DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN DANNY PHANTOM

New Student Mystery

Human World Casper High

"Class, we have a new student," the teacher announced, "I like you all to meet uh…"

"Mystery," the new kid said in a suave voice, "Gale Mystery." The girls in the class started to swoon except Sam who's just sat in her seat not really caring. Sam had to admit that he was hot, but his grey hair and cool demeanor reminder her too much of Gregor/Elliot. Plus he's leather jacket, simple shirt, and jeans screamed biker gang.

"Well mister Mystery, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?"

"I went to a boarding school through most of my childhood where my teachers realized my superior intellect and placed me in an accelerated learning program. I graduated from Wisconsin University at the age of fourteen. I started my own R and D company, which l later sold, because being a Co sucked. Not knowing what to do with my life, and not wanting to return home after my parents divorced, I started wandering around for awhile until I decided to give high school a try since I skipped it." Gale finished with a wink causing the girls to go nuts again and the guys to growl.

"Strange Wind huh," Sam called out, "is that really your name or are you just trying to sound cool?" She couldn't believe that anyone would fall for such obvious lies.

Gale walked up right next to her desk, stared at her right in the eye. Looking at him up close Sam couldn't help but feel that she knows him from somewhere. He placed his finger over his mouth, "That's a secret," Gale simply answered. Half of the girls in class fainted after that.

Gale wasted no time getting friendly with the female population in class earning him the animosity from most of the guys. Sam felt almost sorry for him since most of bullies have been hungry for some fresh meat ever since Danny and Tucker became off limits, and it looks like college boy here is going to be their newest victim. Not that Sam believed a word of his story.

-The Cafeteria Lunch Time-

Sam sat quietly trying to enjoy her lunch, while ignoring Tucker going on and on about his new renovation plans. Normally she would be enjoying her lunch with her friends, and Vale, somewhere else. But ever since Danny started 'story hour' Sam wanted to make sure that none of his fans got too friendly. Today, however Danny was tardy for some reason, not that any of the girls noticed. They were busy fawning over Gale who was spinning another tale of something that Sam couldn't care less about, although she was a little worried about the jocks that were making their way towards him.

"Hey newbie," one of the jocks called out. The other students began to back away from Gale.

Gale didn't move, didn't show any signs of concern, he just simply smiled, "What's up guys? How may I help you?"

One of the jocks grabbed Gale's shirt and pulled him up to his face, "Listen newb, I know you're not familiar on how things work around here, so consider this to be your first and final lesson."

"I do like to learn," Gale said in a threatening tone, "how about I'll buy you and your friends' lunch and we'll talk about it." Gale reached up and tightly squeezed the jock's arm. The jock flinched realizing that despite his small stature, Gale is stronger than him.

"What's going on here?" Danny demanded as he hovered overhead.

The jock let go of Gale and began brushing him off, "Nothing just welcoming the new guy, right." Gale put up a scared face and mouthed 'help me'. Danny eyed the boy suspiciously. After being the bullies' punching bag his whole life, Danny knew fear and as far as he could tell this guy wasn't even remotely afraid.

"I see," Danny turned into his human form and extended his hand. "Are you alright?"

"Oh my god! You're Danny Phantom!" Gale shook Danny's hand wildly. "Thanks for saving me! I must say it's a real pleasure to finally meet you, bro!"

"Yeah great, can I have my hand back please," Danny pleaded trying to break out of Gale's grip. When that didn't work he made his hand intangible. "Why don't you join me and my friends for lunch?" His fan club began to complain but Danny interjected, "Sorry guys, no story today and you can thank your friends over there for that." The jocks quickly learned that geeks can be tough and scary, especially if you get between them and their heroes.

Danny and Gale walked over to where Sam, Tucker, and Vale were sitting. "Wow I can't believe it! My first day of school and I'm hanging out with Danny Phantom and crew!" Gale said giddy with excitement. "Good to see you again Sam," he added in monotone, which irritated her for some reason.

"You and Sam know each other?" Tucker asked.

"We're in the same class," Sam answered dryly.

"Actually, we've met before," Gale corrected her, "don't remember, maybe your old friend Ben will help remind you." Gale pulled out a hundred dollar bill.

"If you're thinking of bribing me…" Sam accused.

