Chapter 8: Ending with the Beginning
I do not own Danny Phantom or anything referenced. Enjoy the final chapter of this story!
***Present Time/2 Weeks after the Meteor Shower, Danny's Room***
As Danny fired off his seed inside her, Paulina heard the door to his room open, revealing Sam and Tucker on the other side. What followed was a silence between both parties that was only broken by the panting from the couple and the music emanating from upstairs. Tucker's mouth was agape in shock and he could almost see the anger and rage boiling inside of Sam, ready to burst.
Just as the goth was about to burst however, Paulina quickly got off Danny and silenced the girl with a simple "No!"
To the shock and slight amusement of Danny, Tucker, and Paulina, it actually worked in silencing Sam for a moment. Taking this opportunity, the Latina quickly pushed them inside and shut the door, tossed Danny his discarded clothes, before she began to scramble into her own crumpled garments. All the while, she quickly but firmly repeated "Shut up, shut up, shut up.", almost like a mantra in order to keep Sam from talking.
Finally, as she began pulling on her black thong and bra, Paulina asked. "First off, I know you don't like what's hip and mainstream in the world but there is this great new fad called knocking on the door before you enter! You should really try it sometime!"
This caused Tucker to let out a guffaw of amusement, much to the goth girl's annoyance.
"Second." She continued, now pulling her head through her pink top. "Yes, Danny and I are together. Yes, we were going to tell you eventually. And yes, we are sorry you had to find out this way."
For Sam, it felt like all the wind from her sails was slowly disappearing. With each answer she was given, it was one less thing for her to rant and rave about. The bitter and petty part of her thought all the fun of being righteously angry was being taken from her.
"And third…" Danny spoke up as he jumped around, trying to pull his pants up. "We know about all the wishes you made."
Sam's mouth was as dry as a desert while Tucker gazed questioningly between Sam and the lovers.
"Wait, what wishes?" He asked.
"I…she…How could you know?" The goth girl finally asked, still processing all this new information. "I wished that Desiree couldn't tell you!"
"Wait, Desiree is involved in this?" The black geek cut in, trying to understand what the hell is going on.
In a poof of smoke, the wishing ghost in question appeared between Sam and the couple who had finally managed to get dressed. "Technically I didn't tell them. Someone else told them everything."
Sam glared at Desiree, nostrils flaring and fists clenching and unclenching. So…the jig was up…
"Then…I wish…" Sam started to say before she was cut off.
"You wish? You WISH?!" Paulina exclaimed in annoyance and exasperation.
"Sam." Danny said, looking at her as though she had grown two heads. "Don't you think your wishes have caused enough trouble?"
"Apparently not if she is still with you!" The goth exclaimed.
"No…I won't let you!" The Latina replied, a volatile mix of fear and fury in her voice.
"You won't let me what?" Sam countered.
Taking a deep breath, Paulina turned to Desiree and said, "I wish you would show her what she did to us in my nightmare!"
Snapping her fingers, the wishing ghost conjured a screen that began playing the nightmare she had involving Sam and what she would do if she caught the lovers.
For a while, Sam merely watched the events play out, in some parts even agreeing with the dream version of herself…until the wishes began.
"I…" she began as her dream self wished for Paulina to be tied to a chair.
"Ah…" Her anger draining when the wish for Paulina to be barren was granted.
"Ohhhh…" Sam said weakly, all the fire gone from her voice when her dream self wished for Danny to rape Desiree.
By the end of it, everyone in the room was looking at Sam, waiting for her response and reaction.
For a few moments, the goth girl was silent, pondering how she could take this situation and turn it around. She desperately wanted to refute the dream and say that she wouldn't make those vindictive wishes. But that seemed hollow and would open her up to the rebuttal of 'Then what wishes would you make?'. It was evident to Sam that it didn't matter what wishes she wanted to make. Were she to attempt to make a wish, that would be the end of her friendship with Danny Fenton. And was her friendship worth it so that she could get one over on Paulina?
Sighing in defeat, the goth girl said, "I'm…sorry…"
Neither the couple nor Desiree said anything, leading Sam to continue. "I was jealous…still am jealous…and I ended up taking things too far."
