Beverly Hills
Danny came to and saw that he was in the middle of Beverly Hills. The only problem, besides the mind-controlled masses, was the fact that the city was overgrown with plants. He was also strapped to a tree.
"The whole city is like an overgrown backyard." Danny commented before noticing he couldn't see his friend. "Oh man, where's David?"
He began attempting to struggle free, and while he was certainly able to pull at the vines hard, they held firm.
Then, Undergrowth appeared before him. "Heh, the growth is far stronger than any creature; no matter how powerful they think they are."
Danny tried to blast his adversary, but a couple of flowers appeared over his hands. "No, these plants are blocking my ghostly energy."
"Perhaps once day, you will see that this is what nature always intended." Undergrowth stated. "Mankind is merely a temporary weed in the garden of life. A weed which can be removed."
Danny continued to struggle. He never even heard of this Undergrowth before, yet he fell. If he couldn't even handle this, what hope did he have against Dan or Arthur?
"I won't let you do this." Danny declared through gritted teeth. "I will stop you."
"Brave words for the halfa who can't break my bindings." Undergrowth taunted. "Why, just take a look at your once proud and progressive haunt." Vines moved about overtaking anyone still hiding. "The mind vines enable me to control the inhabitants' every move."
They were working to devastate the city with Mandy and her group ironically working on destroying the mall. "They will destroy your haunt for me, but it doesn't stop there." Other citizens were planting seeds which sprouted into large trees.
"My children shall sprout forth from the wreckage to reclaim the land. My consciousness, my will, shall spread across the globe until the whole world is my haunt. My precious babies will reclaim everything that was lost."
"Well, I may not be able to stop you…" Danny shivered. "… but I know people who will."
"Really?" Undergrowth leaned in. "Such as?"
Suddenly, a Fenton Assault Vehicle came tearing down the road and Danny smiled upon hearing his great uncle's voice. "I'm afraid C.W has something to say about your plan for world conquest Undergrowth. Not to mention, the capture of one of our own."
A huge saw came out of the vehicle and began tearing throw the plants only for a tree to sprout up knocking the vehicle into the air. Vines grabbed it and destroyed it. Fortunately, Jerry and the girls were able to land, and they drew their weapons.
"I'm going to get Danny down." Sam declared.
"The rest of us shall guard you." Jerry stated as he sliced through the vines that came at them.
"Yeah, leave it to us Sammy." Alex declared as she blasted at Undergrowth.
"Hey, didn't anyone ever tell you never to use this much green!" Clover called out as she took shots at the surrounding vegetation.
"Gah!" Undergrowth simply regrew what he lost, but he was admittedly distracted. "Insolent mortals."
Mind vines came at the three attacking them from behind, but their spector deflectors kept them defended. This further drew Undergrowth away from the captive halfa and allowed Sam to climb up to him.
Danny shivered. "I am glad to see you guys."
"Glad to see that you're okay to Danny." Sam held the creep stick. "Now, hold on because I'll have you free in a second."
She wacked at the vines. This may not have worked with a normal bat, but the Ecto-Ranium within the creep stick caused the binding to recede freeing Danny. He managed to hover above the ground while Undergrowth had felt this attack on his plants.
"You mortals fight to delay the inevitable." Both of Undergrowth's hands glowed as the ground was torn up and two people walked up. "Perhaps, the caretakers of my garden can help me put this to rest sooner rather than later."
Everyone stopped as David, which everyone knew, and Dean, which only Jerry, Danny, and David knew, came up out of the ground. Their eyes were green like those under the control of the mind vines, their hair was messy, and they wore clothes made of leaves.
"They got David." Alex declared.
"Not to mention that hunky guy with him." Clover added.
"Their love of vegetation… true love unlike the others… makes them the perfect choice to work alongside me." Undergrowth declared joyfully. "I showed them the ropes… or vines… so to speak."
"Flesh walkers." Dean began.
David continued. "Your bodies are needed for work."
They spoke as one. "If you continue to refuse, we will terminate you."
They sent more mind vines at the group, but Jerry managed to slice through them. Danny wanted to stop the ones coming for him and Sam, but he started shivering worse than any time previously causing him to fall.
Sam jumped down and managed to knock the vines away with the Creep Stick. From there, the group came together figuring it was in their best interest. Their resistance only made Undergrowth furious prompting the possessed to send large flytraps at them.
Danny gritted his teeth and stepped forward. "Leave them alone!"