"Not bribe," Gale interrupted, "returning." He placed the money in front of Sam. "You left me this after I drove you to the hospital back in Wisconsin."

The memory of nearly getting run over flashed in her mind. Sam was half blinded by the car's headlights but she could still make out the man's features and if she squinted, Gale did have a resemblance to that guy. Plus the hundred dollar bill supported his claim. "You followed me just to give me my money back?"

"Actually I was planning to come to Amity Park one day so I figured why not now," Gale replied.

"Wait just back up for a minute," Danny jumped in, "Sam, hospital, Wisconsin explain!"

"I told you that the protest I went too got a little crazy," Sam said nervously, "I just never said how crazy. Oh and thanks for helping me that day."

"My pleasure, it's not every day one rescues our spokes woman," Gale said pulling out his veggies 4 life membership card.

"You're a fellow vegan," Sam exclaimed.

"Vegetarian actually," Gale corrected, "I'm not ready to give up my dairy just yet." He opened his carton of milk and gulped it down. "It was my family business after all."

"So your parents are farmers?" Danny asked.

"Oh no bro, they used to be the owners of a cheese factory," Gale said. "That is until my mom had an affair resulting in an ugly divorce where we lost everything to him." Gale's expression turned dark at the mention of him.

"Not to change the subject but can you not call me bro," Danny said, "I mean we just met and…"

"I'm sorry bro," Gale apologized, "it's just that ever since I saw you I felt a connection, like we're brothers from a different father." He stared straight into Danny's eyes. "I'm sure you feel it too."

Danny felt a sudden chill run up his spine, and not from his ghost sense. Looking into Gale's face, Danny couldn't help but feel that there was something familiar about him. Something he didn't like.

Just then the bell rang.

"Oops, looks like lunch time is over," Gale said, "we've better be heading off to class. See you soon bro."

After Gale left Danny turned to Sam, "Sam, I'm going to need you to keep an eye on him."

Sam was about to object when Vale spoke up. "You got his message too huh?"

"Wha?" Sam and Tucker said at the same time.

"He mentioned Cheese, Wisconsin, and him." Danny explained, "Gale Mystery is going after Inviso-Bill and he wants us to help him."

-Later that Evening-

Danny and Valerie flew overhead while Sam rode on her scooter for their nightly patrol. The truce only keeps the Advisors and their allies from attacking the human world, but it doesn't prevent other ghosts from attacking and most don't want to see another ghost king.

"You really think that Gale is after Billy?" Sam called out to her teammates through the Fenton Phones. "Based on what he said this afternoon. I think you two have been reading way too many Sherlock Holmes novels."

"Call it a gut feeling," Danny responded, "but I know that there's something off about this guy."

"You mean just like how you thought Gregor was GiW agent?" Sam teased.

"Hey, I was right about him being a fake!" Danny defended.

"Alright to two love birds look alive," Vale called in, "my ghost senses just went off! Meet me at the corner of Elm St. and Oak Ave."

By the time they reached her, she was trapped in an energy net surrounded by a group of ghost ninjas. The ghost ninjas used to be Pariah Dark's elite assassins, until they betrayed him, now they've mercenaries for hire.

"Alright Sam you free Vale, I take care of these ninjas," Danny reached for his sword pendant but quickly tuck it back under his shirt. Fearing his sword might break, Danny hardly uses it anymore and focuses instead on increasing his ghost powers. Creating four copies he engaged the ninjas.

Sam hurried over to Vale and pulled out her Fenton knife and began cutting the net. "Don't worry I have you out of there in no time!"

"Sam, look out behind you!" Vale screamed. Vale warning came just in time as Sam dodged a ghost blade that almost took her head.

"Hiding in the shadows? That's so ninja," Sam realized that this ninja wasn't one the ones Danny was fighting so that meant this was an ambush, "I take it that there's more of you guys still hiding right!" Sam reached for her bag of seeds when the ninja attacked again knocking the bag right out of her hands.

Out of the corner of his eye Danny saw friends in trouble. Needing to finish this fight quickly, he lined up the ninjas and screamed his ghostly wail sending them flying. Seeing the ninjas down for the count he turned to help Sam when five more ninjas jumped out of their hiding places and surrounded him. "Oh give me a break! I hope the girls can hold out just a little longer."

