BUZZ!

"Yes?" A man answered after pressing the 'answer' button on the intercom.

"Sir, it may interest you to know that the teenage mayor of Amity Park has been…dethroned in addition to being tarred and feathered. The governor has now stepped in, declaring a state of emergency for the city."

"Good. And the Fenton boy?"

"He refused to intervene in the matter. Actually word at his school is that he has broken up with his girlfriend."

Damon Gray raised an eyebrow at that little tidbit of information. "Really?"

"Yes, a falling out over his decision to not be his friend's glorified leg breaker."

"That is good news." Damon said. "Are we prepared to offer our services to Amity Park?"

"All construction companies have signed and accepted our proposal. Over a thousand workers are ready."

"Good. We can begin rebuilding Amity Park as the city it is meant to be." Damon said in a pleased tone. "And of course the charity fund programs for all the families who lost everything in the wake of Mayor Tucker's foolishness."

"Up and running sir."

"Good. Keep my updated." Damon ended the call.

The fallout of Mayor Tucker's term has mayor was even better than he could have hoped. Already Damon had set up several programs to reimburse the people who had suffered heavily under the idiot boy's campaign. He had somewhat expected Danny to intervene and was prepared to use as a gas light to show the world that Danny Phantom could not be trusted to solve all their problems but the boy had showed surprising maturity by not being Tucker's Yes-Man. He could spin this somehow, making it put Danny in a good light by praising him for not coming to Tucker's side.

It would please the people but alienate his friends and their families…If they were even still friends after this.

If Fenton and his family were alienated from the rest of Amity Park it would further serve his agenda to better control them in the future.

"If it's only consolation, Danny." Damon said, looking at his plans that were laid out on his desk. "I don't take any personal joy in this."

But it must be done.

Xxx

"After former Mayor Tucker was…removed from office, the remaining people in any position of power called a state of emergency, working frantically to not only reverse the former mayor's policies but pay off the massive debt he had built in building his new 'City of Tomorrow. Due to the damage in infrastructure it seemed unlikely that Amity Park would be able to pay off this debt and would be forced to be annexed by a nearby city such as Elmerton whose industry and economy has improved under new management from presidential candidate Damon Gray. As for Mayor Tucker, it has been confirmed that he has moved out of Amity Park and it's unlikely we will be seeing or hearing from him again any time soon."

In the following weeks following his and Sam's breakup Danny completely focused on either ghost fighting or his classes. On the weekdays he would return home and just try to relax in his room. Jazz tried comfort her brother as best as she could along with their parents but it wasn't easy since the two friends he had since childhood were pretty much out of his life.

"How dare all of you do this to our boy?" Angela Foley said, packing up with her husband and glaring at the camera with an angered and tearful gaze. "Whatever he's guilty off he did not deserve this! Tarred, feathered, humiliated and run out of town like a hobo. We have no clue where he is because of you! For all we know he could be dead!"

"We'd sue but none of the lawyers we spoke with would even consider touching this case. I suppose that's our son's fault too." Maurice slammed the trunk shut. "Shame on you all for doing this. This is supposed to be a civilized society where such barbarism is no longer tolerated."

"And shame on our son's so-called best friend for not protecting him!" Angela shouted before getting the car, slamming the door shut a few seconds before the car drove off.

After being tarred and feathered by the angry people of Amity Park Tucker was run out of town with his parents deciding to move away, condemning Amity Park for what the people did to their son and Danny for not preventing it. They had been friends since kindergarten but Danny just couldn't understand what Tucker had been expecting when he took the office as mayor or that he wanted Danny to be his right hand man/thug. Tucker had always been on the newest technological idea and was sure he would be the one to present the City of Tomorrow. Well in a way he did but it had failed and angered everyone whose lives he had ruined with his reckless policies.

He didn't take no answer, he didn't take into account of the damage he had caused and he threw a fit when he thought no one was listening to him.

As for Sam…

"And on the note of Amity Park's famed hero, Danny Phantom, girls you'd best be on the move as it was recently confirmed that our hero has broken up with environmental activist, suspect criminal in the release of a gorilla and town goth: Sam Manson."

She was still at the college but deliberately avoided Danny.

In her mind, Danny had betrayed her and Tucker despite Danny have argued that he could not simply force the people to back down when they had legitimate reasons to be angry at Tucker for his policies. And after looking back on his argument Sam as much as Danny felt remorse he couldn't take back what he said because it was all true.

Then came the tabloids and rumors.

"When asked few times by local students she had this to say:"

"Get the (beep!) out of my face and don't talk about that two faced (bleep) excuse of a boyfriend around me!" Sam shouted, smacking a person's phone out of their hand. "Some hero who leaves his friend at the mercy of the mob!"

"The mob whose homes and lives were ruined because he's a complete idiot!" Someone barked. "Do you support that kind of thinking?"