The others were ready to act until Danny's skin became an icy blue. Not even a moment later, he shot ice out at the plants freezing them.
"Good job Danny." Jerry stated. "Now, we are pulling out spies!"
Everyone there could agree that it was probably best to regroup, so they took off running.
"Stop them!" Undergrowth declared.
Dean and David launched themselves at the group prompting them to turn around. Before the guys could reach them, Brittney jumped in and slugged them with her own creep stick knocking them back.
"Brittney." Everyone stated.
"Get out of here!" Brittney shouted as what remained of the agents came running down the street and laid on suppressing fire with their gadgets. "We'll hold them off for as long as possible!"
She then charged forward to engage her possessed teammates. The younger spies all looked at their comrades who were doing their best holding off Undergrowth, Dean, and David, but it was clear that this would be a losing battle.
Jerry knew they had to make the most of this. "We must move before it's too late!"
That got the group moving as they booked it out of there.
Brittney ended up coming to stand before her teammates who spoke in unison once more. "Join us Brittney for the growth is family."
"Sorry guys, but I'm just not a vegetarian." Brittney declared before slugging them again.
She admittedly felt bad about doing this, but it had to be done regardless.
Near WOOHP
As their run progressed, the girls and Jerry fought off any vines that came for them. When they weren't enough, the strange ice that came from Danny managed to clear a path. Using it three times in a row really made Danny shiver and brought back his ice white skin.
He eventually collapsed prompting Jerry to put his grandnephew on his back. "Just hold on a little long Danny." The group started running as the building was in sight. "We're almost there."
"I'll… try." Danny managed to say.
The cold was really setting in and it was difficult to maintain consciousness.
Jerry pulled out his wallet phone, just as they made it onto the premise, and called up Quincy. "We need the ghost shield up immediately and prep the scanners." Despite all his training, Jerry couldn't hold his concern in check. "Agent Phantom isn't doing good."
"Understood." Quincy stated before looking off to the left. "Arnold, prep the scanners while I hit the on switch."
The call then cut out, and a ghost shield appeared around the building which would hopefully stop Undergrowth. At the very least, it'd give them time to mount a counter offensive… if they had one to begin with.
WOOHP Labs
The lab now contained all that was left unenslaved. There was Quincy, Arnold, and the rest of the support staff as well as Jerry, the girls, and Danny. Normally, the head of these labs would gladly take the piss out of Jerry, but now was not the time.
"We have the scanners ready sir." Quincy stated.
Before Jerry could speak, a portal opened and one of Clockwork's spheres, one of those he released before his death, appeared, and formed into Clockwork. This put everyone on alert including the support who were unfamiliar with this.
Danny managed to get off his great uncle's back and held himself as he stepped forward. "So, this is what you meant by I'd see you, but it wouldn't be you." He was shivering terribly. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here because they couldn't help you with your problems earlier, and they can't help you now." Clockwork stated. "I can take you to the proper place that can help you."
"I'm sorry to say I don't feel comfortable letting you take my grandnephew anywhere." Jerry declared. "Despite what we have found out, I cannot trust you."
"I'm afraid your only other choice is to lose your grandnephew." Clockwork stated. "Your people couldn't detect the problem before, and they will not detect it now. You can either let me take him or let him fade."
Jerry was still uncertain, but Danny, who collapsed to his knees, spoke up. "I still haven't forgiven him uncle, but I trust that Clockwork doesn't want me dead at least."
"Danny!" The girls, Jerry, and Arnold shouted worriedly.
"Let him take me." Danny stated before passing out.
"Alright, you can take Danny, but one of my spies gets to go with him." Jerry stated firmly.
"That is acceptable." Clockwork stated. "You're going to want to give one of them something warm to wear though."
Sam was already picking Danny up. "I'll go with him." She then looked at her friends. "Stay here and help Jerry get in contact with the Center and Ember."
"That is a good idea Sam." Jerry stated. "Your X-powder should already have a cat suit built for cold weather, so you're covered."
Clover nodded. "We'll do our best to hold down the building."
"Just get Danny the help he needs." Alex stated.
Clockwork opened a portal before fading and Sam nodded to everyone before walking into it.
?
Sam exited the portal with her unconscious boyfriends and immediately knew they'd ended up in the Ghost Zone; however, all the snow and ice led her to the conclusion that this was somewhere Danny hadn't been before.
She immediately backed away as a yeti like ghost with yellow eyes, purple pupils, and frozen horns and left arm came to stand before her. He wore a gold ring with blue shorts and a gold blue-diamond belt. He seemed rather menacing before noticing Danny.
