Time passed IRL: 22 days

Time passed in video: 6 days

Video 10 recap: Danny is willingly stuck in a state between human and ghost that protects him from harm, but the more damaged he gets in that state, the worse he will be when he returns to a normal state of being. The Survivalists come to terms with Danny's revelation, and Danny downplays how serious his condition is because, of course, he's Danny.

Precious chapter: Ollie Johnson tells it like it is

Chapter 29

Confrontation

It was early in the morning, but most Survivalists were already starting to stir, cracking their eyes and grimacing at the golden light streaming through the windows. No one had bothered to rise from their seats yet, instead hunkering down and clinging to their last minutes of sleep. The trio was in the same seats as the last video, Tucker's hat pulled over his eyes, and Sam curled on her side.

Danny was kneeling on his chair, arms folded on the headrest, watching Sam sleep. There was a tender expression on his face, lips curved into a soft smile, eyes half-lidded. Sam nuzzled the back of her seat, tucking her hands against her chest and drawing her legs closer. As she shifted, a few strands of hair fell from behind her ear. She sniffed as they tickled her nose.

Danny glanced around, and the camera scanned the plane from his point of view. Only now was the space between the trio and the others obvious. In the first videos, the three teens had set themselves apart from the others. That distance never quite closed, but the viewers could see how it was growing smaller each night. Now there were several rows between Danny and the others, the rest of the group crammed together in the seats closest to the door.

A couple of the people that had managed to blink away sleep briefly glanced back at Danny, then quickly looked forwards again.

The camera returned to a normal angle as Danny looked back to Sam. He leaned over his chair, reaching out, and tucked the loose strands back behind her ear.

"Danny?" Sam mumbled.

Danny froze, quickly drawing his hand back. "Yeah?" he asked.

"You're awake?" She rubbed her eyes, twisting as she did and setting her feet down on the floor. She blinked a few times, yawned once, and dropped her chin on Danny's arm. The halfa leaned back a little, but didn't pull away.

"Since yesterday. You were already asleep, so I didn't, you know…" Danny trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand.

"Are you alright?" Sam asked. Her gaze drifted over Danny's faces, pausing as she took in every bruise and scrape, all of them injuries from the first crash.

The viewers were amazed at how ignorant they had been thus far.

"I'll be better once we get out of here and everyone is safe, but," Danny shrugged, "yeah, I'm okay."

"Good." Sam nodded. "Then I can do this."

She stood up, leaned over Danny's seat, and slapped him. The halfa's head jerked to the side, his eyes wide with shock, while Tucker jolted awake.

"I'm up, I'm up!" the techno-geek shouted, then he noticed Sam with her arm still outstretched, and Danny rubbing his cheek.

He hadn't been the only one startled awake by the loud smack. The other Survivalists were looking back at the trio, most of them wearing similar expressions of surprise.

"You're an idiot, Danny!" Sam hissed sharply. "You never should have shut it off, and if you die after all this, I'm going to be so mad at you!"

"I'd only be dead for, like, a week or so?" Danny said, though his voice rose at the end like he was asking a question.

"You idiot!" Sam hissed again. Then she grabbed Danny's shoulders, pulled him forwards, and kissed him. The halfa's eyes widened again, but after a moment they closed, and his flailing hands settled on Sam's own shoulders. After nearly a minute, the two teens broke apart.

"Um, I- uh, you…" Danny babbled intelligently, his face flushed. His gaze jumped back and forth between Sam and the camera.

Sam glanced over Danny's shoulder and a heavy blush blossomed across her cheeks as she noticed who was watching them. "J-just don't die or anything, okay?"

Danny nodded, and Sam stood, the camera staying on her as she walked briskly down the aisle and left the plane. The view swivelled back to the two remaining members of the trio. Danny's blush had faded some, but his cheeks were still a light pink, while Tucker was grinning at the other boy, waggling his eyebrows and winking.

"What?" Danny snapped, glaring at his best friend. Although the blushing took away from the anger.

"Looooooove-mpf!" Tucker's teasing sing-song was cut off as his beret was swiftly stuffed in his mouth.

Lancer was lying on the forest floor, eyes closed. He looked flush, a sheen of sweat on his forehead, and his lips were cracked. The trees around him were so close together, there was no way the overweight teacher would have been able to squeeze through them.

The purple, teardrop ghost was leaning across one of the branches. "Are you almost dead?" he asked.

Lancer cracked one eye open and looked at the ghost. "Hardly."