"None of your business." Sam snarled.

"Yeah, right. We heard that you dumped him just for supporting that idiot excuse for a mayor. What kind of girlfriend makes her hero boyfriend stand with a mayor who has completely ruined people's lives? My family was forced to move out of town and I'll be lucky to see them on Christmas!" Another student said.

"Yeah and they're lucky enough to see your ugly mug just once a year." Sam retorted.

"What'd you say?!"

"Back off! You're all just a bunch of mindless parasites wanting to get in on that idiot's fame!" Sam barked.

"Like you did?" A girl around Sam's age retorted. "Hello, Pot. My name is Kettle."

"You're saying I'm like you?" Sam growled.

"You ever hear of sarcasm, gothy? Maybe you were just wanting to cash in on his fame too!"

"I am not parasite!" Sam growled, marching forward and getting in the girl's face. "I'm the reason he even has his powers! Without them he'd just be scrawny moron dreaming of being an astronaut!"

"You didn't make him a hero!"

"Yeah, he did all that on his own!"

"He did the fighting!"

"He took on all of those ghosts!"

"What did you do? Stand around and look pretty?"

"Typical cheerleader wannabee!"

"THAT'S IT!" Sam shouted and lashed out, attacking the girl who called her a cheerleader which ended in a fight.

Too bad the girl she picked a fight with was a black belt in karate.

"Samantha Manson was suspended from Fenton University followed this altercation with the other students. It has been suggested that she is planning to drop out, refusing to come to a school named after her ex. There was a rumor that her parents wanted to bribe the teachers into not expelling her but were turned away, unlike with Casper High." The news reporter said in light of the recording being shown. "Sam Manson's comment about Danny Phantom's refusal to support former Mayor Tucker left an impression that she supported him, despite his many mistakes and flawed ideas. Many of her former classmates had this to say."

"Manson's a total goth freak and not worthy of Danny's love." Pauline Sanchez shouted, gushing over Danny at the end.

"She was always in everyone's face about going green or something and didn't she release a gorilla one time?" Star asked.

"Hey, I heard her once say she wished all those new trucks at the car dealership were wrecked and then they got wrecked." A man jogging on the sidewalk said.

"Manson's tough but she tried to make us eat mud pies and I mean pies made of literal mud." A young man who was a former jock at Casper High said.

"She showed up at a factory I used to work at and tried to start a riot with anything she could think of. Called up butchers of nature and we didn't even cut down those trees."

"Yeah, she donates to charities to nature and animals and we're glad for that. Outside of that we never talked to her that much." A man from a charity for nature spoke next.

Sam for all her self-righteous talk had told Danny more than once to simply let Dash beat him up in High School, citing some crap about being the better person. She always talked about herself and tried to force her ideas on everyone else.

"Sam Manson was a complete disruption in my class. She was always on about something whenever we were on a science subject involving animals like asking 'how many were dissected until we knew all this stuff' and we weren't even dissecting any of these animals aside from dead frogs a few times but she kept on bringing it back to that." The science teacher for Amity High said. "She barely passed on account of her attitude. She was smart but completely driven to question everything aggressively to the point it's like she wanted to start a riot in the classroom. Her parents kept paying the school board not to expel her which unfortunately worked as we were badly under-funded. Ironically this was the very problem she saw in all the A-Listers and believed she never had or accepted such treatment."

And Tucker…he wanted people to listen to him but the problem was his ideas were just plain ridiculous and not to mention he had almost gotten himself killed in just about every ghost battle they had been in since Danny first gained his powers.

"Mr. Foley was extremely skilled in computer class but not so much in other classes like literature and gym. During history class he bragged how things could have been so much better with this techno or that gadget; despite the fact they didn't have this stuff back then. He'd rather use his gadgets for online research instead of using text books, even when he wasn't supposed to have any of those in class. And he was possibly the laziest student in gym, with the exception of Mr. Fenton but he actually was getting own exercise in the form of fighting ghosts even though no one knew at the time." Mr. Lancer said in response to a question regarding his students. "As for Miss Manson she was good at poetry, history, literature and gym but like my staff member said she was lousy with being sociable and was very disruptive. She even liked pointing out certain parts in history where the 'fascist' government were oppressing people considered different and wondered why several historical figures she believed guilty of such crimes were allowed to keep statues of themselves in modern times. For someone who excelled in history she didn't seem to understand that not every statue was meant to glorify certain figures like Mt. Rushmore but to serve as important reminders of hard times. As it has been said so often: those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

They considered themselves his partners in ghost fighting but the truth was they weren't any good at it. Jazz was an even better fighter and she didn't care much for it, well she did but more as along the lines of finally being able to connect with her little brother after they had drifted apart on account of Jazz's grades and Danny's ghost fighting through High School. Not to mention they weren't really accepting of some of his choices like trying to give Valerie a chance or trying to find and save Danielle whom neither had really liked.