The yeti ghost's eyes went wide, and he came to one knee bowing respectfully. "Forgive me maiden if I intimidated you. I was unaware that this would be the day that the Champion of Time would grace the Far Frozen with his presence."
"You mean, you're not going to attack me?" Sam asked.
"Perish the thought." The yeti stood. "We of the Far Frozen have always been steadfast allies of every Campion of Time. I am the leader of my people Frostbite." He took a closer look at Danny. "I see that that the champion is in need. Please, follow me, and my people will help."
It's not like Sam had much of a choice, so she'd need to be careful. "Alright, lead the way."
Far Frozen
Danny slowly opened his eyes before freaking out as he was floating in liquid that was surprisingly breathable. "What?" He looked around. "Where am I?"
His only solace was that he was at least clothed; however, that didn't help with the fact that he was seeing yeti like ghost all around him.
"It's okay Danny." Sam approached with Frostbite. "These ghosts are helping you just like Clockwork said."
"You're mate here speaks the truth oh Champion of Time." Frostbite smiled. "I'm Frostbite, and I lead my people. All of us, myself included, are but your humble servants."
"Uh, okay." Danny stated. "That's great and all, but what is this that I'm floating in? Where are we exactly?"
"Ah, this is the Far Frozen, and we are currently in one of our medical facilities." Frostbite explained. "You are floating in a deicing chamber. Your mate here filled us in on what brought you to our realm today, and it is most troubling."
Danny looked to Sam. "So, their aware of who Undergrowth is?"
"Yeah, they have heard of him." Sam stated. "He's powerful, can regenerate, and produce killer offspring."
"Well, I certainly experienced all that firsthand." Danny sighed. "The cold didn't help me in fighting him one bit."
"Ah yes, the cold." Frostbite stated. "Your central core reading indicates extreme cold coming from within?"
"How is that possible?" Danny questioned.
"Danny, if it helps, these guys here all use ice themselves and they are ghost." Same stated.
"Wait, so this is a new ghost power?" Danny questioned.
"Precisely." Frostbite stated. "It may be new to you, but it is an ability my people are well trained in. From fun to combat, we know how to make use of the ice."
"With ice, I could actually stand a chance against Undergrowth." Danny smiled. "You got to teach me."
Frostbite smiled back at him.
Training Area
Danny and Frostbite were in the training area with the halfa shaking. Sam sat in the audience with the other yeti ghost. The first lesson was to stop shivering. Through this, Danny learned his ghost sense came from his core. He also learned to let his energy build and expel it.
While Danny did feel normal, he ended up freezing Frostbite. The guy didn't seem upset considering he'd frozen with a smile and two thumbs up. Then, the training really began. First up was creating icicles and launching them at targets. Danny managed to nail each target.
Next, disk was launched with the intent of shooting ice from your eyes to freeze it in midair. Frostbite demonstrated, but Danny ended up freezing most of the audience. Fortunately, Sam was one of the few who escaped this fate.
Cave: Later…
With the basics down, Frostbite felt good about sending Danny home. He was currently leading the halfa and his mate to just the object that could do that.
"You have done better than most younglings would champion." Frostbite stated.
"Thanks." Danny stated. "Honestly, I'm not sure how I could ever thank you and your people."
"Yeah." Sam nodded. "You kept Danny from fading, so I'm just as grateful."
"Think nothing of it." Frostbite smiled. "If you really do feel as though you owe us, use these new abilities to rid your world of Undergrowth."
"I'd probably be uncertain if it were just Sam and I, but we should have back up waiting for us." Danny nodded. "Together, we might just stand a chance."
"Well said but allow me to offer you a little advice." Frostbite stated. "True courage is not denying your fear but pressing onward despite it. Always believe you can win even in the direst of circumstances."
"If it helps, I believe in you Danny." Sam stated.
"I know you do." Danny smiled. "Many others back home do to."
"Be mindful champion." Frostbite stated. "You control the power. It does not control you."
"Speaking of getting back home, how are we going to do that?" Sam asked. "This was an impromptu trip into the Ghost Zone, so I'm not sure where WOOHP's portal is."
"That is exactly why we entered this cave." Frostbite commented as they entered a room with maps, compasses, and a glowing, golden chest. "Inside this chest is one of two Infi-Maps. We have guarded this one for millennia. It can lead the user to any entrance within the Ghost Zone."