"Hmph." the Purple Man crossed his arms, his wide mouth dipping into a disappointed scowl. He phased through the branch and drifted down. "You aren't as much fun as I thought you would be. You haven't done anything in days."

"I can't leave," Lancer said, gesturing to the surrounding trees. "Trying to would be a wasted effort. But you would have killed me already if that's what you wanted."

The Purple Man's scowl deepened, his black eyes glowing with a dark light. The normally childlike voice turned demonic. "I could kill you now."

Two of his four arms reached out, pale green ectoplasm dripping from his fingers. Lancer's eyes widened and he scrambled to push himself up, backing away until he was trying to force his way through the trees. The Purple Man floated closer, until a single drop of ectoplasm fell onto Lancer's knee and burned him. Lancer squeezed his eyes shut, taking quick, shallow breaths and turning his head away.

"But I suppose we need you." The Purple Man drew back, his eyes returning to normal, and Lancer blinked. He was shaking slightly and panting heavily, taking deep gulps of air to try and calm himself. "I thought I could use you, but he isn't coming. They said I could have five days, today's the sixth. I supposed my turn is over. Too bad."

The camera stayed on Lancer as the Purple Man floated up to the treetops. Vines started snaking down the trees behind the English teacher, and he noticed them too late as they curled around his wrists and shoulders. Lancer tried ripping the vines off, but the most he could do was pull them slightly.

The grass grew and looped over his legs, digging into his skin and tugging him down. Lancer screamed as he was pulled into the ground, clawing at the dirt, trying his best to remain on the surface. His head was pulled under, and the screaming stopped. His one free hand snagged a large tree root, the muscles along his arm straining, until the root rotted in seconds, and Lancer's finger slipped through the mulch. They disappeared underground in silence.

Danny was crouching in the sand, a long stick firmly in his grasp. He was either writing or drawing, though no one watching the video could tell which. Each stroke of the stick seemed to add to a larger image, but within it were clusters of odd symbols.

Whatever it was, most people assumed it had something to do with ghosts.

Danny leaned back and ran a hand through his hair, his gaze darting across the markings he had made, before a pair of dark skinned feet entered the frame. He looked up, and the camera followed his gaze, revealing Valerie.

"You shouldn't be walking," Danny mumbled. He stood up and kicked sand over his work, then turned.

"Wait," Valerie said. She was glaring at Danny, but she sounded tense. Tugging on the frayed edges of her shirt, she didn't speak again as Danny turned back around and gave her an expectant look. Her hands dropped to her sides and she stood up straight, tilting her head up. "We need to talk. In private."

Danny's gaze drifted down to her splintered leg. "Probably, but you're not walking there."

Before Valerie could protest, Danny looped an arm around her waist and under knees, then swept her off her feet. He carried her away from the plane, a few wandering eyes watching them go, and deposited Valerie safely on the ground at the edge of the forest. He stayed standing, leaning on a tree a couple feet away.

Valerie looked like she was pouting, her arms crossed, bottom lip stuck out, but her frown soon returned and there was a light in her eyes when she looked at the halfa. "You lied to me."

Her words were a sharp hiss, and Danny flinched. He looked away, more focused on the sand than the girl beside him.

"You hurt me," Valerie continued, the venom in her words pronounced. "Why should I, why should any of us, believe this is true? Do you think it's some sick joke? Is Fenton really dead and you're just, I don't know, parading around as him, dating people as him? Dating me? You're really messed up, Phantom, but this takes the cake."

Valerie's voice was strained, and it was obvious to everyone watching she didn't believe what she was saying. That didn't mean she wouldn't be in Danny's face, possibly hitting him, if standing weren't such a struggle for her. As it was, her hands curled into fists in the sand and she flung that at him instead.

Danny didn't move away. It almost looked like he shifted so the grains would hit him for sure. Valerie continued to throw sand, coating Danny's hair, his shoes. Then she grabbed a small rock that struck him in the chest, and drew her arm back to throw an even bigger one.

"You remember Danielle?"

Valerie's arm faltered.

Danny, still looking down, shook out his head and streams of sand fell. He peered at Valerie through his bangs, then quickly looked away.

"Danielle is different," Valerie said. Her voice was strained now, insistent. "She wasn't just a ghost, she was…"

"Human," Danny finished softly. "Danielle's special, but did you really think she and Vlad were the only ones? The evidence was right there."

Valerie's hands dropped into the lap and her knuckles turned white as her grip tightened on the rock. "Not for someone who really cared about you. And I did care about you, Danny, and you... you attacked me!"