Sam desperately tried to get to her seeds while dodging the ninja's attacks. Fortunately she had a small wrist blaster with; unfortunately she couldn't get a clean shot. Backing away Sam tripped and accidentally fired a stray shot that ricocheted off of windows, street lights, and a car's side mirror finally striking the ninja in the back. Seeing her foe down, Sam dashed to her bag of seeds. She was only three feet from her bag when another ninja jumped in front of her.

Suddenly a black motorcycle roared down the street ramming into the ninja. "Are you alright?" the cyclist yelled out.

"Ye…Yeah thanks," Sam stuttered. With all the time she'd spent at Fenton Works, Sam could tell at a glance that the motorcycle was packing some serious heat. Not only that, the black suit the guy had seems to be a modified version of the one Valerie used to wear. Sam didn't have time to admire her savior hearing Danny's screams. "Oh no Danny," Sam cried! Looking up they saw around twenty ninjas ganging up on Danny.

"Stay here!" the biker commanded as his bike transformed into mini-jet and flew off towards the battle.

Sam hurried and picked up her bag and popped one of the seeds into her mouth.

"Hey I know you must be hungry after that fight but can to you cut me loose first!" Vale yelled, "Or at least share some of your trail mix!" Vale's jaw dropped as she watched Sam's clothes turn green. Sam raised her hand and several vines grew around Vale, intertwining with the net until it finally ripped apart. "What? How? When did you get these powers?" Vale stared at Sam accusingly.

"I'll explain later. Right now we've got to help Danny!" Again Sam raised her hand and a tree grew under her feet lifting her to where Danny was. Vale sighed and followed after her.

Danny, unaware of Sam's powers, panic seeing her in green again and began freezing the plants.

"Danny, NO STOP!" Sam pleaded. "I'll explain later but right now you're going to have to trust me!"

Danny hesitated but decided to trust her. After all if Undergrowth is helping them, who's he to complain.

Even though it was their first time working together, the four of them fought like a team easily defeating and capturing the ninjas into the Fenton thermoses. With the immediate threat gone Danny turned to the strange biker.

"First off, thanks for your help, second who are you? Are you with the GiW?" Danny focused his energy into his fist.

"The Guys in White; are you stupid? I mean even if you were color blind you could tell my suit is far from white!" the Stranger pointed out. "Oh and you're welcome bro!" the stranger cursed after letting that last bit slip.

"Bro?" Danny repeated having his suspicions confirmed, "Gale?"

The biker undid the lock on his helmet and took it off, "darn I wanted to play the mysterious savior a bit longer before revealing myself. My real name is Gary McCheese the true heir to the Cheese King!"

"Liar," Danny accused, "I know Gary McCheese! I met him in the Ghost Zone when he brought in a fondue fountain for the Christmas party!"

If Gale was shocked he didn't show it. Instead his facial expression changed into one full of confidence and arrogance, both Sam and Vale gasped as he became the spinning image of a man they hate.

"Yes as you stated I am not Gary McCheese, I am the Gale Masters the son of Vlad Masters and…"

"Madeline Masters," Danny spat out hoping he's wrong.

"That's right," Gale even had the same sinister smile as his father, "straight from the alternate reality you created, my dear half-brother!"

-On a Rooftop a few blocks away-

One of the ghost ninjas approached his clients, "I'm here for our pay!"

"Pay?" the taller of the two figures mock. "Why should we pay you for failing?"

The ninja laughed, "Don't insult my intelligence. You think I don't know who you are, what you're trying to accomplish. I know for a fact that you never intended for us to succeed. I am also well aware of what will happen if certain parties were to know what you are up to Vizier!"

"Very well," Vizier conceded, "pay him!" Vizier's assistant created a small portal and pulled out a bag of coins.

The ninja checked to make sure it was all there. "Pleasure doing business with you, and if you want to hire us again for ANY job it will cost you double our usual fee." The ninja disappeared in a swirl of green wind.

"Sir, I know it's not my place to question your plans, but why attack Phantom and the mother?" the assistant nervously asked.

"Strong parents will have strong children," Vizier simply answered and stepped through the portal.

To Be Continued

Next Time…Bitter Family Reunions

The Fentons finally return home, but how will they react to their newest family member?

A/N: The idea for Gale Mystery came from xXMidnightFireHeartxX