Author's Notes: Thank you to all who reviewed my fic.
Miriam1: I am too but you can never know about the dead and what they're going to do. All my fics take place before Phantom Planet and after D-Stabilized. Edgar and Ellen are trying keep him calm so he doesn't cause a storm that's why the weather hasn't been affected much.Oh yes, Stephanie will be upset about this I love Phantom of the Opera. I'll take it easier on the pranks now, sorry if I was a little prank happy.
MoonlightUmbreon: That's okay I've been known to do that as well. What happened to Ghostwriter, he tried to ask Ember if she would his Valentine and she opened up a fresh can of butt kicking on him, but he was too embarrassed to admit –Ghostwriter: Am not- why don't you go ask Spectra to be your Valentine –Ghostwriter leaves to see if Spectra will say yes- .
Dani-Danny: They were going to tell them but before they could the news that Danny was alive and they decided against telling them. So they don't know that's why Danni said that it was a 'school assignment.' Hope this clarifies things for you.
Smallvillegirl2: Yes they are and I am huge Phantom of the Opera fan. If I ever win the lotto I am so on the first plane to Paris.
Mystery Writer5775: You'll laugh when you see Danny's prank and you should read the novel it's not too mushy (or at least I think so) it is sad though.
Fernclaw: You missed a lot while you were in recovery Fern. I'm glad you like those little touches of humanity Fernclaw.
Chapter XXXVII: Wrath of the Gods
Pandora
Taking the seer's advice we looked for a trail of blood and followed it until we came to the Stygian Shores, "Here we are the River of Hatred, the Styx," I tell Arachne as I look at the red waters of the river and pick up the drum to summon its ferryman.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I mean Phlegyas isn't known to very friendly," Arachne asked as she looks out and the waters and see a boat approaching.
She was right; Phlegyas was once a king known for his short temper. It would always get him trouble but it also was his downfall. When he found that the god Apollo fathered a child with his daughter Coronis he became so irate that he actually desecrated a temple dedicated to the god. When word reached Apollo, he killed him and condemned to be the ferryman of the Styx.
"Just as much as you do, but Clockwork is counting on us," I tell her as the boat gets closer revealing an old man in scorched robes with black eyes and a long unkempt beard at the helm.
I take out 10 gold coins for our fare hoping it will be enough to get our destination.
Soon the boat reaches the shore, "A curse be on you Apollo and all ye gods of Olympus may your offspring be your demise as you were to the Titans that came before and may you be thrown to deepest depths Tartarus and let demons gnaw at your innards!" Phlegyas cursed shaking his fist to the heavens as we went to entered the boat but were stopped, "Leave these shores ye are not condemned and make wave for those who Heaven will not accept," he said swinging his oar at us.
"We were ordered by the Observants to embark on this journey and if you deny us passage may your body exhumed and left for scavengers," I told him, knowing how much we Greek's hate not getting a proper burial.
"Very well, where are ye bound?" he asks between clenched teeth as we entered and handed his money.
"To where the Styx and Acheron meet, the fare is enough to ensure we cross into Dantea via the Acheron as well," I tell him as he grumbles and sets off across the Styx.
Danni
Thanks to Jazz, I had my speech ready and I took off for the school, "Now let see if Vlad's maps are right the school should be nearby," I said flying until I found my destination.
Outside a woman with light brown hair was standing by the door, You must be Danni Phantom, I'm Principal Florentine, Mayor Knightly told me to wait for you so I can show you where to go," she said as I land and walk up to her.
"Uh, thank you," I tell her as she leads me inside.
"Before you give your speech, the Kindergarten class has something to give you and Stephanie Knightly wishes to put on a concert is there any songs you would like to here?" she asks me as enter an auditorium and walk to the stage.
"Uh, does she know The Pagan Ave Maria?" I ask her curiously as I look over my speech.
"I think our music teacher has that song," she says as she looks out, "There's your cue," she says as she pushes me out to where Mayor Knightly is standing.