"I never wanted to!" Danny snapped, his eyes flaring green. He closed them briefly and took a deep breath. When he opened them, they were blue again. "I never attacked you first, I never hurt you, I never gave you scars."

Valerie's gaze fell from his once again and her throat bobbed. "That whole time we were going out, you could have told me. From the very beginning, you could have explained things. It didn't have to be the way it was!"

"Really?" Danny tilted his head up, revealing his frown. "After Cujo, you wanted to kill me, Phantom. What would you have done, if I walked up to you during school, told you I was the ghost you thought ruined your life? How long would it have taken you to pull out your ectogun and shoot me right there? You were a different person then, Valerie."

"You ruined my life," Valerie said, her voice shaking.

"A dog ruined your life, a dead dog that just wanted his toy back. I can't really say your life wouldn't be better if Cujo and I hadn't been there. But do you honestly regret it? Becoming the Red Hunter?"

Valerie stilled, and so did many of the people watching. While the Red Hunter wasn't as well known a figure as Danny Phantom, the masked girl had made a name for herself with her high-tech weaponry, recognizable colours, and undeniable skill.

Two identities revealed in two videos. The viewers could only imagine what other secrets the Survivalists had, though they doubted any others would be as scintillating.

"Do you ever regret becoming Danny Phantom?" Valerie countered.

Danny smirked and raised his injured arm, scrutinizing the makeshift bandages. "Sometimes. But even then, if I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing."

Valerie nodded slowly. "Yeah."

There was a moment of silence between them. Neither one looked content to be in the other's company, but they weren't as tense as before either.

"You ready to apologize?" Danny asked. He spoke like he was talking to a misbehaving child.

"Excuse me?" Valerie's glare returned.

Danny gestured to his scarred torso, one hand drifting over an old burn on his side. "You think all of these are from Skulker? That guy's aim is terrible."

Valerie bit her lip. It looked like she was battling with herself, guilt flashing in her eyes, then she sighed. "No. It wasn't right, but we were enemies. Considering you're the only one with any marks to show for it, I think that makes me the winner."

"No way. You got a splinter one time, remember?"

"Oh, shut up," Valerie snapped, crossing her arms.

Danny grinned and pushed away from the tree. "I don't really have a solid plan, but we're heading out soon. You ready?"

Valerie nodded. But as Danny started walking away, she reached forwards and hooked her finger on the heel of his shoe. "Danny, wait."

The halfa glanced back over his shoulder.

Valerie wouldn't meet his gaze. One of her cheeks was puffed out and she was blushing slightly. "Could you… help me get back to the plane? My leg kind of really hurts right now."

Danny's grin widened.

"But no bridal style! I still have one good foot to kick you with, remember that," Valerie said, pointing threateningly at him.

Danny held up his hands in surrender. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The trio stood together, a collection of bags stacked behind them. Sam examined the ectogun in her hands, pulling the pieces apart and slapping them together again. Tucker was staring down at his PDA, a small wire linking it to a device covered in segmented, dark blue panels in his other hand, which was stretched high above his head. Danny kicked at the sand underfoot, a sizeable gouge cutting through the pale grains. His hands were shoved into his pockets, his lips moving quickly, but the camera wasn't picking up his words.

The angle changed, the camera now hovering above the hull of the downed plane. The other Survivalists were bunched together several yards from the trio, the social divides between them less prominent. It wasn't nerds, jocks, and outcasts anymore. It was them, and Danny.

Even Grayson, Kay, and the students who supported Danny were staying away. The viewers couldn't entirely blame them. Danny Phantom was a hero, but he was also powerful, and mysterious, and a ghost. They were apprehensive just watching him.

The camera drifted down, settling just above the Survivalist's heads, as Tucker lowered his raised arm. He said something to Danny, then he and Sam walked forwards while the halfa hung back.

"Everybody, shut up and listen up!" Sam shouted. "Tucker's group found a stream down the beach a little way, and we need fresh water, so we're moving there. By Danny, there's a pile of backpacks and smaller bags, one for each of us. Take one, and pack only what's important from your carry-on. Got it, Paulina?"

"Whatever." The Latina scoffed.

"We'll walk in the trees on the way there," Tucker continued, still staring down at his PDA. "Stay within twenty feet of the treeline, and if you find any food, tell the group. We should probably collect some while we can. And, uh, yeah, I think that's it?"

Sam and Tucker glanced over their shoulders at Danny. His eyes jumped to them, then the forest, before he nodded.

"Cool, that's it. So…" Tucker's voice trailed off and he shrugged.

