we didn't live financially secure lives did you?" Both Fenton children hushed up, and Dani looked at them curiously.
After both Phantoms reported to the apartment (usually one took longer than the other, so they would raid the fridge and enjoy a non-ectosized snack in the meantime), they went straight to the basement.
Tucker would usually be there. His parents had found out at the Disasteroid incident, and they had supported Danny whole-heartedly. Mrs. Foley had also offered to be Danny's personal doctor, since she was one and could easily help them if they ever had a…bigger problem. While Maddie had paled at the thought, Mrs. Foley had pointed out was possible.
Of course, neither mother liked the idea of it.
They had hastily gotten off the subject.
Since the basement had been redone, any guest who walked in would see the regular stuff, the portal and shelves filled with jar samples that had been there before.
Now, by way of either phasing or a secret code, the Phantoms and Fentons (and various others) could gain access to another secret attachment. There, Maddie had set up training equipment and simulations for the trainee-ghost hunters.
There was also a huge screen, and several computers. It was here that Tucker and Danny's parents worked diligently. It seemed to get to the Global Records, there was a long and winding passcode.
When asked why, Tucker had shrugged.
"I'm guessing they thought no one would ever be so determined or with so much free time as to give it a whack. But, I say, give or take a year, probably less, we can get it cracked." He grinned. Danny and Tucker had "man-hugged" and the rest is history.
Sam and Jazz were also there most of the time. While Jazz was busy with college applications and studying for her last year in high school, she still managed to be there, mostly for training. She and Maddie worked together when Maddie wasn't at the computer on strength and endurance, along with a little martial arts.
Sam would join in for the martial arts, but she also used the ghost simulations to train herself. She also helped Dani and Danny.
For the past month, both Phantoms had gone through intensive training. Danny had been teaching Dani several strategies and fighting techniques (if any such existed), and teaching her about the many ghosts he had fought after her existence. It proved to be a long list.
"The most important thing that you have to master right now is to duplicate." Danny said, making two of himself.
"Why? So I can watch two different channels at once on television?" Dani asked, thoroughly bored.
"No!" Danny scowled.
"When Danielle Fenton becomes a official part of this family, you need to be able to be Dani Phantom and Dani Fenton, and in some cases, at the same time too." Dani rolled her eyes, but squeezed them shut and concentrated.
Neither Phantom noticed the two best friends sliding up to each other.
"I say two weeks."
"One."
"Guys, this is my little sister, not my little brother. We don't bet on Dani." Jazz scolded. Both stared at her. She looked both ways and then stooped to their level.
"5 Days tops. Like I said, this is my little sister we're talking about, not my brother." She made to walk away, then hesitated and whispered again,
"And that was an estimation, not a bet. I'm also estimating 20 Bucks on it." Sam smirked and she grinned back, then went back to her mom.
"Jazz says 20, I say 45." Tucker said, crossing his arms.
"45 on what?" Danny asked, walking over as he left Dani, still scrunching her eyes and concentrating.
"Uh, on how many Nasty Burger,-uh-Sam could scarf down!" Sam hit her forehead and sighed.
"Sam's a vegetarian Tuck."
"I-uh-know that! I meant 45-uh-veggie burgers! Yeah." Danny raised an eyebrow, then looked at Sam, who shrugged.
"Sure, why not?" She drawled out.
"Hey Danny!" A voice interrupted. They turned and saw the girl munching on a peanut butter sandwich.
"I think I'll give it a go later, 'kay? I've got homework to do."
"Wait, but Dani!" Too late. The girl went through the ceiling and into her room. Danny sighed, and Sam patted him on the back mock-sympathetically.
"It's always the rebellious phase that gets ya, eh Danny?" She said, smirking. He glared at her.
"Will you people just LET IT GO?!" He yelled as Sam and Tucker collapsed on the floor laughing.
Dani's room was somewhat similar to Danny's. She was also interested in space, but instead of posters, she had models hanging from every available space. Her bed had a sky comforter and was littered with magazines and some books. Not being able to take anything out from the library, she had gotten Jazz to do it, by floating next to her invisibly.
…It's a story for another day.
Now Dani sat at her desk, working out some math for school the next day.
