I don't own Danny Phantom.
Danni was back on her feet in an instant, the air becoming colder and eyes blazing green.
"What was that?" Michael asked, stumbling to his feet.
Danni asked as a blue wisp flew out of her mouth. She growled and stomped past her father. "It's a ghost, Dan it."
She threw open the door and gasped. Michael joined her and gasped as well. There was a group of the queen's soldiers surrounding something in the street.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" a familiar voice yelled at the top of her lungs.
Danni and Michael gasped. "Mom/Jacklyn!"
….
It was supposed to be a simple mother and son jog. Jacklyn had been happy that James had been starting to get an interest in ghost hunting and had agreed to go on a jog with him.
The beginning of the jog went fine. Jacklyn had educated her son on some ghostly science which James had seemed incredibly interested in, to her delight.
It had been towards the end when they got ambushed.
They came out of nowhere. There were at least 50 of them, running to surround the Fenton duo. They recognized them. They were the soldiers from when Queen Dark had attacked a while back and transported the entire town into the Ghost Zone.
A pair of soldiers started to approach James, one holding a bow and arrows and the other holding a sword.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Jacklyn yelled, whipping a Fenton bazooka out of nowhere and firing it to hit the soldiers. The soldiers were blown to smithereens and James smiled thankfully at his mother.
Suddenly, a pair of soldiers in front of the mother and son were sliced through. They fell to the ground revealing Danni Phantom holding an ectoice sword and Michael Fenton holding a glowing staff the looked like a green double-sided lightsaber.
"Mikey!" Jacklyn said with a smile. "And… Phantom?"
"Yes," Danni said. She winked at her brother to tell him that their father knew the secret. "But there's something I've got to tell you."
Jacklyn looked confused.
"Honey," Michael said. "Does Phantom happen to look like someone we know?"
Danni stood with her feet together and her hands behind her back, smiling and trying to look as innocent as possible.
Jacklyn observed her for a minute. "She resembles someone… I just don't know who…"
Danni still smiled sweetly. "Lemme give you some hints. I'm only half-ghost and I have a human and a ghost half that I can freely transform between. I hate toast and poetry. I've got an older brother and a pair of ghost hunter parents. My best friends are a Goth and a technogeek. I'm a Fenton. Ring any bells?"
Jacklyn's eyes widened. "Danni?"
Danni grinned. "Bingo! Now I'd love to explain but it appears we've got some company."
Jacklyn, Michael, and James looked around to see the soldiers closing in.
James strapped a wrist ray onto his wrist. "Danni, wanna teach us how to fight the Phantom way?"
She smirked. "Actually, I was thinking of fighting the Fenton way."
Michael and Jacklyn smiled as the family turned so that they were in a circle facing the approaching skeleton soldiers. Michael twirled the lightsaber staff, Jacklyn held the bazooka and charged it up, James pressed a few buttons on the wrist ray so that it was ready to fire, and Danni lit her hands up with ectoplasm, eyes blazing green and glow flaring.
There was silence for a second… then a soldier fired an arrow. Danni snatched the arrow out of the air. She snapped it in half and then turned it to ashes with the ectoplasm surrounding her hand.
"Anyone else wanna try?" she taunted with her best death glare.
"ATTACK!" a skeleton yelled.
Jacklyn let out a battle cry and fired at the skeleton, taking it and four others out.
"Mom's aim is better when she's protecting her family," Danni reminded James. "Behind you." She fired an ectoblast and hit a soldier attempting to sneak up on her brother.
"Okay, try me," James said, focusing on the battle.
Danni smirked and turned to focus on the group of skeleton soldiers in front of her. She smirked.
"Oh, this will be fun," she said, cracking her knuckles.
Without another second of hesitation, she flipped over a soldier and ducked as a second soldier swung its sword, watching in satisfaction as the sword passed straight through the first soldier, slicing it in half. She swung her foot around, tripping a third soldier before standing up. She grinned at the remaining soldiers.
"Let's play," she said. Her hands lit up with green ectoplasm as she ran forward, firing ectoblasts left and right. She vanished into the crowd of green soldiers.
James fired a blast from the wrist ray that cleared a line in the crowd surrounding him before he slammed his foot into the chest of a soldier, throwing it back into its fellow skeletons. He wasn't the best fighter on Team Phantom but he wasn't the worst. He just wasn't allowed to use the Fenton Thermos. Ever.