"Sam Manson and Tucker Foley were both close friends of world renowned hero, Danny Phantom even before his rise to fame. What happened to these three? Perhaps growing older and maturing through the years changed them? Or maybe the price of fame?" The news reporter continued. "Damon Gray, even stepped forward with this to say."

Sam hated Valerie, considering her one of the stuck-up A-class snobs which she originally was in the beginning. However Valerie had changed, even as she tried to kill Danny by having to work multiple jobs to pay for the apartment she and her father were forced to live in. Sam would argue that trying to kill Danny made Valerie a psycho but Danny knew that there was more to Valerie than that and not to mention she and Danny dated at one time. Danny had a feeling that Sam had hated Valerie the most for that.

"While it could be said that their friendship with Mr. Fenton was genuine the fact of the matter is these two have their own flaws like everyone else. Sure, former Mayor Tucker's technological know-how and resourcefulness contributed to saving this world from the Disasteroid but that did not automatically grant him the wisdom needed as mayor. Miss Manson herself had a strained relationship with my own daughter, stemming from before we lost our main source of income. It was quite clear that she never saw my daughter had truly changed beyond that role." Damon said, clearing his glasses. "While Valerie was more or less indifferent about it, it seemed Miss Manson never seemed to let go of this enmity with her. Fortunately it never grew into physical violence but this habit of holding onto grudges with someone and being quite judgement for any reason she can think of speaks of a pattern. Perhaps her own friendship and later relationship with Mr. Fenton was just another form of rebellion against any authority figures in her life."

As for Dani…

Sam didn't like the ghost girl on the sole fact she was created by Vlad and the fact that she worked for him at the beginning even though Dani had only been a kid. Tucker had brief crush on Valerie but that had faded quickly because of the constant fights she had with Danny and his first meeting with Dani hadn't been good one since she had accidently gotten food flung into his and Sam's faces. He had been more apathetic to either Dani or Valerie.

Not exactly friendly support.

"Our Sammy-kins was taken in by that Fenton boy's ghostly hoo-hah. It led her to outright disobeying us and going on these ghostly escapades." Sam's mother, Pamela Manson said.

"Yes." Her husband, Jeremy Manson nodded in agreement. "He has clearly been a bad influence on her."

"A bad, bad influence on her. We are glad she wised up and dumped him." Pamela said with a smile. "Maybe now she'll start to see past all this horrid ghost and dark nonsense."

Unlikely.

Ironic, they wanted him to keep on being a hero and as soon as he acted like one they blame him for their shortcomings.

"Sam and Tucker may have considered themselves friends to my brother and for a time that might have been true. But the fact is Sam has been rude, insensitive and completely disrespectful to my brother many times and she never admitted to her wrongdoings at all. When my brother wanted to give up being a superhero I was sad because we were starting to connect again after the troubles of high school life and ghost fighting made things…difficult. But it was my brother's life and choice to decide how he wanted to live it." Jazz was next. "I admit, one time I hoped he and Sam would get together but in light of how she has treated him for not standing up for a corrupt mayor I realize that she wasn't the person we thought she was. She has blackmailed my brother, released a gorilla from the zoo, forcefully changed the school menu and she never takes responsibility for anything she does. Now that I look back on it, I'm glad they broke up because she doesn't deserve him."

What happened?

"As for Tucker…" Jazz's face softened. "I wish it didn't happen like this but Tucker's actions are his own fault and while I do not condone what was done to him I can't fault the people for how they acted. He was entrusted with their care and he betrayed that trust. And rather than try to fix it he expected my brother to clean up his mess. My brother is not responsible for the choices of the mayor whether it was his best friend or Vlad Masters."

How did this all happen?

"Our boy is not responsible for the choices the former mayor made. For God's sake, he is in colleague and is a full time hero. He shouldn't have to worry about the politics of City Hall, especially when his so-called best friend uses their friendship to get what he wants. It's not his responsibility to bail everyone out of the problems they make." Maddie Fenton was next.

"Yeah, do your own homework and blackmail. Don't make others do it." Jack said, getting an elbow in the ribs from Maddie.

"Look, we' known Tucker since he was a boy and we're glad our son had friends to grow up with. But as a hero, our son has chosen to be responsible for his powers and that was something neither Sam nor Tucker seemed to understand. I don't know why or how it came to all this but the truth is this not our son's fault." Maddie continued.

"Yeah, it's their fault." Jack nodded. "That or their parent's faults for they may have been raised. We raised him just fine!"

One moment he was chilling with his best friends, he had a girlfriend, a bright future and a world that knew him as a hero…

"So does this mean that local hero Danny Phantom is now on the market? Many female friends seem to think so."

And now it felt like it was all slipping away.

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Well, not slipping away entirely.

He still had ghosts to fight and there was a benefit to that.

