So for the sake of my sanity and you poor readers out there anytime Dan has flash backs he is going to be referred to as Dan in them. I tried it a different way first and it was a mess to put it mildly.
Disclaimer for this chapter… To be honest Danny was basically manipulated into trying to cheat on the CAT in the show. Yes in the end it was his decision but there was a lot of manipulation to get him there in the first place and I think Dan was screwed over in the same fashion. So this is my take on how it went down in Dan's timeline.
AH yes Cindy M 19 Jazz will be part of the story eventually. Not quite yet though. As for Valerie I think Dan needed to hear it from someone who caused a bunch of trouble and damage willingly for the sake of revenge. That and the fact that they were trying to kill each other in his timeline. I feel it would have more effect.
Disclaimer! I dont own Danny Phantom... its probably a good thing too.
He walked in darkness as a voice called to him. "So you want to be a good guy again huh?"
Dan turned to see Plasmius in all his vampire-esque regalia standing before him.
"Ugh, you again. Why haven't you disappeared after all these years?"
Plasmius laughed manically "I'm a part of you boy perhaps you need to remember how you got yourself into this mess to start with."
Dan didn't have the chance to answer before a pink blast of energy struck him sending him into the light where he promptly fell out of bed.
An alarm clock blared somewhere and scrambling to his feet he turned it off before racing around his room collecting and throwing on his usual ensemble. Glancing in the mirror as he ran out the door Dan recognized his younger self jolting him into the realization that he was dreaming. He was dreaming and he couldn't wake up as his human self ran out the door yelling to his parents to have a good day.
His friends waited for him outside the door and they smiled at him. "Hey Dan!" they both called and he grinned in return. "Hey guys ready for the big test?" he asked
It was the day of the CAT test his final day with his two best friends. The countdown to him becoming a monster had begun and all he could do was watch it happen… again.
Sam eyed him as Tucker rolled his eyes. "You did return the answers without peeking right?" she demanded as they started to walk to school.
Dan laughed "Yes mother I did. We talked about this remember?"
Sam shrugged "I know I just wanted to make sure it stuck. You seemed really freaked about this stupid test and then you accidently got a hold of that answer sheet and we were really worried about you."
"Yeah man especially with all these Ghost attacks lately. Have you even had a chance to study? Without us I mean?" Tucker asked.
For the past few weeks mutant ghosts had been showing up randomly and attacking. Tucker and Sam had been helping him study in between battles and even during them since most of the mutants were not that hard to beat.
"Kinda, I mean at this point its like you guys said. Its just a test and…" A cold chill worked its way up his throat and a blue mist exited. "Oh no." Dan muttered then claws slashed into his bag tearing it wide open scattering his two books and a few papers to the wind.
"Dan!" Sam and Tucker cried as he slammed a fist into the freaky half bird half something creature. Slipping from his back pack he darted into an alley and transformed swiftly taking the creature out. Like all the others it dissolved into a pile of goop the moment it was defeated. Sam and Tucker waited for him the remains of his bag and his stuff in hand. Without a word he flew them the rest of the way to school and met them in class seconds before the bell went off. Lancer wasn't happy as he passed out the test of course but Dan kinda figured at this point he was never happy. At least he was a decent person and seemed to care about his job. The test time was actually quiet although about halfway in his ghost sense went off. Unable to just get up and leave he sat tensely for several minutes waiting for the screams to start. When they didn't Dan had returned to his test rushing through several questions before he forced himself to slow down once more. He finished, actually finished the test before time was up and bored in those few minutes sketched a cartoonish astronaut on the backside of the scantron test in the scratch work area. Finally the bell rang and they all moved to the front of the class to turn in their papers. As he handed his paper in Dans ghost sense went off again and this time was welcomed by screams that came from the hallway. Dan sighed and ran into the hallway with several other students to find three rabbit mutant animals the size of bears eating the lockers. Ducking into a locker himself he put his headset into his ear then transformed and dove head first into battle. The battle was taking longer than normal due to the fact that there were three extra large ghost creatures. Finally he caught a breakthrough and skidding behind the three he sent out a massive ectoblast attack. The first one he dealt with was simply blasted to smithereens as the other two dodged. He was grappling with the second when his headset rang. Blasting the snarling fanged beast through the wall he hit the button on the side to answer only to have the third bunny beast land on him.
"So I got C for answer 17 what did you get?" Tucker asked
"C." Dan gasped and managing to get one arm free sent an ectoblast straight through the beast causing it to dissolve into a pile of goop right on him.
"You guys are not supposed to discuss the test. Also the answer for 17 was B." Sam said joining in their conversation.
"No way!" Dan and Tucker cried as Dan stood to climb out of the ectplasmic pile of goo.
"Are you ok Dan?" Sam asked "Tucker and I got stuck in the crowd so we are outside now."