Then, for a brief moment, her fiery indignation returned. "I don't like it! Not then, not now…and maybe not for a while!" and then the anger faded, "But…I'll…" here she struggled to get the word out, almost like it pained her to say it "try… to get along with her."
"That's all we ask." Danny replied with Paulina nodding.
"Awww." Tucker said in an overly dramatic tone. "Don't you think a hug is in order now?"
The goth girl turned and gave the black nerd a blood curdling glare, much to the amusement of the lovers and the wishing ghost.
"So…was there anything else you wanted to talk about?" Paulina asked.
Sam turned back towards her. "Well…what are your plans with the social order? Sure, you told people today to just ignore it and that it doesn't mean anything, but how do you expect people to follow you and listen to you?"
The Latina shrugged her shoulders. "Well, all I can say is that from now on I'll be spending some more time with you three. I won't completely abandon my circle of friends, but I hope that they will be open to befriending you all."
"I don't think any of us expect everyone to get along just like that. People will still have their cliques and groups of friends. Still, I think this helps take the pressure of people trying to get to know others outside their social groups. Isn't that what you ultimately wanted, Sam?" Danny added.
"Oh, I think she wanted something more grand. A big auditorium speech, music playing, perhaps a guillotine ready to permanently relieve the A-Listers of their headaches." Tuck interjected again, this time earning raucous laughter from Danny and Paulina, and even a small smirk of amusement from the goth girl.
"We'll just take it one day at a time. That's all I can say." The Latina said.
Sam nodded her head and turned to leave the room before turning back to Desiree.
"I…guess I owe you an apology too. I'm sorry for abusing you and your wishes…"
With that, she removed the Specter Deflector from around her waist and tossed it on the bed.
The wishing ghosts looked at her for a few moments before nodding her head. "I accept your apology, child…but I won't allow you to make wishes of me until I deem you ready."
"What? What do you mean?" Sam asked.
"These two are my masters now. They've given me the freedom to choose what wishes I grant and whether or not to add twists to them. They also gave me permission to grant wishes for you and your techno friend should I be inclined to grant them." Desiree replied.
Sam sighed and nodded her head. So, the question of whether or not she would make a vindictive wish was more a test of her character than out of fear of what she would do. Were she still outraged at the couple she might have been hurt by this little truth not being revealed to her. Yet the fire in her was gone. She was too mentally exhausted to bring that point up.
"That's everything, I guess." The goth girl said before turning towards the door. "Let's get out of here. I don't want to be here when they get the sex talk from Danny's family."
Tucker let out a guffaw of laughter and followed Sam out the door, leaving Danny, Paulina, and Desiree to sit on those parting words.
"Ugg…" Paulina said. "I know I was really cocky and confident in facing your parents and getting the sex talk…but now I'm kinda getting cold feet."
"Yeah, me too." Danny replied.
The two turned to look at Desiree who twirled a lock of her hair with a finger and had a playful smile on her face.
"Desiree?" The boy asked.
"Yes?" The wishing ghost replied, the smile still on her face.
"I…we…wish that my…" Paulina whispers in his ear before he continues. "Our parents…didn't know we were sexually active."
"Hmmm…" Desiree tapped her chin with her index finger before responding. "So you have wished it, so it shall be."
With a snap of her fingers, a cloud of smoke appeared and dissipated around the bed and the two lovers.
The two smiled and sighed in relief before sheepishly looking at the wishing ghost.
The wishing ghost chuckled, knowing what they were silently asking.
"For your twists, I think two months of abstinence will serve you well." She responded.
The teens sighed but accepted their fate.
"Can we cuddle?" Paulina asked.
"With your clothes on."
"Can we make out?" Danny asked.
"Yeeeees." Desiree replied teasingly with a tone that silently asked, 'Do you want to test me and make it 3 months?'
"Ok." The boy replied while Paulina nodded. "Thank you, Desiree."
The wishing ghost chuckled and nodded for poofing away. With that, the couple went downstairs.
"Oh, I was about to call you two down for dinner." Maddie said as she bustled about in the kitchen.
"By the way, what did Tucker and Sam want?" Jack asked from his recliner.