"Hey Dani, you really need to learn how to replicate, the sooner the better." Dani sighed as Danny flew through the wall, lugging Jack behind him, who shuddered.
"Besides the creepy-crawlies going through my stomach, man that's cool!" Jack said.
Dani rolled her eyes and turned to her homework again.
"Jeez, it's not like I'm going to need it by tomorrow!"
"But you might! You never know!" Danny said, elbowing his Dad to help him out here. Jack coughed, saying,
"Uh Yeah! What he said!"
"But I most likely won't." Dani said, her back to them.
"But you might!" Danny responded, scowling. Jack stood there confused.
"No, I won't."
"Yes you will."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Danny!" She shouted indignantly, turning to him angrily.
"Dani!" He shouted back.
"Jack!" Maddie yelled from downstairs.
"Maddie!" Jack yelled joyously, and sped downstairs, two Phantoms staring at the empty space for a moment. They both sighed simultaneously.
"Look, I'm merely concerned for your safety Dani. This whole plan we have going…it could really easily fall apart, that's all." Danny said, taking a seat on Dani's bed.
Dani sighed again, sat down, and then punched Danny in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"For being sappy! I understand Danny, and I'll work I promise, but school comes first. I'll try again tomorrow, okay?" Danny moped, rubbing his arm, but muttered a small,
"Fine." He sank through the wall, still looking down.
"Oh way to be dramatic!" Dani yelled after him.
--
Dani barely paid attention throughout class. Her mind, unusual as it was, was thinking about something other than class, and instead focusing on a growing concern.
Ghosts.
There had been a few minor attacks, mostly formed by the Box Ghost, Klemper, and various other low-rate ones. Nothing big.
Exactly what worried them. Danny hadn't even seen Skulker, who usually came at least twice a month.
Danny Phantom hadn't been needed, but that just made Danny train harder. Like he was afraid of something.
And that worried Dani even more.
Ms. Sanderson raised an eyebrow at the young girl's behavior, but decided against mentioning it. She wasn't being favorable, more like her student was focusing hard on something, just not on class. She could see small worry lines on Ms. Phantom's forehead, and for a moment the teacher felt anxiety.
At gym Lily raised her hand over Dani's eyes multiple times to get her to pay attention. At one point they had been doing running, and Dani had lapped the students once before she zapped to attention and slowed down. The girls paid very close attention to her afterwards.
"What is with you? You're acting like Alex on one of his 'I miss my bed' days." Lily asked, pinching Dani for the third time that day.
"S-sorry. Ever had a premonition before?" Dani asked, shivering.
"Premonition? Like bad stuff is about to happen? Not really, but it's possible with you being a ghost and all your mojo or whatever is up." Lily said, poking her. Dani scowled.
The topic of Dani being a ghost was never untouched with Lily and Alex around. They honestly didn't check to see if Dani was okay with it or not (which she was), because they just didn't care.
The trio had grown close.
Dani's teeth started chattering and she got a cold feeling in the pit of her stomach. It crawled up her throat and entered her mouth. Lily asked her if she was okay, seeing her disgusted expression.
The cold air wriggling in her mouth, Dani opened it and gagged out a fogged breath.
"Weird. What was that?" Lily asked as the fog disappeared.
"I don't know. I've seen my brother's ice powers, but this was definitely smaller…and less condensed." Dani said, waiting to see if anything more happened. Nothing did and she let out a breath of relief.
"Ever seen your brother do it?"
"I think…a few times, but that was when the Box Gho-"
"WHIIIIIP!" Something zoomed past Dani and crashed into the floor. Lily backed up, eyes wide.
Some girls squealed, many screamed, and Mr. Teslaff (after admitting a girly shriek himself), tried to calm them down, keeping them away.
Dani was the only one who didn't move.
Danny wrestled with a purple robed man, with a green spiked crown that managed to stay on his head despite their fumbling.
Danny seemed to be holding something in the palm of his hand, a gold chain that the man was trying to reach. However, Danny held it back, while still managing to land a few well-aimed punches on the guy.
Danny looked up momentarily from the pummeling and noticed his sister standing not more than two feet away.
"Dani?!" He looked around himself, then flew back as Aragon landed a kick that sent him solidly into a wall.
