Danny got permission to go 'camping' from his parents (reluctantly, things were still tense between them and him), and while he felt badly for lying to them again, in his defense he was in actuality a 30-year-old man and could very well look after himself (was used to it, in fact). Besides, this was something that had to be done.
He packed for a weekend trip, with food and a sleeping bag and a couple of changes of clothes, a jacket and some Fenton Gear (his father was so proud). Then he set off to meet up with Sam and Tucker, who went over a couple of last-minute things and got the thermos and some other detection and defense items from Danny. He didn't need it as much as they did. He still took a couple of blasters himself, but other than that, he figured he was pretty good.
Then he set off, flying until it got dark. He found a good patch of wooded land that didn't look like it had anything dangerous and settled down for the night after his dinner of nutra-grain bars. It was cold that night, but he actually enjoyed it and got up fairly refreshed the next morning to keep flying.
Of course, it could never be that simple. He had a rather shocking run-in with a rattlesnake wrapped around his bag that convinced him to turn intangible, turn his bag intangible, and then stay intangible.
Calmly, and concentrating on keeping up his intangibility the whole time, he made his way back to his sleeping bag, grabbed that, and flew a couple of minutes away before stopping so he could roll his temporary bedding up.
"I didn't even know they had rattlesnakes around here anymore," he grumbled to himself. Then he situated the pack on his tired shoulders again and took off in the direction of Pennsylvania.
He got there just after 2 in the afternoon, which was actually better than he'd been planning on initially. So he bought himself a burger at a Wendy's (they didn't have a Nasty Burger where he stopped) and then got about finding where Ember would be today. She had a concert tonight, and would likely be getting that set up, so he had to find the arena where Ember would be performing.
xXx
Ember McLain had been incredibly lucky about two years prior to stumble across a natural portal into the human world. Not just that, but her obsession and powers allowed her to feed off of the emotions of the humans around her, so she could actually stay there and figure out a way to fulfill her obsession. It was perfect and she'd thanked her lucky stars that she'd finally stumbled across some good luck.
Of course, getting back into the music biz was hard. She didn't have a background or a story she could actually tell, and so she tended to say that she'd been born at home and raised in the back streets of New York, so she didn't have a birth certificate or much of a past. When people started questioning beyond that, she just used her guitar to temporarily brainwash them (even then, it was a draining technique) and that had been that. Hey, if it worked...
It had been hard work, even without that particular handicap, but it had been so rewarding when people began to hear about her.. they remembered her, and the elation she'd felt had been nothing short of exquisite.
She still had a secret to keep, though, so she kept to herself, not making a whole lot of friends, but gathering a veritable army of acquaintances. She'd even met some other ghosts who had been in the business longer, and while they hadn't gotten along, they hadn't exactly been out for each other's blood either.
All in all, she'd been content... until her ghostly contacts had disappeared.
She didn't know if her rival had been captured by the humans (she'd heard stories) or if they'd fulfilled their obsession, but either way it had shaken Ember. She'd thought she'd been untouchable and then...
So she'd upped her game, used a little bit more power for greater returns so if something untoward did come her way, she'd be able to take care of it. It had been risky, but she had more power than ever, and while she didn't seem to be fulfilling her obsession as much, it was a risk/benefit she was temporarily willing to trade off on.
She didn't expect 'untoward' to show up in the guise of a teenager with a calming, nonchalant grin on his face.
Oh, and he was a ghost too.
"Found you!" he said as she stepped into her trailer-home after a particularly grueling recording session. She'd just closed her door and he was there, leaning against the wall by the door to her tiny bathroom.
For a moment, neither of them really moved, both just staring at each other. Then she blinked and whipped her guitar out, more than ready to strike, except he held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Hey, I just want to talk. That's all."
She frowned and didn't put her guitar away, poised to strike a chord the moment he made any sudden moves.
"Then talk, Babypop."