"Just to compare notes on our homework, Mr. Fenton." Paulina replied.
"That's good. Keeping up with your studies." Maddie called. "Would you kids mind setting the table?"
"Sure thing, mom." Danny said as he, Paulina, and Jazz gathered plates and silverware.
As they were setting the table, though, Jazz popped between the lovers and hissed in their ears "How is it that mom and dad somehow forgot you two were having sex upstairs and are acting like nothing happened?"
The two froze and looked at the redhead, about to ask how she knew before their phones notified them of a text message. On the screen was a message from Desiree.
You only wished for your parents not to remember.
"Crap." The two mumbled while Jazz read over Danny's shoulders "And Desiree is involved? You two are definitely sitting down and explaining things to me after dinner." She continued in a whisper before moving away from the couple. The lovers groaned. A lecture from and explanation to Jazz was a cruel twist indeed…
***The Next Day***
"I expect you two to be on your best behavior today." Jazz commented to an annoyed Danny and Paulina who were walking beside her.
"Can we hold hands, or would that be too scandalous, Mother Superior?" Paulina asked, lifting up their currently clasped hands.
"You know what I mean." The redhead grumbled as the two lovers laughed.
"We already told you Desiree made it so we couldn't have sex for two months." Danny said when they calmed down.
"And how do I know you aren't lying just to get me to leave you alone?"
A poof of smoke and the aforementioned wishing ghost appeared before Jazz.
"What they say is true. And they know better than to test the limits of my twists." She said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah…well I wish they would wear chastity belts for a year." The redhead mumbled.
"Hmmm…I don't think I need to go that extreme." Desiree replied. "Besides, I think two months will be long enough for them to understand that there is more to a proper and healthy relationship besides how good one is in bed."
Jazz mumbled her displeasure at her wish not being granted before the wishing ghost continued. "Besides, do you think you could handle the twist I would put upon you should I grant such an extreme wish?"
This made the redhead pale and Desiree chuckle. "Be lucky they let me choose what wishes I can grant. Your age over them does not protect you from your own lack of foresight."
A minute later, Sam and Tucker join them on their walk to school. They talked about what went on after the two had left the Fenton home, much to their amusement.
"Well…I guess that isn't too terrible a twist." Sam mused, doing her best to stay polite.
"Yeah. She could have put chastity belts on you two." Tucker continued.
"Did everyone happen to watch Robin Hood: Men in Tights yesterday or do you all just have a sick sense of humor?" Danny asked.
"Like how do you…you know…go in those?" Paulina asked.
This led to everyone laughing and calming down for what would be an interesting day at school. As they approached, Desiree poofed away while the teens entered Casper High. Making their way towards their lockers, many students stared at and whispered frantically about them. Tucker, Danny, Jazz, and Sam ignored the whispers while Paulina was feeling a little self-conscious. But, with Danny holding her hand, her worries didn't seem to matter as much.
After saying goodbye to Jazz, the trio and Paulina entered Mr. Lancer's classroom. Sam and Tucker sat together in the middle row while the lovers sat in front of them. This caused the A-Listers, or more specifically Dash, to become annoyed by this arrangement.
"Paulina! Why are you sitting by Fenturd?" The blonde football player asked, stomping over to the couple.
"Why do you care where she sits?" Danny countered.
"Shut up, nerd! I wasn't talking to you!" The bully replied, brandishing his fist before the boy.
"I'm sitting by my boyfriend, Dash." The Latina said defiantly, holding her lover's hand.
That quieted all the murmuring in the classroom and put all the attention on the scene playing out.
"Wh…what?" Dash stuttered, not wanting to believe her.
"You heard me. I didn't stutter." She replied, keeping her voice calm and level.
"You can't do that!" He bellowed. "You're one of us and he isn't! He's a nerd and you are an A-Lister!"
"And why does that matter? You're an A-Lister and you are an asshole. Danny is a nerd, and he is one of the sweetest, kindest gentlemen I know." She responded before getting to her feet.
"I don't know why I need to repeat myself from yesterday but if it helps get through your thick skull, then I will. This whole system is stupid. Why should people fear you just because you can make a touchdown or why should people worship me just because I'm good with pom-poms? This is high school. We only have four years together before we all separate to pursue our careers. Nobody here is going to care about what we've done here ten years from now. So, I see no point in continuing this little fiefdom."