"Oh crud."
"'Oh Crud' as you so thoughtfully put it boy, is right" Said the man, standing up and brushing dust of his robe.
Dani looked at him a second, trying to match his figure to the pictures she'd seen (memorized more like) in Danny's ghost files.
"Aragon." She whispered when it clicked. Danny looked at her with warning eyes as Aragon advanced, and Dani knew why. The gold chain was clenched tightly in his fist.
"Now, give me back my-" Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and Danny sighed, facepalming. The clustered group of kids and teached looked curiously.
"Excuse me" A young girl piped up, tapping him again.
"What is it?!" Aragon snapped, then turned around. His eyes widened as the girl eyed her fist like he was unimportant.
"Yeah, I've reserved Mister Phantom over there for special butt-kick courtesy of me for the next month. Can you come back, say, never?" Only then did Dani grin at him as she swung, punch making solid contact with his princely face.
One male Phantom, class, and teacher all winced simultaneously.
"And he's down for the count!" Dani said, smirking. She flew over to her brother (eliciting another gasp of course) and helped him up as he rubbed his head.
"Thanks…I think." Danny said, groaning.
"Yes you mean to thank me, and no prob. That's what all the training's for after all." Dani said.
Danny floated over to Aragon, where a bruise was starting to form on his face.
"Would you look at that! Matches his robes perfectly!" Dani declared. Danny rolled his eyes.
"Don't get a big head just because you sucker-punched him."
"How was that a sucker-punch?! He saw me, he could've ducked!"
"He was in shock. A delayed reaction, you could've waited for him to get his bearings."
"What, and miss my chance to knock him out?!"
"Exactly why that's called a sucker-punch!"
"He's not going to be the only sucker punched if you don't-"
"Uh, excuse me?"
"WHAT?!" Both Phantoms roared at Mr. Teslaff, whom promptly fainted dead away. Danny sighed and face-palmed.
"Look at what you did now."
"I did?! How is this my fault?!"
"You screamed!"
"So did you!"
"Uh, guys?" Lily prodded.
"Well you were louder!"
"Guuuuu-uuuuuys." She tried again, stretching the word out.
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"GUUUUUUUUYS….." Lily prodded a little louder, trying to get their attention urgently.
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP ALREADY?!" Lily screamed, taking both of their heads by the hair and shaking them together. Many girls screamed, a few whistled, and others just gaped.
"Ouch! Let go!" Both Phantoms said in unison.
"Not until you stop ruining the 'perfect family' image you've had going here and actually listen to me!!!" Both Phantoms stared at her.
"…"
"…What?!" Lily snapped.
"I'm guessing you're Lily." Danny said, eyebrow up.
"Told you she was like Sam." Dani whispered, Danny nodding speculatively.
"Would you stop jabbering on about something I could care less about and pay attention to that stupid blue ghost guy who is easily escaping at the moment?!"
"Huh?" Both Phantoms heads whipped to the spot Aragon had been, making Lily yelp and release their heads.
"Ah!" Both heads whipped again to the empty spot in Danny's hands where the amulet had been hanging.
"AHHH!" Both Phantoms screamed once more when they realized what exactly that meant. They looked at each other for one moment with pale faces before flying through the gym ceiling.
Lily stared indignantly at the ceiling while everyone else stared as well.
"Darn twins." She grumbled.
"You're WELCOME BY THE WAY!" She yelled to the ceiling.
Wow. That was pathetic. I need to have a taser strapped to my chair. Then if I don't post a chapter in two weeks, zappedy-zap goes Artgirl!
On a lighter note: Hey guys, I've set up a Deviantart account! So far I am currently pondering over how to put a picture up. I managed to post up two things (a doodle and a Butch Hartman style me), and I'm currently pondering over how to post Lily up. Unfortunately, I don't know how to make the picture smaller or something, so that the same image can be the preview. HOW DOES THIS WORK?!?!?!?!?! I don't even know how I did it before!!!
On a cooler note: Go to my profile and vote on the poll please! I'll have you know I plan on basing that part of the story (check to find out!) directly on the poll results! So vote today (and yes it works for people under 21! Squee!)!!!