James ducked a sword from a skeleton and grabbed its arm. With a quick move, he threw the skeleton over his shoulder and slammed his foot down on its chest, breaking a few ribs, before stepping on its skull, smashing it. The skeleton went limp.
There were footsteps from behind James and, without looking, he fired the wrist ray, taking out a line of ten soldiers. He smirked.
Unlike her husband, daughter, and son, Jacklyn wasn't thin and quick, but she knew how to protect her family. She slammed herself into three soldiers, knocking them to the ground, and fired the bazooka at another group of soldiers. She'd gotten a few glimpses of what James and Michael had done and she was obviously doing the most damage out of the three of them. Danni was still in the mob of soldiers so she couldn't see what the girl was up to.
Jacklyn fired the bazooka again with a smirk as she watched the blast hit a group of soldiers. She smashed the three soldiers she'd slammed into earlier with her foot as they tried to get up.
She dodged an arrow as it whizzed by her ear and shot the soldier who fired it, taking out the three soldiers next to it as well.
Michael kneed a soldier in the chest and spun around to slice another one with the lightsaber staff. He was a 9th Degree Black Belt. He wasn't going to let the soldiers beat him.
He slammed the end of the staff into the chest of a soldier and glanced at Jacklyn. He was impressed by the amount of skeleton soldiers his wife was taking out.
Suddenly, there was a growl and barking from in front of FentonWorks. Everyone, including the skeletons turned around to see a tiny puppy growling at the soldiers.
"Is that… Cujo?" Michael asked.
There was a green flash and Danni was suddenly by Michael and Jacklyn's sides.
"Interesting fact: Cujo's actually a ghost dog." The girl was gone in another flash of green.
"Danni tricked us into adopting a ghost dog?" Michael asked, slightly shocked.
"Hey, she's Danni Phantom," James said with a shrug. "If she can trick the entire world into thinking that Danni Phantom's a ghost and Danni Fenton's a human who has no ties to any ghosts and is scared of them, she can trick a pair of ghost hunters, who just happen to be her parents, into adopting a ghost dog."
There was another green flash as Danni reappeared next to Cujo. She knelt down and pressed a button on Cujo's collar. The puppy's disguise faded away to reveal her true appearance. Danni was gone in another green flash. As soon as she was gone, Cujo started growing.
Michael and Jacklyn's eyes widened.
Cujo barked once at the soldiers before charging at them. She grabbed a few in her mouth and shook them around, tearing them apart.
James threw a small cube onto the ground. It shook for a second before creating a ghost shield around his parents and him.
"Portable ghost shield," James said as he watched pieces of the skeletons bounce off the shield. "Daniel made it."
Jacklyn opened her mouth.
"Danni will tell you who Daniel is later," James said before she could ask her question.
Jacklyn shut her mouth.
"Which Daniel?" Michael asked.
"The White Hunter," James responded.
Cujo turned to the other soldiers and growled.
The soldiers looked at each other before screaming and running away.
The ghost dog was about to go after them when Danni walked up next to her.
"No, Cujo," she said. "Let them flee like cowards."
Cujo shrunk back to her normal size and Danni pressed the button on her collar, activating her disguise.
The dog barked happily and jumped into her owner's arms. Danni smiled and scratched behind her ears.
Jacklyn and Michael tried to say something but no words came out.
"What?" Danni said with a smile. "You think this is weird? What you're going to see now that you know my secret is a lot weirder than puppies that grow when they're angry."
Jacklyn smiled hesitantly. "Cats that grow when they're angry?"
Danni laughed and then stopped abruptly as she became serious. "No. Try an evil ghost queen, alternate versions of people, different dimensions, ghosts who can control time and know everything, ghosts with an eye for their entire face, and a knight whose armor is literally on fire."
Jacklyn took a second to comprehend that before smiling innocently. "So no cats that grow when angry?"
Danni raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, off topic," her mother said.
Danni rolled her eyes. "We've gotta go to a friend's place."
Cujo jumped out of her arms and into Jacklyn's. The woman seemed shocked for a second before petting the puppy.
"Sam's place?" Michael asked. "Or Tamara's?"
Danni chuckled and reached into her pocket. "Try a ghost who controls time and knows everything." She pulled out one of Clockwork's medallions.
….
"I think—I think—I think I understand," Jacklyn said as she sat in a chair made out of ectoice (courtesy of Danni) at a table made of ectoice (courtesy of Danny) in Clockwork's lair.
"You're sure you're sure?" Timepiece asked.
"I'm sure I'm sure," Jacklyn responded.
