A/N: Soup, guys? Where have I been? I've been writing this story. I had to revise it a couple of time, but I like it. Did you guys here that Gravity Falls is ending in season 2? That's a bummer. But I'll still be writing this story long after Gravity Falls stops. Who knows, I might even be up fro writing a season 3 as far as that goes. We'll have to wait and see how college is treating me.
I suck at the game 'go fish' just saying.
Your reviews are so nice, guys. I blush every time I read them. You people are the real miracles, I swear.
I'm not sure if you catch some of the Undertale references, but that's what I've been doing these past two weeks. That game is so sweet. I so recommend. Nine paws in the air.
This chapter finished up the 'Hand that rocks the Mabel' and it took so long. Like 11.5K words, but I knew I needed to get it done. So, as promised, here it is! Feel free to leave a review and stuff.
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or Gravity Falls.
Waking up from an induced sleep hit Danny like a bullet train. He sat up from his bed slowly and immediately clutched his head in his hands. Waking up from an induced sleep that your arch enemy put you into was even worse. The young halfa groaned as he heard a knock at the door, he glanced to the empty bed beside him and noticed that his sister was gone. "What?" He asked in a low tone.
"Hey, sweetie," Maddie stated in a concerned tone, "Your father and I are going for a walk around the town. We'll be back in an hour or so," she informed as she stood next to the door, waiting for the response from the teenager.
"Okay?" Danny asked as the headache started to subside, he hadn't truthfully heard what his mother had said to him. He just wanted her to leave him in peace so he could clearly think without getting a sudden pain through his skull. Her footsteps were light and careful as she walked away, but Danny with his enhanced hearing had still picked it up. "Wait…" He trailed, coming to a realization as his eyes went wide. He threw the blanket off him and stood up immediately, swaying slightly from the sudden movement. He ran to the door in hopes that he could still catch his mother. Maybe he could join them so he wouldn't have to be with Vlad alone. As he opened the door and was about to step out, the dreaded figure that he didn't want to see was grinning down at him. "Seriously?" He whispered incredulously as he let out a groan and placed his hands on his head. He started to walk back to where his bed was.
Vlad didn't need an invitation as he strode into the room, "You thought you could avoid me?" He asked as he crossed his arms in amusement, "Such a childish notion, Daniel," he reprimanded sarcastically.
Danny glared as he turned around to face the older halfa, "Yeah, you know what?" He asked rhetorically, taking a few challenging steps toward the man, "I'm not dealing with this," he muttered as he turned intangible and walked right through him. Vlad rolled his eyes as he followed the teen out into the hallway.
"Your sister is with that Pines child," Vlad stated as Danny halted his walking and glanced back at the man, "They do seem to be spending a lot of time together as of late," he informed, watching the annoyance on the teen's face with a smirk.
"I'm not in charge of her," Danny snapped back, "She can hang out with whoever she wants," he spat out as he started to walk again.
Vlad chuckled, making him freeze up. When the older halfa did any sort of mocking, it usually spelt bad news for him, "Perhaps we could do something…" He trailed as Danny turned to look at him as if he were stupid, "As father and son that is."
Danny responded the way exactly as Vlad was expecting, "Why would I ever want to willingly spend time with you?" He asked with a scowl as he started to walk again, only for a pink ecto-blast to spiral into the wall in front of him harshly. The teen looked at the scorch mark on the wall and started to panic slightly.
"I wasn't asking," Vlad retorted in a dark tone. Danny turned around and tried to control his heartbeat. He felt a strange fear overcome him, and he didn't know if Vlad was serious. He knew that Vlad would fight dirty if they engaged in a fight again. The ecto-blast infused sedatives from the night before proved that. Should he fight him and prove that he was his own person and couldn't be controlled? Or should he play along with him? "The next one won't miss, my boy," Vlad said as he started to walk past him, "Come along," he ordered lightly.
"No," Danny stated as soon as the older halfa passed him.
The teen's outburst surprised the older man, he rose an eyebrow at Danny's defiance, "No?" He asked with a light air about it. Although he asked it in such a way, it sent shivers down the boy's spine. "Are you defying me?" He asked as he spun on his heels and faced the teen. "I recall a certain bet that bound you to me for eternity," he stated.