"So hurry up and get moving!" Sam demanded.

No one moved.

Tucker rolled his eyes while Sam glared, and after a moment a soft huff emanated from the throng, and Marie pushed her way through. She dragged her feet as she walked across the beach, hugging herself, but she smiled at Danny when she reached him and stooped down to grab a pale blue bag.

"I wish none of us were here," Marie mumbled, meeting Danny's gaze, "but I'm glad you're here."

Danny smiled back. "Thanks."

Kay moved forwards next, followed by Grayson, and Mikey, until Paulina walked by. She picked up a puke green backpack, pinching its single shoulder strap between her fingers, lip curling in disgust. Her gaze flickered to Danny.

"You may be cool or whatever, but you're still a loser," she hissed, although her words didn't carry their normal edge.

"I know," Danny answered.

Paulina blinked, scowled, and spun around, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

There were three backpacks left when Valerie hobbled forwards: Danny's memorable Fenton bag, a purple spider backpack, and a white satchel with a red cross drawn on top.

"Okay. Math isn't my best subject, but I'm pretty sure we're one backpack short," Valerie said. "Unless you think it's too much for a girl with a broken leg?"

Danny grabbed the white satchel. "Nope. I saved this one just for you." He pushed the bag forwards, and Valerie opened the flap as she took it.

Inside was all the medicine gathered from the plane and luggage, plus a few empty water bottles. "Really? You're giving the injured girl the first aid kit?"

"I have the first aid kit." Danny nudged his own backpack with his toe. "You have medicine that is totally useless to you."

Valerie's mouth twisted and she narrowed her eyes. "I hate you sometimes." She slipped the strap over her shoulder before hobbling away again.

"Okay, two questions." Tucker held up fingers and pointed them at Danny. "Is Paulina broken, and what was that with Valerie?"

"I think we're friends now," Danny mused. He scratched his chin, brow furrowing. "Or at least we aren't enemies. And Paulina is the same as always."

"Paulina is, like, you're biggest fangirl. She should be drooling over you right now," Tucker said. He crossed his arms, levelling and unmistakable "are you serious?" look at Danny.

"I'm glad she's not. I would just be kind of… weird if she was. Plus Sam would kill her." Danny pointed his thumb over his shoulder at the Goth, who was once again toying with the ecto-pistol.

She looked up and narrowed her eyes. "I'd kill you too."

"What? Why?" Danny shouted, spinning around. He looked betrayed, eyes wide and pleading, hands reaching out for an explanation, but there was also a flicker of a smile on his lips.

"Because you'd enjoy it," Sam said, smirking back.

"You killing him? Kinky." Tucker chuckled, dancing away from punches thrown by both Sam and Danny. "But seriously, that whole thing with Valerie? I for sure thought she'd kill you when she learned the truth."

Danny glanced after the injured girl and sighed. His head dropped and he ran a hand through his hair. "She probably would have if she could catch me, but we just talked. I wouldn't say we're alright yet, though."

"You seemed pretty alright," Tucker pointed out.

"I seem like a lot of things, Tuck. I seem alive, don't I?" Danny snapped.

Tucker's mouth twisted and he looked away, shuffling his feet.

Danny sighed again. "Sorry, guys, it's just, all these emotions." He swatted at the air in front of his face, and for a moment it looked like bright coloured tendrils were waving back at him, but then it was gone. Either a trick of the video, or some glimpse of what Danny really saw courtesy of the ghost doing all this. "Right now, it's just easier to pretend we're alright. Think something long enough and it becomes the truth, right?"

"No, Danny, it doesn't." Sam's voice was soft and she gently touched his shoulder. Her whole demeanor, reassuring but sad, spoke of double meanings and secrets that needed no words. Too bad for the viewers, who were itching to know what she meant by her statement.

Danny shouldered his backpack, forcing Sam's hand away. "We should get going, use as much daylight as we have."

As he walked away, Sam and Tucker exchanged worried glances.

The sun shone brightly, and Dylan stared towards it, shading his eyes with his hand. He frowned, tilting his head one way, then the other, and then glanced back over his shoulder. He, Casey, and Jon were walking along the edge of the treeline, the other Survivalists spread out farther in. Three bobbing heads of black hair weaved between the trees at the very front of the group.

"I think we're on the equator," Dylan said, breaking the silence.

Jon's gaze flicked towards the overweight boy, then back down. "What makes you say that?"

"The sun. It's been following a straight path ever since we got here. A perfect path, I think. That only happens on the equator, doesn't it?" Dylan glanced at Jon, who shrugged, then Casey.