He blinked, then rubbed the back of his head. "I don't look that young, do I?"
She just raised an unimpressed eyebrow.
He sighed. "So, guess I should introduce myself: I'm Danny Phantom." He held his hand out.
"Wow. Original," Ember replied, not making a move to take the appendage.
"Right," he said, sounding disappointed. Ember thought he should get used to it or the world would chew him up and spit him out. If she didn't get to him first. "Fine, fine. I'll get to the point. You're coming to Amity Park later on this year."
She blinked. "What of it?"
He grinned. "I'm claiming it as my haunt."
More blinking. "Seriously?"
"Yup. So here are the ground rules – no hurting humans, no brainwashing, no killing, avoid violence or big spectacles that would draw attention specifically to ghosts. No overshadowing – or possession – and if you can stick to those rules, we'll get along just fine."
Ember frowned, although she'd relaxed a little bit. If he wanted to fight her, they'd already be fighting. Instead, he'd come to warn her... and honestly, she could appreciate that.
She still had to ask.
"And what if I don't?"
His grin took on a hard edge. "Then we do things the hard way and I toss you back in the Ghost Zone."
Her frown turned into a full-on, angry grimace and she renewed her stance. "What makes you think you can?"
The boy didn't look frightened in the least. "Well, we could fight right here and we'll both see who's the strongest, or you could wait until then and we could fight and I'll find a way to shock off your mind-control. That is a pretty good way to disrupt most ghost-oriented brainwashing."
Ember's jaw tightened. "You can't prove that I brainwashed anyone!"
The boy rolled his eyes. "Come on. With how quickly you've risen in popularity recently? There isn't any way you're not brainwashing people. The thing is, I've heard your music. You're good enough as it is. You don't have to brainwash people to like you. Besides, even if it feeds your powers, do you honestly think it will feed your obsession? Deep down you know that this won't make anyone remember you."
With an angry growl, she struck a chord. The boy dodged the wave of energy easily, but Ember figured that she'd gotten the point across. There was a reason ghosts didn't address their obsessions aloud.
"How did you know that?!" she yelled.
"Please. 'You will remember my name?' It's in your single. All someone had to do was figure you're a ghost."
Ember cursed herself internally. She should have known insisting on this song to be her cover piece was a bad idea. But so few ghosts could manifest on this plain, let alone masquerade as a human. Ever since that permanent portal had been opened, it was easier to keep her form, and it got easier the closer to it she got, which was why she'd wanted to have her final concert be in Amity Park. Of course another ghost had moved in there. It was a given. She'd just hoped she'd be able to get there fast enough... but it had been a long shot.
"And what's up with you?" she asked harshly. "There's something off about you. Are you really a ghost, or do you just know about us?"
He raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been away from the Zone? I know my kind are a bit rare, so I would have thought you'd have heard about it by now." He tipped his head to one side, as if studying her. For the life (or afterlife) of her, she couldn't see any sort of malice or anger towards her. Just curiosity.
It was unnerving.
She didn't respond, simply staring at him expectantly.
The boy sighed and looked around, as if making sure they were alone. Ember expected an attack and moved her hand just a little closer to her guitar. She'd get in the first shot if it came down to it.
"I am a ghost," he said just as two white rings formed around his middle and separated. Ember felt her jaw drop in surprise as he changed. She could still feel his ecto-signature if she concentrated, but only barely. It was as if he were...
"I'm also human. Half-ghost, Halfa, Part-ghost, Interchangeable Being, Hybrid, whatever you want to call it."
Her hand had gone slack and she could only stand there, staring at the very human kid in front of her.
"Look," he said when he realized she wasn't going to say anything in response to his change, "I'm not going to do anything if you're not hurting anyone. That's all I ask. Don't use your ghost powers to hurt people and I'd even be happy to help you."
That brought her out of her shock long enough to be suspicious. "The last I heard, there was only one Hybrid out there, and you don't exactly fit the description."