Danny's eyes widened as he turned to face the man with a glare. Although he tried to look intimidating, he looked more terrified by the second, "You-! I didn't!" He sputtered as he tried forming his words. It couldn't be true. He didn't think that such a harmless bet would hold such drastic consequences, "You never said what you got!" He protested.
"Ah," Vlad remarked, making eye contact with the teen. It made Danny feel lower than the dirt itself, "But isn't that your fault for not knowing what you were betting?" Vlad asked as Danny felt weak in the knees. It felt as if he had just given away his soul to the devil. He should have known what betting against a master manipulator would do. "It is a good thing that your dear sister wasn't along…She might have talked you out of it."
"That's why you're keeping her away from me!" Danny accused, "So that I keep making these stupid mistakes all the time!" He yelled, mostly to himself as he shook his head, "No way…This can't be happening…" He trailed as he looked at the ground and tried to gather his thoughts. What could he do? Vlad held all the cards in his hand, and he didn't know if he could get them back. "I want a rematch," Danny said suddenly.
Vlad looked at Danny with a raised eyebrow, "Dear boy, I already have what I want…" He trailed as he heard the boy's breathing become irregular. He knew that the teen was trying to get out of it, it was rather amusing for him.
Danny closed his eyes in thought for a few seconds, thinking what else the man wanted but didn't yet have. The teen then opened them, "I'll join you," he said, making Vlad's eyes widen slightly for a second before he smirked, "But, I get to choose the game," he said, making Vlad's smug smirk vanish slightly.
"The game doesn't matter so long as the pawn remains the same," Vlad remarked, making Danny cringe at what he was offering up at the table, "I suppose you want your freedom back if you win?" He asked as he started to head down the stairs. The way Vlad had said it, he wasn't taking Danny as a threat. He didn't think that the teen could prove to be a challenge to him. This made the teen want to prove him wrong; that he wasn't going down without a fight.
"Don't you mean when?" Danny asked with a smirk, regaining his confidence back. He could do this, he could win and then he wouldn't have Vlad breathing down his back every second. That the older halfa wouldn't be able to dictate his every action. With his current circumstances it was like Vlad was controlling him. To Danny, it was as if he had already joined him, just without being addressed out loud. Vlad merely chuckled as he brushed aside the teen's pride with what he had said.
The older halfa reached to the bottom of the stairs, Danny joined him with a grin, "What game?" Vlad asked as Danny's grin turned into a smirk.
"Go fish," he boasted as Vlad stared hard at the teen before he rolled his eyes at the somewhat childish game, "And since I issued the challenge, I get to dictate the rules."
"As you wish, Daniel," Vlad mused dryly as he picked up a simple card deck from a drawer in the kitchen. They situated themselves over at the kitchen table, "What rules?"
"No ghost powers," Danny said with a serious tone, "This is a nice and fair game of go fish," he stated as he looked slyly at Vlad, "Or is that too simple for you?" He taunted.
Vlad shrugged as he shuffled the cards, "It's all the same to me," he said as he looked at the teen dead in the eye, "Just know that after this game you'll be by my side," he stated with a serious tone as he started to hand out the seven cards.
Danny scoffed as he picked up the cards, "Don't be mad because you're going to lose," he mumbled under his breath as he spread them out in his hands. He needed to play this game like his life depended on it. Because it did.
"You really do make this too easy, Daniel," Vlad remarked as he picked up his own cards and looked them over. After a few seconds of deciding how he would proceed, the older halfa looked up at the teen, "White usually goes first."
"This isn't chess, Vlad," Danny remarked as he glared his eyes at the older halfa for the constant chess analogies from him. It bothered the teen that Vlad thought of people like things he could move and predict. These weren't pieces to a game he was playing with, these were human beings with lives.
Vlad waved off the hostility, looking down at his cards for a brief moment, "It's a figure of speech, little badger," he claimed as he looked up at the young teen in front of him, "Though you won't be white after this game, will you?" He taunted, much to the teen's annoyance.
Danny's left eye twitched, "Got any twos?" He asked, beginning the game that would change his life. He couldn't afford to lose, not with this much on the line.