"Students, is my honor to present you the newest hero of Nod's Limbs, Danni Phantom," he said as I waved to the students who were gathered there, "Now Miss Phantom, I believe our youngest students have something for you," he said as a little boy walked up the stage and handed me a large card.
"Thank you," I said as I read it and saw it was signed by all the kindergarteners, "thank you very much," I said again.
"Now my own daughter will now sing you favorite song, The Pagan Ave Maria from the musical Notre Dame de Paris," he said as the lights went out and Stephanie came out to silence and a spot light shone on her.
"Thank you, I hope you enjoy this," she said as she began to sing but as soon as she stared a loud croaking noise came out of the throat causing everyone to laugh. "Sorry for that I will begin again: Ave Maria, please pardon me if I….croak….croak…croak," she began as she looked around. "This time I'll get it right- Ave…croak…croak…croak," she said as she ran off the stage humiliated.
"I wish I had a video camera, because I would so put this on YouTube," I said laughing so much I fell on the ground tearing up, "this is the best Danni Phantom day ever," I said between spasms of laughter.
Stephanie
"I'm ruined, ruined, ruined!" I scream as I ran to the classroom crying how dare those twins ruin my performance they will pay.
I sat at my seat I saw someone coming, "Who's there," I ask trying to act bravely as I look up, "Oh no," I say as see that Skulker guy enter the room.
"I have sworn a blood oath to have your pelt Purple Princess," he said aiming his gun at me as I went running out of the room with him close behind me.
Danny
"Thank you Gaston Leroux," I said as I looked at my book smiling at how well the prank went, "Operation Amphibian was a success," I tell Edgar and Ellen as they come up to me.
"I know and thanks to your friend, Stephanie will get plenty of exercise," Ellen said laughing.
"I know, she may never sing or speak again," I say laughing so hard that I start crying causing it rain outside.
"You better stop before we have a flood," Edgar says as I calm down, "come on lets go see the rest of Danni's presentation," he says as we walk back to the auditorium still laughing about Stephanie's 'debut.'
Mayor Knightly
"Bob!" I shout as my intern comes backstage, I know I shouldn't have put him in charge as he always seems to create foul ups.
"Yes sir," he says walking up to me meekly.
"I thought I told you no foul ups," I tell him sternly as he looks at my clipboard nervously.
"Sorry sir, it won't happen again," he says, "I'll go check on Stephanie," he says leaving as I sigh at his incompetence.
Clockwork
I wish I had my powers so I could stop time, but here in Dantea time does not exist, here the malefactors who so angered the Heavens above are imprisoned in darkness hidden from all light and happiness.
I look out my cage and see a group of demons bring another tree in the area.
"This one died in very gruesome manner and is perfect for your plans, Malacoda," one of them said. I shuddered at that name as I knew they were Malebranchane, the most evil of all demons and fanatical devotees of Satan himself. They were the ones who urged Satan to continue his war against the Divine by attacking humans and are the ones responsible for tormenting souls who come into Dantea.
"Perfect," Malacoda said smiling showing his fangs, "I think it's cold in here let's start a fire," he said as he took a torch and set the tree on fire.
"PLEASE PUT IT OUT STOP IT'S BURNING!" the tree cried out as fire consumed it.
"Why do you care, it's only fitting that we destroy you since he destroyed your own body in life," Malacoda hissed as they watch the tree cry out once before it was reduced to ashes. "And the best part is once you regrow we'll do this again," they said as they took off laughing.
A tear run down my face, causing the scar on my face to sting (I had received it during the first war with Pariah Dark) it's funny that master of time is also the antithesis of the idiom 'Time heals all wounds.'
I turned back to Frostbite, "You must have hope," I tell him as he smiles at me.
"Remember when we fought Pariah during the war?" he asks as he smiles weakly and coughs.
"Just relax, we will get out," I assure him but in Dantea even the eternal hope and optimism in me seems to be fading into the darkness of the abyss plunging me into an ocean of despair.