"I don't know," she said. "Maybe? But I don't think—"

"It doesn't," Mikey interrupted her. He had been closest to them when Dylan spoke, slowly drifting closer in the background until he was walking a couple feet parallel to them. "On the equator, the sun rises and sets at true East and West, but it still follows an arc through the sky, except maybe during the equinox. And that doesn't last for six days."

"Maybe we're stuck in some kind of time loop," Dylan mumbled. "We don't reset, but the day does?"

"It's May," Mikey commented. "The equinox is in March."

"Oh." Dylan's shoulders fell, his face squeezing tight as he thought hard. "Maybe that's not really the sun…"

"You could bring it up to Danny, maybe he knows," Mikey suggested. It was an innocent, accompanied by a shrug and a smile, but Dylan vehemently disagreed with the idea.

"No!" he shouted, his voice echoing like a gunshot in the quiet forest. A few heads turned towards them, and Dylan quickly hid his face and lowered his voice. "For all we know, this could be Danny's doing. He could be leading us into a trap, for revenge or something."

"Revenge?" Jon scoffed. "He hardly seems like the type."

"Because you still don't think he's capable, right?" Dylan glared over his shoulder. "You should watch more. Danny gets back at Dash all the time at school. Messing with his locker, pranking him? And that's for insults and punches, which now we know Danny can take pretty easily. But if Sam's right, you almost killed him, and ghosts don't like it when you mess with tier existence. Maybe he wanted to get back at Dash first, he's one of the missing students. How many of those thirty-one do you think were mean to him? Or are Phantom haters?"

Dylan was rambling, his voice low and fevered. His eyes darted about, as if he expected Danny to pop through the trees and attack him.

"Dash has a bigger crush on Phantom than Paulina." Jon rolled his eye.

"That's kind of true," Mikey added meekly. "Have you seen his locker?"

"But he hates Fenton!" Dylan insisted.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Casey whispered. "Remember what Sam said? Your emotions could be affecting Danny."

"I don't care about my emotions, I care about my life!"

"Do you care that Danny can hear everything you're saying?"

Dylan screamed as Sam stepped into his path from a blind spot, and he stumbled back into Jon, who quickly shoved him upright. Dylan's hands shook a he looked towards the very front of the group. Danny had stopped walking, his shoulder stiff, head tilted down and turned slightly in their direction. Dylan caught a glimpse of bright green eyes and swallowed thickly.

"Y-you don't scare me," he muttered. Danny slowly shook his head and started forwards again.

Sam glared at Dylan moment longer, jabbing him in the chest with one finger. "Maybe he isn't trying to scare you," she hissed snidely. "Maybe he's just trying to keep your ungrateful ass alive."

She spun around on her heels and marched away, her hand finding its way into Danny's as she rejoined him and Tucker. "Don't listen to them."

"It's hard not to when they're practically shoving their emotions in my face. It makes everything louder." Danny squeezed his eyes shut, and the camera zoomed into his face. When he opened them, it spun around, and the viewers could see the world as Danny saw it.

The colours were brighter, there were less shadows but there was also a crystalline quality to everything. It was like looking through a window with fine cracks. You could see everything just fine, but it was skewed and just fundamentally wrong.

Tendrils of colour hung at the edges of the screen, and the camera pulled back and turned around so it was facing the Survivalists. The strands of emotion weren't all the same. Some were thick, or wide and flat, while others glistened like spider silk. They all converged on Danny, snaking around his arms and chest. A thin black string coiled around his throat.

From the Survivalists, the emotions given form poured from their eyes, pale, ghostly wisps that grew opaquer and more tangible the closer they got to Danny. Even though everything was brightly lit, it was terrifying to see.

Danny let go of Sam's hand and rolled his wrist. For a moment, it looked like he was trying to crack it, until the viewers noticed the bright red string he was twining around his arm. It faded into near invisibility by Sam's deep purple irises.

Sam quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Just trust me," Danny said, taking her wrist.

"I always do," Sam murmured, watching as Danny. The camera showed her perspective for a couple seconds, and how to her and everyone else, it just looked like Danny was waving his hand around hers.

"So what was that?" Sam asked when he stopped. The red string was now wrapped around both their wrists, the strands sparking as they brushed when Danny took her hand again, then the strands of emotion faded completely

"It helps," Danny said.

"But what was it?" she pressed.

"Let's just say ghosts know why it's called the red string of fate." Danny grinned.