"Any entrance?" Danny questioned. "We've always thought the only entrances were those that have been man made, and that only beings like Clockwork could have skirted around that."
"Your world actually has many natural entrances that have existed long before man delved into creating their own portals." Frostbite explained.
"In hindsight, that may explain how some ghosts have appeared in Beverly Hills." Danny contemplated. "Especially since I shut down Fenton Work's portal, and WOOHP is rather good about keeping theirs in check."
Frostbite continued. "An example of this would be what you call the Bermuda Triangle."
"That would explain why so many ships and planes go missing there." Sam stated. "Anything that goes in would surely vanish."
Frostbite nodded. "Travelers pass quickly through until they find their way back, yet not necessarily in the time period or world they expect."
"The map can not only lead you through time, but different worlds to?" Danny questioned.
"The ghost zone is constantly in flux, with both prior instances being rather uncommon, but traversing to different worlds is something that is only possible with an item such as this." Frostbite explained. "Now, please lay a hand on it, and we shall depart." Sam and Danny did as they were instructed. "Take us to the portal my two companions are most comfortable using."
They were off speeding along as a green blur. Eventually, they ended up just outside WOOHP's portal where Frostbite left the couple.
WOOHP Labs
Danny and Sam exited the portal only to find no one waiting for them. On top of that, the whole lab was covered in vegetation.
"This isn't good." Danny stated.
"I never received a call and there isn't a message waiting for me." Sam had her x-powder out and was now trying to contact anyone.
"Danny! Sam!" She had managed to get through to Arnold who seemed to be in Jerry's Office. "You guys need to get out of there now. Come to Jerry's office."
They looked at each other before Danny scooped Sam up and phase through the floors. Two venus flytraps appeared after they left and had been watching them.
Jerry's Office
Danny had arrived at the hallway to Jerry's Office which was surrounded by a green ghost shield, so he set Sam down before changing back to normal. The pair then walked past the shield and opened the door. Inside there was Dani, Martin, Diana, and Arnold.
"Thank goodness you're really alright bro." Dani declared as she hugged him.
"Yeah." Danny hugged her back before looking around the room for answers. "What happened while we were gone?"
"MOM brought Martin, Dani, Java, I in, along with a small group of Center agents, and told us what was happening over here." Diana began.
"We came through the portal she opened and ended up in the labs." Martin continued. "The plan was to gear up and wait for your return; however, the power suddenly cut out. Then, it was like Attack of the Killer Plants. Center agents were immediately turned against us."
"These three were the only ones saved because Jerry managed to toss them some Spare Spector Deflectors." Arnold informed. "Our problems only got worse as Undergrowth, and the controlled Dean and David came on in.
Jerry ordered a retreat, but along the way we lost Quincy, Alex, Clover, Jerry, and Java. By this point, GLADIS' backup generator activated, and I was able to activate the shield around the office. We've been here since then trying to come up with a plan."
"Oh man, you mean we're all that's left?" Sam questioned in disbelief. "What about Ember?"
"Fraid so." Martin stated. "MOM's currently outfitting any agent we have left, but it's been slow going."
"As for Ember, she said she's on her way." Arnold sighed. "Honestly, we've been hoping either her or you would be back because we got nothing."
He pressed a button and sections of the walls moved to reveal windows showing that Beverly Hills was worse off than when Danny and Sam left.
"What do we do now?" Sam asked.
Morale was low, and who could blame them? Friends and comrades had been taken, Undergrowth continued to back them into a corner, and they were all that was left besides whatever MOM had left. Considering the last batch… there's no telling how that'd turn out.
Danny couldn't let things end like this, so he jumped up on the desk. "I know the odds are against us but going where Clockwork told me wasn't a waste. I have a way to fight Undergrowth. There's no telling if back up will arrive or how effective it will be.
That's why, we may be all that's left to defend our home from this ghost, so I'm going out there to fight for my world. You can join me or stay here. It's your choice." He jumped down and walked down the conveyer belt. "GLADIS, if your still on, prepare to send me to Undergrowth."
"Yes Daniel." GLADIS stated.
The ground ahead opened, and the conveyer belt moved. Danny's words had inspired everyone else to at least give this a try, so they jumped onto the conveyer belt with him one by one. Eventually, they were all WOOHPed off.
Beverly Hills
The group walked through the streets observing that it was rather quiet which left them with the question of where the controlled people were. Danny started shaking again to the concern of everyone else there.
"Danny?" Sam asked.