"Eh, I'm kinda new. I'm also a lot more stable than he is... but that's a very lucky thing." He rubbed the back of his head nervously.
Ember didn't like this at all. Here was a kid who hadn't had to die to get the kind of powers she'd had to claw her way into. She grit her teeth. "You shouldn't exist."
He frowned and his hand dropped. "I shouldn't exist because I'm still alive? Do you realize what kind of a fluke that was? FYI, I did have to die. I was just... kind of revived after I got ghost powers..."
Well, that did make her feel a little better about it. It still unnerved her that he'd answered her unspoken question. "You a mind-reader?" she asked warily.
The boy snorted and shook his head. "Nope. Haven't been like this long enough to really get a handle on more than the basics, although I do have access to some pretty awesome ecto-technology. That attitude is... just something that I've... come across before. It's understandable, really. Ghosts want to live – often to finish the business they had in real life that kept them here as ghosts. As much power as ghosts – even weak ones – can have compared to humans, they envy the living. I think it's considered a 'natural' vs. 'unnatural' thing in general ghost society, but I also think that's a load of bull. If ghosts weren't meant to exist, they wouldn't. Simple as that. We could go into hybrids and whether we should exist or not, but the point of the matter is, I did have to die first, so there's little to be jealous of." He paused and shuddered.
Ember bit her lip. She wanted to ask... but there were lines that even the worst ghosts wouldn't cross. Bringing up obsessions was a one-way ticket to a fight – often to the death (well, second death).
"You are still alive," she finally pointed out, voice still accusing. "That's something."
"Maybe," the boy – Danny – conceded. "But think about it: I'm pretty unique right now. This isn't something that's easily accepted by either humans or ghosts. That makes my life infinitely more difficult. I think that ghosts envy the living because the living have a chance to fulfill their obsessions and move on peacefully, but right now I have an obsession just like you. But if I fulfill it, my human body keeps me here."
He shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie. There are perks to being half-ghost. But there are some pretty nasty downsides too. Just like there are perks and downsides to being a full ghost or a full human. Sure, I'm pretty physically stable, but I have a lot of mental issues to work through – many of them ghostly, and I don't have the benefit of natural mutability that a ghost has to do it. I have the issues of both humans and ghosts, and have to find the balance between the two... and I don't exactly have an example to follow either. At least, not a sane one. Besides, I don't think the other half-ghost had to die. We're both inherently different, even if the end result was similar."
"Wow," Ember said, suddenly realizing that, while she still held her guitar, she'd completely relaxed. So she raised an eyebrow. "Do you ever shut up?'
He snorted. "You asked."
"I didn't want your afterlife story."
Danny shrugged. "I just wanted to set some things straight."
Ember, shuffled a little nervously again. "Um..."
He raised an eyebrow. "Somehow, you don't normally strike me as the uncertain type."
"Shut up," she shot back. "I wanted to ask something."
The mirth melted out of his expression. "You want to know how I died."
"Well... yeah."
Danny sighed. "Well, thank you for trying to be cautious about it. I was electrocuted with both electricity and ecto-energy. It sucked."
"I bet," she responded, wondering why she felt so... open around this kid. Well, turn about was fair play. He told her his... "I... died in a fire."
He got a pained look on his face that she really didn't understand until he spoke. "Ouch. I think yours was worse. Mine was over pretty fast, as painful as it was."
"Yeah," she agreed, shuddering herself. It was actually really... well, cool of him to admit that, and did more to lay her fears to rest than everything else he'd said.
"So," she said, wanting to move on from the memories that conversation brought up, "you said something about helping me? Why would you do that?"
"Why not?" he shrugged. "If you're not hurting people or brainwashing them, I'd be happy to help you fulfill your obsession."
"But why?" she pressed, putting her free hand on her hip. "What's in it for you?"
"Well, it's more of a 'what's in it for us' kind of thing."