"Oh my god." Sam buried her face in her free hand, but between her splayed fingers she was blushing and smiling like an idiot.

"One kiss later, and you're already sickening," Tucker said. He started making gagging noises, clutching his stomach and hunching over. "Just leave me behind, I won't make it."

"Okay." Sam dragged Danny forwards, away from Tucker, who immediately protested.

"Hey! Don't you have a 'no man left behind' policy or something?" Tucker asked as he jogged to catch up with them. "It should be ingrained in your hero DNA."

"I don't have hero DNA." Danny rolled his eyes. "And I was respecting your final wishes."

"Next time, don't," he grumbled, making them laugh.

Danny cut off suddenly, glancing sideways at something in the trees. He didn't tense up or prepare to attack, but his eyes narrowed. "Twenty feet, Rux!"

The rusty blonde's head popped into view from behind a coniferous tree decidedly more than twenty feet from the treeline.

"Sure thing, kid!" Rux shouted, loping back towards the group with Will next to her.

"I said you'd get caught," Will said. He was tracing something on his palm, fingers pinched as if he were holding a pencil.

"So did I. I wanted to know how long it would take for the kid to notice." Rux stuck out her tongue as she tromped through a bush. The sharp thorns left thin red lines on her legs, but she didn't seem to mind. Will skirting around the same bush, eying the fresh injuries with concern.

"But did you see?" Rux babbled on. "They were holding hands, I knew they would get together. If I were writing this, I think I'd put that quiet girl with the jock, or the redhead nerd. But Jon stays alone, he's an ass."

"Rux." Will's tone was chiding. "Be sympathetic to your villains, remember?"

"Yes, will." Rux's response was sarcastic and mocking, but she turned around with a grin. "It's just really great, isn't it? I've never read anything like this."

"You aren't reading, Rux." Will grabbed her by the shoulder, and Rux paused, a cursory frown on her lips, then a few times. Her dilated pupils returned to a normal size.

"Of course I know that, don't be silly," she said, taking Will's hand off her shoulder and squeezing it for a second. "Almost as good as the girlfriend's, right? Now come on, I want to see how far I can get before the kid notices."

Will made a noise, a cross between a sigh and a whimper. Dipping a hand into the small knapsack he carried, he pulled out an opaque orange bottle and rolled it in his palm. A dirty white prescription label glared up at the camera, Ruxandera Wilson written in bolded letters. He gave the bottle a quick shake, and a single pill rattled around inside.

In the next scene, the sun was halfway to the horizon. Everyone was walking closer to the treeline, a few of the Survivalists picking berries out of their cupped hands and popping them in their mouths. Valerie, Andy, and the others that had been left behind during the first expedition away from the plane at with abandon, dark juices staining their lips and fingers.

"I think we should have been there already," Tucker said as the camera cut to the trio.

"How long did you walk back to the plane last time?" Sam asked. Danny was a couple paces ahead of them, running his hands through his hair. His brows were furrowed in a slight scowl, his gaze darting across the beach.

"I can't remember," Tucker answered. His PDA was in hand, and he was running a thumb over the dark screen.

"Did the solar panel break?"

"What?" Tucker shook his head. "No, it's fine, I charged it this morning. I just… I feel fuzzy."

"Fuzzy?" Sam tapped her chin, then nodded. "No, I get it. I feel that too."

Danny froze mid-step. His foot slammed down, spraying up sand, and he was suddenly in front of Sam and Tucker, a hand on each of their shoulders. "What did you say?"

"Uh, we feel fuzzy," Tucker said. He blinked several times, his eyes going in and out of focus. "Wh-what's up, dude?"

"Who feels weird?" Danny shouted over their heads, making the other Survivalists halt. He was answered with hesitant nods and low murmurs. Danny stepped away from them, shaking his head. The edges of the screen started to blur as the camera focused on him.

"Danny?" Sam stepped forwards, and Danny immediately retreated.

"No, I need distance. Whatever's affecting you guys, the emotions, it's getting me too." He gripped his hair and stumbled farther onto the beach, blinking quickly. The camera zoomed in on his widened eyes, where green crescents flickered amongst the blue, and pupils constricted and dilated rapidly. Danny jerked upright, hands fisting at his sides, and shouted towards the forest. "Get out of their heads!"

An eerie, echoing laugh drifted from the trees. It sent chills down the spines of everyone watching, but even more so was the way the other Survivalists were just standing there, as still as the flora surrounding them, staring forwards and seeing nothing.