"You're sure you're sure you're sure?" Time challenged again.
"I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure."
"You're sure you're sure you're sure you're sure?"
"I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure I'm sure."
"You're sure you're s—"
"Okay, okay, we get the point!" Daniel butted in.
"That could have gone on for hours, Time," Danni said. "Right Clocky?"
Clockwork brushed some of her hair off of her shoulders before nodding.
"Okay, enough interrogation," Danny said from where he was sitting on a gear. "We have a bigger problem on our hands." He jumped to his feet and walked over to the table. He put the map down.
Danni, Fishtail, Timepiece, Daniel, Michael, Jacklyn, James, Cujo, Dash, Sam, Tamara, and Clockwork crowded around it.
"What's wrong with the map?" Tamara asked confused.
"Can you not read part of it?" Dash joked.
"Ha ha, very funny," Danny said, glaring at the jock. "But it's not a language thing."
"Why is the right half blank?" Michael asked. "Did they draw the map too small and have extra room or something?"
Sam shook his head. "I don't think so." He pointed to the castle on the map. "It just ends. I've never been in Queen Dark's castle but this seems a little small."
Danni frowned. "The castle is bigger than this. I've been in it. Remember?"
Danny smiled. "Bingo. The right half of the map is blank but judging by the left half, I think there's something there."
"Lemme see!" Time said, running over to Danny's side. As soon as he came within three feet of the map, Danny noticed color fading into the right side of the map.
"Time! Stop!" Danny yelled.
The ghostly apprentice stopped, standing on one foot.
"Do you see that?" the halfa asked.
"It's fading in!" Dash yelled.
Clockwork smirked.
Danny grabbed the time apprentice by the front of his shirt and pulled him closer to the map.
The colors faded in more, making it brighter.
Danny pushed Timepiece farther away from the map.
The colors faded away.
"That's strange," Danny muttered, leaning over the map.
"Is it reacting to ghosts?" Dash asked.
"Not ghosts," Clockwork said. "But it's reacting to something about them."
Everyone was silent for a minute. Then Time tried to squeeze between Sam and Danni.
"Dude!" Sam yelled, jumping away. "Why are you so cold?"
"Cold…" Danny repeated. His eyes lit up. "Cold! Sam, you're a genius!"
"What did I say?" Sam asked, curious.
"Ghosts are naturally cold!" Danny said. "The map is reacting to the cold!" He used his powers to grab the map and make it hover in the air. He arranged his hands on either side of the map and let them glow neon blue. The cold energy from his hands spread to the map, encasing it in a blue glow, cold enough to reveal the right half of the map but not to freeze it.
As everyone watched, the neon blue glow of Danny's powers reflecting in their eyes, the right half of the map faded into color.
Danni gasped. "I know that place!" she yelled, pointing to the right half of the map.
Everyone looked at her.
"I check up on the sarcophagus from time to time and explore the castle. Sue me," the halfa girl admitted, folding her arms.
"I will admit to exploring the castle in my dimension as well," Danny confessed. "This looks about right."
He froze the map in a case of ectoice, releasing his telekinetic grip on the map. He grabbed it before it hit the table.
Clockwork looked on, face emotionless.
"You've got something to say," Timepiece observed, studying the Time Master.
Clockwork sighed. "Indeed, Timepiece. I do want to say something." She cleared her throat. "I have been observing the best time for you to attack Queen Dark." She paused for a second. "It's now."
"WHAT?" everyone asked.
"But—but—" Fishtail stuttered, fingers webbed.
"We're not ready!" Danni exclaimed. "We haven't had time to prepare!" She paused before pointing at her parents. "They literally just found out!"
"Well, if you don't go now, there's going to be some horrible outcomes."
Danni went silent. She didn't want anyone to die because of her, but she felt that Clockwork was leaving out something that would happen if she did go now. She knew Clockwork well. She knew when the ghost was considering telling her something.
"I know some underground tunnels that seem to have been forgotten," Danny suggested, still holding the frozen map.
"What? What tunnels?" Danni asked.
"I found them the day after the deathday party," Danny explained. "I guess you haven't found them yet."
"We can use the tunnels Ghostie found to sneak up on Dark and her guards," Daniel recommended.
Danni thought about that for a second. "On one condition…" she turned to Michael, Jacklyn, James, Dash, Tamara, Cujo, and Sam. "You guys stay behind."
"WHAT?" Sam and Tamara yelled. "But—"
"Clocky's leaving something out, I can tell," the halfa girl said. "If it's something dangerous and deadly, I don't want you guys to be on the receiving end of it."