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. He'd better not go there. She was not about to get a boyfriend – even a fake one – when being single worked more to her advantage.
"Okay, that came out kinda wrong," he muttered. "30 years, and I still put my foot in my mouth."
It took some willpower to not crack a smile at that, but she managed to keep a deadpan expression as she waited for him to explain.
"Look, ghosts and humans interacting is kind of inevitable now that there's a permanent portal, but they're also... well, inherently different."
Ember snorted derisively, but didn't say anything else.
"As a hybrid, I'm going to be working with both ghosts and humans and want to see the process of integration be as... well, smooth as possible. I don't think ghosts will have as many issues accepting humans as humans will have at accepting ghosts."
Somehow, Ember didn't agree with that.
He must have caught something in her expression because he scratched the side of his face a little sheepishly. "Well, it'll be a case-by-case basis, I guess, but ghosts also don't often rally together. Humans do. And there are... well, some not-so-great people out there who will do everything they can to stop ghosts from integrating – mainly for their own perceived gain. Ghost hunters, the Guys in White... there's even a guy out there who controls ghosts with a staff, and I'm sure he's not the only one who has some relic that will grant power over ghosts.
"The problem is, we can't really do anything but fight these people as they pop up because ghosts aren't recognized as sentient beings, therefore we have no rights." She noticed how he said 'we', like he thought of himself as a ghost... and wasn't quite sure how to feel about that. "Add to that the fact that ghosts tend to be more powerful, more mysterious and rather alien at times and is it any wonder that even now, some humans think that eliminating ghosts is the only answer?"
"So, let me get this straight, Babypop," she said, holding up a hand to get him to stop for a moment. "You want me to out myself as a ghost?"
Danny shook his head. "No, no. Actually, it will be better if you didn't. You see, I'm going to introduce myself as Amity Park's resident ghost – publicly. I will ask to be treated as a sentient being and move for laws to be changed to accommodate that. I want you to support that."
"And you don't think people will find that a little suspicious?" Ember asked, folding her arms over her chest. "Do you really think I'm the first ghost who's tried something like this? When people find out about them, they disappear. I don't know who or how, but it happens."
The blue-eyed boy just blinked at her. "Seriously?"
Ember rolled her eyes. "Uh, yeah. Why do you think I went the... well, the way I did." Because she still wasn't going to admit to anything. "The faster I get to the top, the better. Otherwise, I may not make it at all... ever."
"Oh," Danny replied, obviously trying to wrap his head around that. Then he tipped his head and began pacing again, tapping his chin as he did. Okay, this kid was kinda cute... in a little-brother kind of way.
"What if I could make you something that could hide your ecto-signature?"
Her eyes bugged out a bit. "You can do that?" Items like that were rather desirable in the Ghost Zone. Only the most powerful or well-connected ghosts could get their hands on those.
"Well... I'm not good at building things like that myself – not from scratch – but I'm decent at modifying stuff. I think I could get something fixed up... but it would likely suppress your ghost abilities too. At least while you're wearing it. I mean, I could make it really easy to take on or off. A belt? Hmm, a little obvious but not a bad idea. Might be good to start out with. Later, though? Earrings are too small and likely will be for some time. A necklace? A bracelet? Something disguised..." He paused, seeming to realize that he'd gone off on his own tangent and brought himself back to the here and now.
"If I can get you something that hides your ecto-signature, will you support ecto-rights?"
She frowned. "And how exactly could you help me?"
He smiled. "I have access to the permanent portal. It can't be unlimited access right now as I'm still trying to keep my half-ghost status away from the ghost-hunters, but I can get you access to the Ghost Zone and the real world. Heck, I'll even draw up a contract if you want it in writing."
Her eyes widened again. This kid was full of surprises.
"Huh. So you give me access to the Ghost Zone and a way to hide my ecto-signature, and I give you public support of ecto-rights?" Was there a downside to this? Well, yes. She'd really be putting herself out on a limb here, but...