The camera drifted amongst them, showing their slack expression and wide eyes. Their emotions became visible again, but every strand or band of feeling was a dull grey, stretching taught through the trees and latching onto Danny. The viewers could see him struggling against their pull, but they were relentless. He dropped to his knees.

"You could always cut them." The taunting voice of the Purple Ghost echoed from everywhere. The viewers could have sworn the devious creature was in the room with them.

Danny jerked against the strands of emotion once more. "Never."

A lavender figure floated through the trees, it's arms dangling towards the emotions, outstretched fingers disturbing the taut lines. But no matter how much the Purple Ghost touched them, the grey ribbons never coiled around his own body. He grinned, pulling his arms back. Dark ectoplasm started gathering on one of his palms, and he turned slowly back towards the trees.

Danny's eyes widened and his arms whipped forwards. He gathered a number of strands in his fists, pulling hard, and shouted, "Don't touch them!"

With a sickening, squelching rip the strands in Danny's hand snapped and one of the figures in the trees collapsed.

The Purple Ghost disappeared, and the camera swiveled to show him hovering behind Danny, the black energy pressed against the halfa's back.

"I won't," the ghost whispered, then the ectoplasm exploded and the screen went dark.

I've started a blog! Can we just pretend that's the reason I didn't put the chapter out sooner? :P If you would like to check it out, go to and check out my first posts!

I know, it's terrible to end on a cliffhanger after that long break, but that's just the way it goes ;)

A million thanks to my lovely beta, Astrovagant. They're an amazing writer and I highly recommend you check out their stories.

The confrontation between Valerie and Danny wasn't nearly as climactic as I wanted it to be, but it felt right. What do you guys think? As I was writing this chapter, I noticed that in each little group the Survivalists have split themselves into, it's most a 2:1 guy girl ratio, the exceptions being the A-listers. Even though Lancer is MIA right now, even the adults had that ratio. Not really important, I just found it kind of amusing.

Cutiepie120048: Thank you! And we can totally pretend the delay was just me giving you time to muster up courage, right? Right?

Lumigo akvo9504: I think we can all agree it was definitely KingArthur's idea. And you're right, the good folks of Amity117 mean business

Aquariuss: I don't mind at all. I will say I've never seen Judge Jeanine, but as long as Ollie had a realistic TV personality, I'm pretty satisfied. It's never good to underestimate the Knights of Camelot. I did say early on they would be important to the story ;) Thank you, and you have a wonderful day too!

Mia: Thank you! I am planning for a chapter focused on the Knights themselves, I just need to choose a medium first.

Lovepatrolalpha1344: Thank you, that made me really happy. Sorry this chapter took so long, though, especially since you were really looking forward to it.

I'm Here For The Fluff: Especially after such a long break, I'm glad I started the recaps. It definitely makes things easier for all of you. And Amity Park always just takes things to the next level, don't they?

Devo342: The people protesting against Fenton Works believe that Danny became a halfa because his parents were performing inhumane experiments on him

FanficFan920: Thank you :) Admittedly, I wasn't originally going to include a chapter like this, but I'm really glad I did.

RenegadeForLife: That's the great thing about John Oliver, who my character Ollie Johnson is based on. Or at least it's based on his show. John Oliver can discuss whichever topics he wants, with his own ideas, not like a real new station where the anchors just read off the teleprompter. Plus we all know Danny could use some people on his side.

Gamberbox: I had always intended for them to be more important than they seemed, it's great to hear you're enjoying them. The Knights will have their own chapter coming up as well

Fenrir Wylde Razgriz: While there were no pranks this chapter, I have something planned that I hope you'll enjoy

Killua Lawliet: Statistically speaking, someone on TV has to side with the hero :P

Sirrius The Moondblade: Thank you! And you're welcome :)

Zela Night: I know, right?

Starfang's Secrets: He's probably one of my favourite minor OCs

WildRosa13474: Yes, they absolutely did, and it will be fantastic

Joy Phantom: Actually, I based Ollie Johnson on the real-life John Oliver, who does have a talkshow. I'd highly recommend checking it out, it's really good. The Knights will be having their own chapter sometime in the next rotation, so you will get to know who they are. In this story, Danny is definitely more ghostly. I'm planning a sort of prequel story that will document Danny's slow change from the character we love from the show, to the OOC person he is now. I did fix my computer problems, thank you (also, isn't Ectoplasmic Secrets such a great story?)

The Dimensional Girl: THANK YOU! OLLIE JOHNSON ALWAYS SPEAKS THE TRUTH! And he will be making another appearance closer to the end of the story.