"Oh?" Danny asked as he got the last of his cards out, "Looks like this is a win for me, huh?" He asked, not afraid to gloat in his enemy's face. It was at this moment that Maddie and Jack walked through the door. The older halfa started to grow frustrated. A question popped up in his head, how could he lose such a childish and trivial game? The thought never occurred to him that the game was meant for children, and it wasn't supposed to be played with such a serious intent.
Vlad opened his mouth to retort, but closed it upon seeing the company, "Ah, how was your walk?" He asked politely, losing all anger and frustration from his face. He pushed his thoughts aside for the moment, he would find a way to turn everything in his favor once more at a later date. "Did you see anything interesting?"
Danny, who just now noticed that his parents returned, glanced up with a big grin on his face, "Hey!" He greeted with a small wave, "We were just playing a game of cards, but now I feel like getting some air," he remarked, he couldn't keep his victory out of his tone. "See you guys later!" He yelled as he stood up from his seat and ran out the door. It felt good to have his freedom back and not be held back by Vlad's stupid rules.
He transformed into his ghostly counterpart and took to the skies when the coast was clear, "Seriously! This is how summer is supposed to feel!" He yelled with happiness. He did a few loops in the air and then started to fly backwards. He didn't care where he was going, so long as it was where he wanted to go. "He never knew that I was a go fish champion when I was younger," he mumbled with a grin on his face.
"What am I supposed to do!" Yelled a voice in despair. Danny knew that voice as his eyes widened in realization and worry.
"Jazz…?" He asked as he flew down to see his sister, he turned invisible as he landed on the forest ground. Jazz was sitting on a rock with her knees pulled up to her chest.
"I can't keep doing this to him, he's going to hate me!" Jazz yelled as she shook her head, "I can't keep distancing myself from him…He's my brother," Jazz whispered. Danny realized that his eavesdropping session was turning out to be more interesting than he realized, "But on the other hand…If I don't do what he says then-!" She yelled as she let out a frustrated scream.
Danny chose this time to reveal himself as he dropped his invisibility, "Jazz?" He asked as he started to walk towards her. She glanced up and nearly fell off her rock as he was right in front of her. She looked started at first, and then guilt started to show. "What's wrong?"
Jazz looked away, "Nothing. You can't do anything for me," she mumbled as she dug her head in her knees, "I just want this summer to be over…" She whispered as tears started to fall down her face.
"You can tell me what's wrong, I can help," Danny tried to persuade as he held out his hand to touch his sister's shoulder, only for her to flinch away from his touch. Danny's reaction was instant, his eyes went wide. She saw the hurt in his eyes, and she felt ashamed and sick. She was treating her brother like a stranger to protect him. To protect their family.
"You can't help me!" She yelled as she ran away from him.
Danny felt rejection and it filled him to the brim. He was shocked that his sister would act that way towards him and stood there for a few seconds. The young halfa was speechless and couldn't open his mouth to say anything. He didn't seem to notice the small footsteps start to reach where he was.
"What-?" Dipper asked as he spotted a ghost in the middle of the woods. He quickly took a few steps back into a tree to take cover. "Did he see me?" He whispered as he glanced over the tree and observed the teenaged ghost. "What's he doing?"
"I…" He trailed out as he brought his hand back to his side, "What good am I to them?" He asked to himself as he walked over to where the rock was and leaned against it. He let out a dejected sigh and looked up at the sky.
Dipper could only look at the ghostly teenager and felt his despair from all the way across the forest. It felt like somebody had stabbed his heart with a fork thirty times and it wasn't letting up. He pulled out the journal from inside his jacket pocket and began to flip through the pages. There had to be a section on ghosts in there, there just had to be. He wondered if the ghost in front of him was in there, considering he had seen him once before. He remembered the gnome attack and how cocky the ghost was acting, even if he did save his and Mabel's lives.
"A mess up," Danny mused out as he slide against the rock, unable to stand, "That's why she doesn't want me around," he thought out loud as he placed his hand down on the ground. The small patch of grass that his hand touched had slowly turned to ice, "All because of me keeping secrets first…Maybe she doesn't trust me anymore," Danny trailed.