"And you stop with the brainwashing."
She frowned. "Sometimes I have to. I don't exactly have a birth certificate or other documentation that allows me to hold a job."
"Hmm. I'll see what I can do about that too. Until then, though, how about no more mass brainwashing?"
She just stared at him. "Are you for real? No one is that accommodating or nice."
His nervous tick of rubbing the back of his head showed itself again. "Well... my obsession revolves around protection... and I've found that helping people – especially people who pose a threat – gets me more allies than enemies."
"It also gets you a knife in the back," Ember replied, back to her typical deadpan.
Danny shrugged. "That's why I have to make it more beneficial to be my ally."
Ember snorted. "Shrewd."
He grinned at her, then held out his hand again. "So, I work on getting you that ecto-signature hider and let you in Amity Park, and you stop brainwashing people and come out in support of ecto-rights. If I get famous enough, we might even be able to work out a guest appearance in a show or something."
She couldn't help but return his smile as she reached forward and shook his hand. "I like the way you think."
"I look forward to working with you, Ember McLain."
"This should be fun, Danny Phantom." She let go of his hand and the rings were back, transforming him into a ghost again. "But I'm still calling you Babypop," she said as he jumped into the air.
He shook his head, but with a fond smile that seemed just a little out of place, although she couldn't say why.
"Somehow, I'm not surprised," he said before turning intangible and flying through the roof.
Ember sighed and looked around her trailer. Her guitar chord had made a bit of a mess of things, so she'd have to clean up and then start on another song. If she was going to stop brainwashing people, she'd better have some pretty awesome songs to make up for it.
xXx
When he got home, he found his parents rather blatantly not waiting for him. He could tell they'd been concerned, but things had been strained between the adults and the children since the night of the Dance. Danny figured they'd have to address that at some point too. After all of the traveling he'd done that weekend, though, he really wasn't up to it at the moment.
That was, until something occurred to him. He could likely hit two birds with one stone if he played this right.
"Mom, Dad," he decided to say at dinner, "I know you're worried about me, but I can't stand this anymore. We're all walking on eggshells around each other... this is just... Ugh!"
His parents exchanged glances. "We're your parents. We're supposed to worry," Maddie said softly.
Danny just sighed. "Look, if you're that worried about a ghost influencing me, then why don't you make something that can filter out spectral noise? Or something that can protect a normal human from ecto energy or something?"
That would help them feel better, and Danny was sure he could modify one to block a ghost's ecto-signature.
Jazz was looking at him a little strangely, but he very pointedly rolled his eyes towards his parents and then back, asking for some support. She set down her fork and turned to Jack and Maddie. "And then, when we are subject to those and still are of the opinion that you haven't studied enough ghosts and their interactions thoroughly enough to make a sociological or psychological call, then will you look at your biases?"
They didn't look quite as convinced, but Danny could see that they liked the idea. It would be a great compromise on all their parts at least, and then maybe they could put all of this behind them... for now. After all, he still wanted to convince them that ghosts were just as diverse as humans before he told them his secret. Well, his ghost secret.
"We'll get to work on those tonight!" Jack said loudly.
"Good," Jazz said, going back to her dinner and shooting Danny an 'I hope you know what you're doing' look.
"So, Danny, how was the camping trip?" Maddie asked.
"Well, other than the rattlesnake," Danny started.
"The rattlesnake?!" Jazz and Maddie both shouted.
Danny smiled at having successfully distracted them and sat back to tell the (heavily edited) tale.
xXx
Thanks once again for my beta, LittleSnowyRascal9842! Also, a huge shout out to everyone who reads and comments on the story. I appreciate it so much!
So, a chapter on Ember... who had to have been in the world long before that portal was built. Anything else is unrealistic to the extreme. I won't be getting to the GIW for a while, but don't worry, they're coming.