"Danielle Jamie Fenton," Michael said in a harsh tone. "We're your parents and we're going with you."
"Yeah?" Danni asked. "Well, I'm Danni Phantom." She went ghost and pointed to the DP insignia on her chest. "And I say you stay behind." She spun around, braid flying, and walked to the door.
Danny, Fishtail, Timepiece, and Daniel glanced at each other. Danny went ghost and followed Danni, while Fishtail transformed into his half-morph form. Timepiece pulled his hood over his hair, looking at the humans and one ghost dog while Daniel pulled his hood over his hair and pulled his goggles over his eyes. Daniel tugged on Timepiece's sleeve and the two of them followed the others.
Sam stared in shock. After all Danni, Tam, and him had been through, she was making them stay behind? They were a team. They were a team for life.
Danni barely listened to Danny describing where the forgotten tunnels were. She felt horrible for leaving her friends and family behind. She knew they were a team but she didn't want them getting hurt.
She glanced back at Sam. His facial expression was one of surprise and betrayal. She glanced down at the floor in shame before making up her mind.
Ignoring the Dimension Chasers asking her where she was going, she turned and ran over to her male best friend.
"Danni?" Sam asked, curious of why she came back.
"Sam, I've—I've got to tell you something," she said, staring at her boots. "You know, just in case I don't come back."
"Don't say that!" Jacklyn yelled.
Danni ignored her. "Sam, I—I—I think I—" she stuttered.
"Yes?" Sam asked, having a pretty good idea of what she was going to admit.
Danni sighed before turning around and slowly walking away.
A hand grabbed her wrist and Sam spun her around and kissed her.
Danni froze in shock before closing her eyes and kissing him back.
"And there goes my chance with her," Dash said, sighing.
"What chance?" Danny asked. "You never had a chance with her to begin with."
The lovebirds broke apart. Danni's green eyes met Sam's violet ones. She hesitated for a second before smiling.
"You guys can—you guys can come," she stuttered.
"All except Cujo," Clockwork said.
Danni turned to her, holding Sam's hand. "What?"
"Your friends and family can come, but Cujo must stay," the Time Master clarified.
"Why?" Daniel asked, folding his arms.
"I think you know the answer to that Daniel," the time ghost said with a smirk.
Daniel opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it. He did know the answer. Cujo needed to stay out of their way for the timeline to produce the best possible outcome.
Danni handed the puppy to Clockwork. "Take care of her." She mumbled, scratching Cujo behind her ears.
"C'mon," Danny said. "I'll show you guys where the underground tunnels are." He led the group out of the tower, leaving only Clockwork and Cujo.
As soon as Clockwork was sure that they were gone, she, still holding Cujo, spun her cloak around and flew up the stairs. She opened a door at the end of the hallway and slipped inside.
They were in a room that had six walls and seemed to expand upwards forever. Three of the walls had shelves on them that seemed to be infinitely tall as well. To the left of the door were shelves labelled "humans". The shelves to the right of the door were labelled "ghosts". Across from the door the shelves were labelled "halfas". On the shelves were hourglasses. Some of the hourglasses on the "humans" shelves were falling to the ground and shattering. Most of them vanished after shattering, but a select few glowed green and reformed on the "ghosts" shelves. New ones formed on the shelves where the ones that had shattered had been.
Clockwork ignored the hourglasses on the "humans" and "ghosts" shelves and flew over to the shelves labelled "halfas".
The "halfas" shelves had only three hourglasses on it: "Vladimira Masters", "Danielle Fenton", and "Daniel Phantom". While the hourglasses on the "humans" shelves were brown and gold and the hourglasses on the "ghosts" shelves were green and violet, the hourglasses on the "halfas" shelves varied in color. Vlada's was red and white, Danni's was black and white, and Daniel's was black and green.
Clockwork observed them for a bit before waving a hand and creating a portal in the air. She put Cujo down and tied a note to the dog's collar.
"Here," she said, calmly. "Deliver this to Vladimira. She'll know what to do."
Cujo barked once and jumped into the portal.
As soon as the dog had gone, Clockwork closed the portal and left the room.
She flew up to a time screen and waved a hand. A picture appeared of a hand covered in blood and ectoplasm lying limply in the snow, staining it with green and red. The owner of the hand was lying out of the view.
Clockwork pulled down her hood and ran a hand through her curly hair. "All is as it is supposed to be."