Dipper looked over at the ghost upon finding the section on it in the journal, "He doesn't seem like a level nine…" He mumbled as he looked at the ice that the ghost had caused, "But that's a little weird. Ghosts can't do that…Can they?"
Danny glanced at Dipper, paying enough attention to his surroundings to hear his rambling, "I know you're there…" He mumbled as he rolled his eyes, "You know, we can hear a lot better than normal people," he informed as Dipper froze where he stood. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"If you're not going to hurt me…" Dipper stated as he started to walk over to where the ghost was, "Would you mind answering a few questions?" He asked in excitement as he brought out a pen from his jacket as well as the journal to add things to the ghost section.
"I guess," Danny mumbled as he stood up, "Ask away," he said in a monotone.
Dipper smiled as he opened up the book eagerly and clicked the pen to write with it, "Okay, first question!" He announced as he had the pen ready to write something, but looked over at the ghost, "Are…Are you okay, man?" He asked in genuine concern.
Danny sighed, "How would you feel if your sister didn't want your help?" He asked, looking at the young boy with a small smile.
"I would help her anyway," Dipper said immediately, not even having to think about it, "Ma – ah – My sister is very close to me," he caught himself from saying Mabel's name to protect her. Danny found that sweet and wondered if Mabel would do the same for Dipper if the situation was reversed.
The young halfa was about to say something else, but familiar white rings appeared around his waist and he stood up with shock, "No!" He yelled as he wildly looked around the forest, thinking of what he should do, "This can't be happening!" He yelled in denial. Dipper looked at him cautiously as he took a few steps back. "Sorry, I have to go," he yelled as he turned intangible and disappeared from his view. Danny sought refuge behind a bush as he unwillingly transformed back into Danny Fenton.
Dipper looked around the area and then kicked the ground, "So close to getting some real answers around here!" He yelled in disappointment. Danny felt sorry for the kid, but knew that if he revealed himself, the kid would piece together everything easily. He was smarter than he looks, and more observant as well.
Danny let out a sigh of relief when he heard the boy's retreating footsteps. He was most likely heading back to the Mystery Shack, it made the young halfa question why the child was all the way out in the forest by himself. He knew that the forest could be dangerous. "Why did I change back?" He asked.
"Because of the rejection of your sister," Plasmius' voice offered his answer.
Danny looked up with shock as he found the grinning form of Vlad Plasmius was floating in front of him, "Would you get away from me!" He yelled half-heartedly. "I really don't need you right now," he hissed out.
Vlad brushed off his hostility for the second time that day, "You cut it close with that human child," he mused as he landed on the ground, his arms crossed, "Might I also inform you that your core is malfunctioning?"
"What are you talking about?" Danny asked in fear as he looked up at the older halfa, "What does that even mean?" He asked quickly.
"Why, Daniel, I thought you said you didn't need me right now?" Vlad mocked with a smirk, "Perhaps I should take my knowledge elsewhere?" He taunted.
Danny glared at the man, "You're right," the teen stated as he stood up, "I never needed your help before, and I certainly don't need it now," he scoffed as he took a few steps before Vlad's hand latched onto his arm.
The older halfa shook his head in disapproval, "That's where you're wrong," he answered, making Danny turn to face him with a confused expression, "Due to your sister's betrayal…You are feeling rejected, aren't you?" He asked as Danny's confusion started to ease.
"How do you know?" Danny asked suspiciously.
"What you need is acceptance," Vlad stated, he watched as the teen's face tightened up as a result and he tried to get away from the older hybrid, "I can give that to you…" He trailed cryptically, trying to be persuasive.
Danny rolled his eyes, "Yeah, at a price," he scowled, "I just got my freedom, I'm not giving it up again," he spat out as he pulled out of his grip. "I don't need you, Vlad, and I'll never need you," he mused as he started to walk away.
Vlad shrugged, "I'll be waiting for you to change your mind, Daniel," he mused happily, "Because one day you'll need me. I will be the only one who understands," he stated.
"Shove it, Vlad," Danny retorted, not taking their conversation to heart, "There will never be a day I'll need you," he stated as he disappeared from sight.
"That's where you're wrong, my boy," Vlad remarked in a dark tone, watching where the teen left with a smirk on his face.