"So what?" Dash countered, trying for a comeback. "We're all supposed to get along now? Be friends with everyone. Gather round in a circle and sing Kumbaya?"
To Dash's credit, that last one did get a snort of amusement from the class, Danny and Paulina included, before she replied.
"No…I don't."
Before Dash could gloat over this, Paulina continued. "I would like for everyone to act civil around one another. For people not to be afraid to talk to others because they may be higher or lower in this useless pecking order. Will people still have their own circles of friends? Yes, absolutely. But that doesn't mean we can't begin to have some cross-over in other interests. Maybe there are other sports people are more adept at than football. Maybe people can get together through various school clubs. At least this way, people won't feel as alienated as they do now.
"Yeah…well things aren't going to change overnight!" He replied, unwilling to admit defeat.
"Maybe not. But someone has to get the ball rolling." She said before sitting back down.
"Well, that was certainly an interesting way to start the day." Mr. Lancer said, having entered the room during the faceoff between the two students but deciding to remain quiet. "Now Mr. Baxter, would you be so kind as to take your seat?"
Dash glared defiantly at the balding teacher before huffing and stomping back to his seat.
The two lovers relaxed and settled into class. Danny smiled at Paulina and gripped her hand, a silent praise for her courage in standing up to Dash. She smiled back and squeezed his hand.
***Epilogue, 3 Years Later, Casper High Senior Prom***
"And our Prom King and Queen are…Danny Fenton and Paulina Sanchez!" Proclaimed Mr. Lancer.
The gymnasium cheered as the couple walked onto the stage, smiling and waving before they were crowned. Pictures were taken, the couple celebratory music played in the background, and the couple couldn't be happier.
"And now for a dance, just for the couple." The teacher continued.
The lights dimmed as the couple walked onto the dancefloor for the music to begin.
You're mine and we belong together
Yes, we belong together for all eternity
"Hmmm…" The Latina girl hummed, her head resting on her boyfriend's shoulder. "You didn't just pick this song because it was in the movie Christine, did you?"
He chuckled lightly. "It might have been the inspiration."
The two laughed a little as they continued dancing. Through their years in high school, they had their ups and downs. Challenges both related to their relationship and in regards to the ghost troubles that plagued the town. Yet, through it all, they managed to endure and grow closer together because of them. Paulina would be going to law school to become a lawyer like her father while Danny would be going to School and joining the Navy ROTC to work his way to becoming an astronaut. They knew it would be difficult to carry a long-distance relationship, but they were willing enough to do it.
You're mine, my ba-a-by and you will always be, I love you so-ooo mu-uuch
I swear by everything, every-thing I own I'll always, always love you
Off to the side stood, watching their friends dance, were Sam and Tucker. Both of them had smiles on their faces, knowing how happy their friends were and that their love for one another would stand the test of time.
"They look happy together." Sam said, leaning a little against the black geek.
"That they do." Tucker agreed, resting his cheek on the top of her head.
As expected, it took a while for Sam to adjust to Paulina. They butted heads on so many things in the beginning that Tucker took the liberty of making a tally of how many arguments they got into a week (The record being 36). Still, they eventually got along through food of all things. Paulina had her friends try various Cuban and Hispanic foods, several of which caught Sam's attention. As time went on, food was what the two friends bonded over, much to the relief of Danny and Tucker. As for the techno wizard, Paulina helped him understand woman and that annoying persistence wasn't necessarily the way to win them over. Soon enough, the boy mellowed out and girls actually began to willingly talk to him.
"Makes you wonder." The goth girl mused.
"Wonder what?" Tucker asked.
"When…well…when we will find someone." Sam answered.
Tucker shrugged. "There is a big world out there. Nobody said we had to find a high school sweetheart nor that our true love would be waiting for us in college. To be honest, I'm a little tired from trying so hard at finding someone, I want to put a little more time into working on myself before thinking about bringing someone else into my life."
Sam merely nodded in understanding as they stood together. They had time to find that special someone or for that special someone to find them. But for now, the two friends enjoyed one another's company as their friends danced together.
