Part 12
They had gathered all the pieces of the portal and put them all together in a pile. As Jack and Grandpa Newton pulled up the last part, the dust rose up from the ground. Danny, Val, Granpda, and Jack surrounded the piece wait for the next part of this plan.
"This would make an interesting puzzle on a rainy day," said Grandpa Newton.
"It's already rained, does anything have an idea how we fix this thing?" said Valerie.
"We can always try superglue," said Jack.
"…Does anyone have a good idea?" said Val.
"Hopefully, Mom and Jazz found something useful underground," said Danny.
"Danny, look who we found!" said Maddie.
They saw Maddie and Jazz leading a small band of men in white coats. A little broke and disoriented, but otherwise in stable condition. Maddie and Jazz walked side by side with the Chief of the men as he lead the rest close behind him.
"Well I'll be," said Grandpa Newton. "It looks like the Calvary finally came."
"We found them locked up underground," said Jazz. "They said they might be able to h-"
"Wha, the Guys?" said Danny recognizing the crowd.
"The Ghost Boy!" said the chief of the bunch.
Lock and Load, the Guys in White reached for their side arms and pointed them straight at the Danny and his friend. They were quick to reach, as Danny pointed his powerful energy fists at the Chief and Val pointed her cannon. Maddie and Jazz found themselves in the middle of a standoff with Danny and Guys and White. It was obvious this was a very volatile situation.
"So, uh, should we get behind Danny?" asked Jazz.
"Good call," said Maddie. They ran behind him in support with the rest of the family.
"Wait, wait!" Intern Blank ran toward the Chief. "We're basically on the same side; I didn't want you guys to fight."
"I said we'd help, but you never told us that your friend with Danny Phantom, our highest priority."
"Does it matter? We both think Spangle is nuts? So why not help each other?"
"When we're done here, you are facing some serious reprimanding."
"But, Da-uh-Chief."
"Son, do as you're told and aim at that Ghost Boy or else!"
It was a hard decision to make for him. Danny was a like a friend, but the Chief was his father and faced with a difficult dilemma he knew of only one choice. So he picked up his laser and pointed it at Danny with solemn sorrowful frown.
"I'm sorry Danny," he said.
"On my order men," said the Chief as he ready to atta-
"Whoa boys, let's not fight after all this commotion we've been having." Grandpa Newton stepped out in between the 2 factions. Surprised everyone couldn't help but listen to his words. "Might I suggest we settle our difference over a nice cup of coffee?" Grandpa held out an old thermos with an eerie green light resonating for all to see. "Lucky I found this near some box debris. You know I think they're still might be something inside."
Grandpa began to twist the cap of the thermos. That's when Danny felt the cold chill in his breath. His ghost sense was more than tingling, it was completely Antarctic.
"Wait, Grandpa don't!"
Too late, Grandpa took off the cap. Then like a tornado or cosmic mist and torment, a great power emerged from the thermos. Grandpa Newton dropped the container as everyone watched the creature that emerged from it. It was large and muscular ghost with talons for hands and a thunderous call.
"RAAAAAAA!" The ghost overshadowed everyone in the desert. Its one eye was as large and red as core of the sun. "I am finally free," it said. "All shall pay for this defiance!"
The talons on its hands shot beans of light and power to the ground like a storm of immense proportions. The two sides scattered from the ground like bugs as they all took cover from the creatures attack. The Guys in White forgot about their minor quarrels with the Ghost Boy and concentrated on a new objective.
"I think old one eye just got a bad wake up call," said Valerie.
"Get that ghost!" the Chief commanded. Every Guy shot their lasers at it as it continued its barrage. While their lasers were no more than spitballs to the creature, it threw back their power ten folds causing the whole desert floor to shake. Even Jack and Maddie's ghost fighting techniques aided by Valerie were of little effect to such a powerful foe. When he struck with so much power that it shot light bolted lightening in ever direction, everyone scrambled. Danny rescued his family and friends from the fire, even the Guy who betrayed him by standing not standing on his side. A look of forgiveness and shame was in those eyes of that rescued agent. Grandpa was nowhere to be found, having disappeared during the initial conflict. Danny gathered all he could away from the ghost's wrath and hid them behind the Fenton RV as the ghost continued his rampage.
"That's one angry ghost," said Jack.
"He must have been cooped up in there for decades," said Jazz.
"If only those Guys weren't in the way I'd put that ghost back under a rock," said Danny.
"Well here comes your chance," pointed Maddie.
The Ghost had conjured winds and violent storms to sweep away the pesky adversaries. It was enough to knock them far away from his proximity rising dust in the process. Behind the cover of their van, the Fentons and friends remained virtually unaffected. When the wind had settled, Danny put on his battle face.
"Time to fight," Danny leaped into action. At spirit speed he headed straight for the eye of the great specter in the field. He immediately spotted him and prepared to counter his strike.
"You defy me young ghost?" it said. "You will suffer like your masters!"
"Hey, I'm nobody's servant!" he pulled back his fist. He pounded with powerful fist of energy against the ghost. He was sent spiraling to the ground at tremendous velocity. The ghost got back up again and his eye glowed red as super nova with anger.
"Defiler…" he called him. "You will pay!" He raised his hands with a thunderous clap that shook the desert to every grain of sand. Danny tried to hold it back, but knew there was only one way to stop this power.