"You have this," Gideon mumbled to himself as he stood outside of the mystery shack, "Who can say no to you?" He asked as he patted his face. He was about to ring the doorbell, when suddenly Danny walked up to the door from the woods.
"Oh, aren't you that kid from last night?" Danny questioned as he walked over to where the white haired kid was, "Charles?" He asked.
Gideon looked over at the teenager and glared at him, "Gideon Gleeful, as a matter of fact," he responded with a hiss, "Would you mind? I'm about to do something important," he said with an air of sophistication. It reminded the young halfa of Vlad and he rolled his eyes.
"Never mind, I'll just call you Vlad Jr.," Danny mumbled as he knocked at the door before Gideon could get the chance. The white haired kid looked angered as he gave a glare at Danny again, "Thought I'd do you a favor…" He trailed with a cheeky grin, "I don't think you're tall enough to reach the door," he teased.
"You will not talk down to me!" Gideon yelled.
Danny chuckled, "Okay, but how else am I supposed to talk to you?" He asked as his grin turned into a smirk at how easy the kid was letting him pick on him, "I mean, you're too short for me to talk up to!" Danny mused as Mabel opened the door.
"Danny!" Mabel greeted as she blinked her eyes, letting the gems that she had glued to her face fall onto his white shirt. "Oops, sorry 'bout that!" She apologized meekly, "I just got into my bedazzle gun!"
"I can see that," Danny commented as he looked down at his shirt, "It looks like a smiley face, Mabel," he pointed out as they both started to laugh, completely ignoring Gideon.
The white haired child growled, alerting the two to his presence, "Ah, Mabel, it's little old me!" He greeted as he posed slightly and did a 'cute' face to impress her. Mabel rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly as she looked at the child in an awkward manner.
"Yeah…" She trailed, "I kind of didn't see you there, Gideon…" She apologized, and Gideon's face scrunched up in anger before he controlled it. He quickly dismissed his rage and tried to place his act back up again.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me today," Gideon said with a grin, "We could-!" He began to say, but was cut off by Mabel.
"Try on dresses and do each other's makeup!" She answered for the man, "Sounds like fun!" She yelled as she opened the door for Danny, "Dipper's in the living room writing in his diary," she commented. At the mention of diary, Gideon's face perked up, but was then converted to shock as Mabel took his hand forcefully, "Well, let's get going!" She yelled in excitement.
Danny watched as the two left, but he had a bad feeling about Gideon. "Anyone who reminds me of Vlad can't be good…" He trailed as he shook his head. He made a mental note to keep an eye on them if they ever went out again. He entered the shack and looked for Dipper, he was worried about the encounter from before. "Dipper?" He called out.
Dipper made a hum, "In here!" He yelled as the teen entered the living room, "Jazz left about thirty minutes ago," he mused as he didn't bother to close the journal.
"Is that your diary that Mabel said you were writing in?" Danny questioned, trying to discover the secret that is Dipper Pines. Dipper, who noticed that the teen had entered the room too late, quickly shut his journal, "You don't have to be ashamed about it," Danny stated, trying to make the situation easier on the both of them, "A lot of people keep journals."
"It's not-!" Dipper yelled as he shook his head, "I figured it would be hard to keep a secret like this for long," he said as he waved Danny over to him. The teen rose an eyebrow but did what the child wanted, "You're going to think I'm weird," Dipper admitted sheepishly, embarrassment rising in him.
Danny shook his head, "My parents are ghost hunters, Dipper…" The teen answered dryly as he rolled his eyes, "I don't think that your journal is going to get weirder than that."
Dipper looked to the left to avoid Danny's gaze, "Oh, you'd be surprised," he mused as he opened up the journal, "I found this my first week in Gravity Falls," he stated as he started to flip through the journal and Danny observed the various different creatures that were posted in there. "It has gnomes, vampires, zombies…" He trailed as he looked up at the teen to see his expression, "You name it, it's in here."
"It's not like anything I've ever seen before," Danny admitted as he spotted an entry with what looked like multiple graphs, "What's that one?" He asked as he pointed at it.
"That?" Dipper asked as he tried to get a better look at it, "I've studied that page for hours, and to me…" He trailed as he looked back up at the young halfa, "It looks like a portal."