"GAH!" Danny screamed, letting loose a Ghostly Wail on the ghost bees that surrounded him.

An outlet for all his pent up aggression.

"Obviously Danny's new girlfriend will be Moi," Paulina gestured to herself. "And unlike the loser goth I will be more supportive and caring for Danny in all his problems."

The bees regathered, taking a humanoid form that glared at Danny with a thousand red glowing eyes.

This was Swarm.

"A chance to date the world's greatest hero? Sign me up!" Another girl gushed.

"Not if I get him first!"

"No, me!"

"NO, ME!"

"ME!"

"ME!"

"ME!"

"ME!"

A new ghost that had popped in the last year, wanting to take her shot at bringing down Danny. Unlike most ghosts Swarm was not a singular ghost but an entire group of insects themselves. In essence she doesn't control bugs, she is bugs. Similar to bees in a hive or ants in a colony. Her form is a constantly shifting shape of insects and arachnids and she is immune to directly damaging attacks like ecto-blasts because any holes blasted in her form are immediately filled in with bugs.

Similar to Undergrowth's regeneration abilities which made things all the better.

"It takes a lot of guts to abandon your friend to the mob like that. I mean, sure I get that he wouldn't just step in and play the hired goon but man that's a little cold."

"What's the matter, Phantom?" Swarm asked, her carrying buzz tone from all the insects she spoke through. "Having an off day?"

"No, in fact I'd say we're in for a…" Danny said as an icy aura surrounded him. "Chilly day."

"Danny Phantom is still subject to the law and thus he had no legal authority to halt the crowd, despite former Mayor Tucker's wishes. This goes to show that teen heroes, including sidekicks have no experience or understanding of proper procedure."

He spread his arms out, releasing an icy blast that froze all the insects that made up Swarm's being. There was a brief scream from her as she was completely frozen as Danny took out a Fenton Thermos and sucked her into it.

"He just left that boy to the mob. Where is the justice in that? What? No, I don't live in the city, never have, never will."

"Well, I am feeling a little better now." Danny admitted to himself.

Looking down, Danny frowned to see crowds had gathered to take pictures of him and his fight…again.

"It's just ghost attack after ghost attack. They attack, he shows up, fights them and they are gone for a few days but then they come back and it starts all over again. What does it take for it all to just stop? What does it take for a city to return to normal?"

"Before the ghosts?"

"Before the crazy kids trying to run thngs?"

"Why this kid?"

"Why this town?"

"Why this country?"

"Why these people?"

"Why this planet?"

"Why does this happen to us?"

Not on the mood to put up with this, Danny turned and flew off, doing what his 'cousin' did years and flew off dramatically into the sunset.

"So the question on everyone's mind is this: Where is Danny Phantom now? Despite still attending college he has apparently moved out of the dorms. He has not returned to Fenton Works."

Jazz sighed as she turned away from the TV, headed down stairs.

"If he is not in the dorms or in the Fenton Works…"

She stopped in front of the Ghost Portal her parents had salvaged from Vlad's old mansion.

"Where is Danny Phantom?"

Xxx

"Ah…."

Where was Danny?

In the Ghost Zone of all places.

Deciding that it was too much of a hassle to live in a place surrounded by his 'loving' fans Danny moved into his own lair in the Ghost Zone. A simple loft that he uses to get away from the overwhelming human realm and it would have been where he and Sam could finally have some peace and quiet.

Well, at least he now has some peace and quiet.

Not only does the fame affect his day-to-day life, but it was having long term consequences. He had trouble connecting to people, partially due to the fact that the people he tried to interact with are swarms of fans, critics, reporters, etc. This inability to connect to people was pushing him to want to live a more solitary life.

The sad thing was he had made this for him and Sam.

A place for them to spend time together without being harassed by everyone else.

For perhaps the millionth time now he had wondered how it all come to this.

His best friend run out of town and likely never to be seen Amity Park again.

His girlfriend turning on him and dumping him just because he wasn't going to be the mayor's right hand goon.

It was like he didn't even know them anymore.

It was like…

He didn't understand the people he was protecting anymore.

'What is happening to me?' Danny wondered to himself as he looked out the window of his lair. 'I can't stand be around people anymore and back in the old days I would have leapt in joy for the attention and praise I am getting. What has changed?'

He knew the answer.

The world had changed.

The people had changed.

His friends had changed.

He had changed.

And he hadn't even noticed until it was too late.

"Is there anyone on Earth outside of family I can still call friend?" Danny wondered to himself. "Not a lot of human friends out there…"

Ghost friends on the other hand…

"Maybe I can hang out with Wulf for a bit." Danny said, floating up from the bed he had been on and flew out the window. "If he's still near that camp we can try and have some quiet time."

With that Danny flew off to find the first of the ghost friends he had made.

And it was only the beginning.