Looking around Dan didn't see the third bunny bear thing so he ducked into a classroom and changed back. "I don't see the third mutant so I'm heading your way." Dan said walking back out into the hall.
He was about halfway down the hall when an angry voice rang out. "Mr Fenton!"
Dan spun around arms raising defensively then recognized a very angry looking Lancer stomping towards him holding his shredded backpack as well as a packet of paper.
"Yes sir?" Dan asked wondering what in the world was going on.
"I discovered this in your bag! How dare you steal the answer sheet and cheat!" Lancer yelled dropping his bag to the floor by accident.
Dan froze as his friends yelled "What?!" in his ear.
"That's impossible…" Dan murmured as Lancer ignoring his bag closed the gap between them.
Lancer scoffed "What you didn't think you would get caught?"
"No you don't understand! A ghost shredded my bag this morning and Sam and Tucker helped me pick my stuff up. Those papers were not there before I walked into class!" Dan yelled
Lancer sighed going from angry to disappointment so fast Dan froze. "I've already scanned you test Dan. It's a perfect score."
His jaw dropped "Impossible…" He whispered again as Lancer pulled a scantron from under the packet.
Without thinking he snatched the sheet from Lancers hand scanning it barely hearing Lancer as he said "I've already called your parents and I will be meeting them in a little over n hour at the Nasty Burger. You will be present and we will discuss the repercussions of your foolishness."
Dan scanned the test before him and his eyes landed on 17. The bubble filled in was B and yet Dan knew he had filled in C. The whole scantron was fill in the bubble even for your name and his eyes flashed up to the information part and saw his name bubbled in. He flipped it over looking for the scratch work section and with a chill saw it was blank.
"This isn't mine. I drew an astronaut in the scratch work section and I answered C for 17. This isn't mine." Dan said his voice raising.
Lancer frowned at him. "This isn't the time Dan. You can defend your actions later today when I talk to your parents." With that being said he reclaimed the sheet and stalked away leaving a stunned Dan behind.
Moments later Sam and Tucker arrived at his sides "Dude what's going on?" Tucker asked
Dan shook his head "I don't know… Your guys picked up my stuff this morning. Those papers were not in there."
"No those papers were not in there, besides what kind of idiot brings the answer sheet with them into the test?" Sam asked
"Apparently me… Oh man how do I explain this to my parents?" Dan asked looking frantic. Suddenly his headset started ringing and without thinking he answered it. "Its Dan."
"Hey little bro Mom and Dad seem really upset because of a phone call from Lancer and they won't tell me what's going on. Is everything alright?" Jazz asked
"Not really I've just found out that I've been framed for cheating on the CAT and I have no idea how to fix it or even defend myself." Dan answered
"What?!" Jazz screeched and Dan winced than gave her the run down.
Jazz sighed. "I'll buy you as much time as I can. I know you are not dumb enough to bring the answer sheet into the test with you."
"Thank you!" Dan sighed and then paused "Wait was that a complement?"
Jazz chuckled "Listen your test paper has to be in the school unless it grew legs and walked off. Find your test and then Lancer will have to sit down and listen. At worst you will have to take the make up test in a few weeks."
Dan sighed already feeling better. "Thanks Jazz we will start looking now."
The line clicked off and Dan faced his two friends. "We have got to find my test. It has an astronaut drawn in the scratch work area. Hopefully whoever or whatever took it didn't keep it with them."
They split up to cover more ground starting in the classroom where they took the test and from there checked nearby rooms the grading room and once Lancer left the room his office. Sam found it in a spare classroom crumpled into a ball at the very bottom of a trash can. Dan could have kissed her and very nearly did but his ghost sense went off alerting him to danger yet again. Glancing at his watch Dan groaned. They had been searching for a while and had run over an hour nearly 20 minutes ago. A quick glance at his messages showed missed calls from his parents and Jazz which never boded well for him.
"You go take care of the ghost Dan. Sam and I will get this test to the Nasty Burger. We will tell them that you are catching up." Tucker said and grabbing Sams arm they ran from the building. Dan transformed and once he flew outside ran into the largest mutant thing he had seen so far. It was almost the size of a building and the thing appeared to be a compilation of a whole bunch of mutant animals all in one. Dan went to work on it blasting whatever he could and after 15 of intense fighting the thing was weak enough to shove in the thermos. After finding a quick hiding place and changing back Dan ran as fast as his legs could carry him. When he could see the Nasty Burger building his headset rang yet again.
"Where are you?" Sams voice asked.
He could see them through the diners window. His parents Jazz Tucker and Lancer all sat at a booth. Lancer was jabbing a finger down at the table and Tucker was clearly defending Dan as he glared at Lancer. Sam was several feet away on the phone.
"Im coming up to the building now." Dan answered his breath puffing out in small gasps as he watched her turn towards the window. She smiled as Dan said. "I can see you guys at the booth. I will…"
The building before him turned into an inferno and the concussive blast knocked him instantly unconscious.