"I'm fine Sam." Danny took a deep breath and managed to stop himself. "I control the power. It does not control me."
"They eventually approached a tree from which David and Dean came out of.
"Welcome back Danny." Dean stated.
David added. "We thought you'd fled for good when you weren't at WOOHP."
"You two don't know what you're talking about." Danny stated.
"Yeah, you're under that ghost's control." Sam added. "Come with us, and we can help you."
"Why would we leave?" David asked. "We love it here."
"Plus, we are the chosen who are to take care of Undergrowth's children." Dean added.
"Come on David." Arnold spoke up. "You offered your help with my bullies, yet you've just become another one. I mean, look around you. Undergrowth is pushing everyone around."
That didn't seem to reach him.
"If you don't want to come with us, how about directing us to everyone else?" Diana offered.
It was worth a shot. At least they were going to show them as both agents snapped their fingers causing pods to open. Everyone was revealed inside. They were unconscious and wrapped in vines.
Whoa, serious case of pod people." Martin commented before noticing someone in particular. "Alex!"
He was about to move, but there was a suddenly yelling as Undergrowth appeared.
"Sam, you and Martin hold off Dean and David. Arnold, you and Diana try to get the people out." Danny quickly declared before Undergrowth tried to hit him. "Dani, you and I will handle Undergrowth." He held his ground and blocked the back hand. "Go!"
"U-Watch activated. X-Rod selected."
Martin grabbed the rod and slammed it into David pushing him back while Sam did the same with the creep stick. Arnold and Diana took off running for the pods with wrist blaster and normal blaster. Dani kicked out crescents of ectoplasm which cut Undergrowth's arm off.
Danny immediately followed by forming a large sphere of ectoplasm which he flung into Undergrowth's chest boring a hole into him. The ghost simply regenerated what was lost. Suddenly, three monstrous cacti sprung up around the two halfas.
"Yo, dipstick!" A familiar voice yelled. "Move yourself and the kid."
Dany pushed Danielle out of the way. Almost immediately, sound waves cloaked in fire crashed down onto the cacti obliterating them.
"What!?" Undergrowth exclaimed.
Ember, in her ghost form, landed near the other half ghosts. "Sorry about not coming sooner, but without the convenient transportation, I had to take the long way."
Undergrowth's vines shot out at the three halfa's who phased through them.
"Talk later and take him down now!" Dani exclaimed.
"Dani makes a point." Danny began phasing into the ground. "Ember, hit him hard with fire while Dani watch's your back."
As Danny sunk into the vines, he found a pocket to become tangible and let Frostbite's words flow through his mind. "Concentrate. Let the energy build until it has nowhere to go but out."
Danny unleashed it all as his eyes became an icy blue. Ice just spread forth in all directions. On the surface, Arnold and Diana were having great success freeing people while Sam and Martin were managing to hold back Dean and David.
Ember was hammering away with fire attacks unimpeded as Dani blast and cut through anything Undergrowth sent their way. Undergrowth couldn't handle the three-pronged fire, ice, and defense. His size just decreased.
"My roots! My children!" Undergrowth screamed in distress. "You cannot do this! This is my domain! My children will inherit the earth!"
Danny eventually phased back to surface and saw that Undergrowth was less than he had been when he appeared. "Dude, I don't know if you realize this, but you're a terrible father." He looked to Ember and Dani. "Mind if I wrap this up?"
"Go for it, bro." Dani declared.
"I suppose." Ember shrugged. "Have fun dipstick."
Danny pummeled the ghost until he hit the ground.
"U-Watch activated. Fenton Thermos selected."
"Hey Danny, catch!" Martin called out.
He then threw the thermos and Danny caught it before using the item to capture Undergrowth. Almost immediately, the fire melted the ice and all the plants shriveled up leaving Beverly Hills pretty much as it had been. Freed people and all.
While everyone was disoriented, Arnold and Sam worked to get those in cat suits back to normal while the halfas all transformed into their human halfas. Safe to say, those under control for a good while wouldn't remember much of today.
"What happened?" David asked.
"No idea, but does your mouth taste like grass?" Dean asked.
"Oddly yes." David replied.
Danny put his arms around the guys as everyone else from the Center and WOOHP crowded around them with varying degrees of memory. "We'll explain everything later." He then patted their backs. "For now, know everything is okay."
A lot would need to be explained, but everyone would soon be on the same page. Naturally, this event would spark changes in how the C.W protected themselves, but that was for later. Right now, everyone was okay.
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