Slenderbrine: HELL YEAH! I love her character so much, and I haven't even had a proper chance to write her yet

Shugokage: Thank you!

Voper: Ollie will have another appearance, although it won't be until the last chapters of the story

Mar: I hope it was worth the wait!

H0pelessHer0: Especially in this kind of story, where what's going on outside the main cast is really important, seeing how people disconnected from the events are reacting is definitely important. I'm really glad you like the Knights of Camelot. I've been eager to bring them into the story since the first chatroom, and I'm really happy you're enjoying them :)

DannyPhantomPhandom: Truth equals anarchy! But really, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what would happen in real life.

CrystalKnight: He's going to have a lot of surprises if he gets back home

GreenDrkness: Yeah, Wes is the one that knew Danny's identity. And the government definitely shouldn't approve of it but, well, you'll just have to read ;)

Fangirl309: No, you're the best!

DragonFairy: Yes! Rux is the ultimate fangirl

Reference-getter: Thank you! I recently started working on an original novel which I'm hoping to complete and publish online sometime in the next year, which is where most of my writing effort has been going. But a recent burst of DP inspiration has the ideas flowing for these stories again

Kitty Kat Vixen: Your reaction to Danny's rant is probably my favourite. I hope you weren't took shook up that you couldn't finish your homework :P For Germany I am studying abroad, two semesters. Thank you for being an amazing reader. The people of Amity Park are definitely getting too full of themselves, but don't worry, they'll be put in their place. Any chance you remembered that question of yours? Or any questions, really, I'd be happy to answer

Emptymorgue: Thank you, and I agree 100%. The GIW are a**es, always, and I hope Danny and Valerie's confrontation was good enough. I love your username, by the way.

Animeloveschu: You are correct! A few people have made the connection between the two characters, and when the Knights have their own chapter, it will be outright stated

KittyKatt Uzumaki: Thank you! I hope this wasn't too long of a wait

Tbiscool35: Why thank you, I return your salute :P

ChelJosh: Honestly, with so many of us in the fandom, there's got to be at least two people that have the same opinion on certain things

Marvelisawesome: Thank you! I am extremely flattered, and hopefully the wait wasn't too long.

Noneofyourbusine: I'm guessing your name is supposed to be Noneofyourbusiness and just got cut off or something, but just in case I left it how it was. Thank you so much! And you chose the perfect time to start reading, too. This is where the action really begins. Because of my move to Germany, and a couple other things going on, my inspiration was slipping, but I got it back :)

PercabethHinny: You picked a good time to start reading, the main action will be starting soon. Danny's whole rant is my favourite part of this story, I had it written since the very beginning, so I'm really glad you like it :)

Guest: First off, I really enjoyed reading your reviews as you went through the story. It always makes me really happy when new readers do that. Just be warned, this reply may end up being a little long. Fantomo is Dani, which I guess by this chapter has already been confirmed :P There will be one more big hint towards how KingArthur is soon before the actually reveal at the end of the story, but he did know Danny's secret before the big reveal (KingArthur is a genius!). I enjoyed the dramatic irony too. Either it was too soon for Wes to spill the beans, oooooor there's something bigger going on ;) I actually didn't even think about how Fantomo fit that, but it totally does. Though I chose that for Dani's username because it means ghost in Esperanto. Not exactly the most subtle hint. I had Danny's rant and reveal written on my phone since almost the start of the story, but I would say it wasn't exactly a willing reveal. Yes, Danny did say it himself, but Jon's emotions heavily influenced his outburst. I wanted to be as realistic as possible when it came to the rioting, and quite frankly, I didn't think it would be too surprising for someone in the crowd to have one. It's always the angry idiot, isn't it? Danny is slowly regaining a little support from some of them. Lots of revelation fics I've read have most people instantly accepting Danny, besides a few obvious characters (Valerie, sometimes Danny's parents, and a few others). I wanted to take a more realistic, mixed approach. Thanks for pointing out the mistake with Mikey's name, I'll try and find it and fix it if I can. And I don't think that's anything you need to apologize for. We are more than just our fandoms, besides, I'm barely involved on Tumblr (which probably isn't a good thing, considering I keep saying I'll use my account to post stuff related to my fics). I hope you liked the newest chapter!

Oh my goodness. 38 reviews, it took 40 minutes for me to write out all the replies O.O Seriously, I appreciate all of you so much, you are all so amazing.

One last thing, this chapter hasn't been through my beta yet, so I will update it after that happens.

'See' you next time!