On the other side of the gym stood Dash. He watched the two sweethearts dance while he merely frowned in contempt and resentment. To be sure, he eventually gave up on his bullying tactics during their Junior year while making his grievances know through his body language and implications. He wanted very much to cling to these moments of high school fame. The 'glory days' as he would inevitably call them later on in life. The bright spots of what he thought was an otherwise bleak life.
Still…no point in making a scene and ruining what little of his reputation he had left. Besides, he thought to himself smugly, he was still going to top the nerd in the end. He was enlisting in the Marines right out of high school and would prove how much tougher and better he was. It never occurred to Dash that neither Danny nor Paulina particularly cared what Dash did with his life of that boot camp and military life might be tougher than he was anticipating.
As the music finally ended, the couple shared a chaste kiss as the crowd around them applauded. And while the view pans away from the lovers, we can truly say this story ended on a…
"BOO!" Said Desiree, popping in front of our view before giggling.
"Come on. Every horror story has one final jump scare before the end." She said with a smile before snapping her fingers and cutting the screen to black.
The End
Author's Note: Well, my friends, this has been quite a journey with this story. Much has happened from when I first started this. I do wish to make a confession in regards to this story. For those of you that have followed me through the years, you might remember that I briefly helped co-write a story and that I subsequently left that story due to disagreements with my co-author. We separated on decent enough terms but there was still a lingering feeling of dissatisfaction laying with me. So…this story was born. Is it petty of my to have written my own story as a retaliation against another…yeah, probably. Still, it was a blast writing this story and getting to incorporate my knowledge of horror movies and all they're cheesy sequels. So, to you, I wish you the best of luck and no hard feelings. To my readers, thank you very much for your love and support of this story. If you've stuck around this long, I hope you enjoy this little omake of Dash's First Day of Boot Camp
***Omake***
Dash's First Day of Boot Camp
As Dash stood in formation with the rest of his platoon in the barracks, his first thoughts before the drill sergeants walked in was that this wouldn't be too bad. Sure, he was now as bald as Mr. Lancer and the food might not be as good, but he figured he would be drowning in pussy once his career got rolling.
Breaking him from his thoughts was the arrival of two grizzled drill sergeants. Old yet powerful bull dogs as they walked to the center of the barracks.
"My name is Gunnery Sergeant Highway and with me is Gunnery Sergeant Hartman. We've drank more beer, pissed more blood, and fucked more quim than all of you put together." The first one spoke up, looking around at the men with a glare in his eyes and a snarl on his lips.
"Now we were told that one of you maggots were stupid enough to ask to be put into the platoon with the toughest drill sergeants."
"That would be me, sirs! Private Baxter!" The former bully of Casper High stated brazenly, stepping forward and puffing out his chest. Nobody else in the platoon moved but they all prepared themselves for the verbal lashing the naive boy would be receiving shortly.
The two men slowly waked towards him, staring him down and causing the bald blonde two sweat slightly.
"So…you're the idiot?" Sgt. Highway growled.
"Yes, sir!" Dash replied, trying to maintain his bravado.
"Sir? Sir is what you call an officer or the man fucking your girlfriend back home! Now do we look like we have bars on our shoulders or your honey on her knees?" Bellowed Sgt. Hartman, his eyes seeming to stare into his very soul and was disgusted by what he saw.
"N…no…drill sergeant." The boy replied.
"Sound off like you've got a pair!"
Dash took a deep breath in. "No drill sergeant!"
"Good." Sgt. Highway said. "Now listen good. We've seen people like you. Cocky bastards that think they can walk in a breeze their way to retirement. Well, we are about to shatter that little wet dream of yours."
"You aren't a soldier. You aren't a man. You aren't even human fucking being! You are just a piece of unorganized, grab-asstic amphibian shit!" Hartman continued. "We will break you down, piece by piece and pray there is something useful we can rebuild you as. Do you understand?"
"Yes, drill sergeant." Dash replied.
"Bull shit I can't hear you!" The man bellowed, his face a breath away from the boy.
"YES, DRILL SERGANT!" He replied.
It was at this moment that Dash realized he had fucked up.