"Try this shriek!" It was the Ghostly Wail, Danny's most powerful assault. It was enough to counter power of this ghost and break every window and glass within its sound. The Ghost was overpowered being crushed by the power of his own call plus Danny's. He slammed into the surrounding rocks and collapsed. Danny having used the last of his power reserves fell down to his knees in exhaustion, he could barely keep his form. To make matters worse the creature was down, but not out of commission. It crawled out of the rocks just in time to see Danny Phantom transform back into the human Danny Fenton.
"It can not be…" his eyes turned back to green.
The ghost hovered over head looking like he was ready to deliver the final blow. Danny seemed helpless to stop the Ghost from complete obliterating him. That's when his family and friends stepped in to stop what they thought was the finishing blow. They armed their weapons and aimed them high to his eye, knowing that they were probably as worthless now as they were a few minutes ago. Yet, they were willing to save him as he had saved them.
"You keep your claws off my son," said Jack.
"We're not letting you get near Danny," said Valerie.
"Yeah, s-s-s-so back off," Agent Blank tried to nervously hold his laser.
"So it's true," he looked straight down at Danny. "You are a living-ghost, he who walks in both worlds and is master of either…I humble myself before you."
Much to everyone's surprise the Ghost bowed down in loyalty. Everyone was shocked especially at Danny who didn't know what to make of this.
"What…?" Val managed to say.
"Danny?" everyone was stumped.
"Don't look at me," he pleaded as he rose to his feet. "If I'd have known, I would have de-ghosted a long time ago."
"Say, why all the big change because of Danny?" asked Val. "You were going to fry us all a few minutes ago."
"Are you trying to change his mind?" Jazz figured he'd have soon forgotten.
"Those who follow the living-ghost our allies to my cause," he rose up from his bow. "I am here to serve you as I have served your kind for generations long past?"
"Come again," asked Danny.
"You mean there are more ghost hybrids?" asked Jazz. "Danny's not the first?"
"Technically I never was," he reminded her of one very villainous Vlad Plasmius.
"Once long ago, there was the Living-Ghost Tribe," said the Ghost. "I am the Protector of the Ghost Portal, keeper of great secrets, entrusted with the task for centuries to see that the legacy remained undisturbed."
"Yeah, you did a real good job at that," said Val. Everyone calmed her to listen to what else the Portal Protector had to say.
"Long ago the Living-Ghosts ruled the Earth with the power of ancient knowledge borrowed from the Ghost Zone as the masters of both realms," he explained. "Then great disaster befell them from beyond the Zone and the Tribe dwindled and withered with each generations lost to the folds of time. To preserve their legacy they encrypted their knowledge within a Dark Sphere and moved the last reminisce deep into the Forbidden Sector. The Dark Sphere stayed here which was where the great cities of the Living-Ghosts once stood. I watched and waited with the soul purpose to guard it from those that would abuse its secrets…unfortunately I failed to assume that one living being could active the sphere."
"That's the Fenton legacy of accidental genius," said Jazz.
"Not that it matters, but it looks like your job is done," said Danny. "The Portal's been destroyed and Sphere was taken, with Sam too."
"I hate to break it to you Portal Pal but you failed big time," said Val.
"All the superglue in the world wouldn't make that thing work again," added Jack.
"All is not lost, for I might be able to assist," said the Ghost.
"What, really?" asked Maddie.
"In addition to protecting the portal I hold some degree of understanding it," he said. "I can hold the portal together allowing 2 to travel to the Forbidden Sector without the use of the Sphere. It is extremely risky, but it may be enough to send you and another to save what remains of the living Ghost legacy."
They started for a moment not knowing who Danny would choose. That decision was out of his hand when one volunteered for the job.
"I guess that will be you and me Danny," said Val hoisting her cannon over her shoulder.
"Portal guy," said Danny. "I can't thank you enough."
"It is my honor living-ghost boy," he said.
"So, any idea how you're getting back?" asked Jazz.
"Why worry about little details," laughed Val.
"Time to do what we do best…" He transformed into his Phantom alias. Fully charged and ready to fight for Sam and for the fate of the 2 worlds.
"A ghost and a ghost hunter are going to save the day," she finished his sentence.
"Are you ready?" asked the Ghost.
"Open the door," said Danny.
So he did, gathering all his remaining strength the mighty Ghost raised his hands at the rubble sorted on the sands. As his hands glowed with power so too did the ancient Ghost Portal. Every piece lifted in the air with as the Protector shifted and sorted each piece in a whirlwind of green light and power that constructed it back to its original form. Each piece fit together like a perfect puzzle and fused together with the power of thought. The Protector closed his hands as the portal began to spring with life again. The center of the void began to glow as the path was finally opened as it was with when Sam had brought the Sphere. Danny and fell stepped forward as the portal landed near them with the Ghost straining his muscular ectoplasm.
"Enter…" he struggled to say. "I can only hold it for so long."
Danny and Val nodded to the family who sent well wishes to all of them. They nodded at each other and stepped toward the portal, but stopped midway by the sound of loaded weapons.
"Hold it right there!" called the surrounding voices. Everyone, with the exception of the Ghost, turned around to see that they were once again held hostage by the Guys in White. They were battered and tattered from the fight they had so recently encountered, but now that his back was turned they thought it was the best time to strike. They surrounded them with laser pistols not willing to let the slightest move get them down again. The leader looked at them in cold intimidation saying.
"You're not going anywhere."