Danny nodded, not surprised at all, "A portal to where?" He asked in thought and curiosity. After all, he had his fair share dealing with portals. I mean, the fact that he was a half ghost came from his parent's invention in their basement.
Dipper rose an eyebrow in suspicion, "You're not surprised?" He asked, taking note of the teen's unchanging expression, "Have you seen something like this before?" He asked, his tone getting filled with suspicion.
"Not exactly like this one…" Danny trailed as he rubbed the back of his neck. Where should he start with his tale? He couldn't tell him that he was half-ghost. The fewer people that knew the better, "But – Uh…" He mumbled as he sighed, "My parents are ghost hunters."
"What?" Dipper asked, excitement in his tone, "Why didn't you tell me before?" He asked with a grin, "That's so awesome! You have to introduce me!"
Danny chuckled, "I will, I promise," he admitted as he looked at the book, drawing his attention to the topic at hand, "But my parents built a portal," he stated as Dipper nodded for him to continue, "To the Ghost Zone," he said.
Dipper's eyes widened in surprise and shock, "Is…Is that even possible?" He asked in disbelief.
"They made it possible," Danny responded with a small amount of pride, "Anyways, point is, I know a portal when I see one," he admitted honestly as Dipper looked back at the book.
"But if it is a portal, then…" Dipper mumbled as he closed the book, "There has to be more journals out there that must have the other parts of the portal!" He answered his own question with a smile, "But how would I find them?" He asked as Danny shrugged.
The teen stood up straight, "I don't know dude, but you're smart enough to figure it out," he mused with a soft smile. Dipper looked up at him and smiled back at him, "I'm going to head back to my place, so see you tomorrow," Danny said goodbye as he started to exit the mystery shack.
Dipper nodded, taking the book under his arm as he stood from his chair, "I wasn't kidding about talking to your parents!" He called out with a grin.
"I know!" Dipper heard Danny's retreating voice. Dipper's grin grew slightly bigger. He never knew what it was like to connect with someone with the same interests as him. Even thought it was only about ghosts, he really felt like he could trust Danny. After all, he told him about the journal, and it had only been a couple of days.
"I'm not going to a ritzy place!" Danny yelled as he crossed his arms. He leaned back in the couch in an act of defiance. If only he could turn intangible to disappear into the couch. "They probably don't even have good food!" He argued weakly.
"Danny…" Maddie trailed in a tone that Danny cringed for not listening to her, "Vlad is treating us to an extravagant dinner tonight. The least we can do is partake in it," she lectured as she shook her head in disapproval at her son.
Danny rolled his eyes, "I think I'll set this one out, mom," he mumbled as he looked away from his mother. He didn't want to feel pressured into saying yes, and knew he would break under the scrutinizing stare of his mother. "No offense to Vlad or anything," he added with a ghost of a smile on his face.
Jack ran over to him, "Are you ready to go, Danny-o?" He asked with excitement, "I hear they have live lobster! Isn't that exciting?" He asked as Danny rolled his eyes again, not wanting to be bothered anymore on the topic.
"He doesn't want to go, Jack," Maddie said in a dejected tone, "I suppose he'll just have to stay here alone," she stated as Jack let out a whine to object.
"Danny-boy, I really wanted to share a live lobster with you…" He trailed in a hurt tone.
Danny let out a groan. He wished he had earplugs as well as going intangible through the couch, "Okay! I'll go!" He yelled as he stood up from the couch, not believing that he had said yes. After all, this was just another one of Vlad's tactics to scheme against him. He still didn't know what he wanted, or what he had hoped to gain during this summer vacation. His parents let out consecutive cheers as they walked into the kitchen to gather their things.
"You had almost won," Vlad mused as he appeared leaning against the couch with his arms crossed. Danny glared at him for using his powers to watch his conversation, "Yet, indirectly I always win," he mused as he shrugged, standing up with a smirk on his face, "Shall we go?" He asked as he started to walk towards the exit.
"Why are you so happy?" Danny asked in suspicion, "I've beaten you at your own game," he commented as Vlad looked at him.
The older halfa then smirked, "If you've truly won, then why are you still here?" He taunted, knowing it would grate on the younger halfa's nerves. It did, and Danny tried to give him the 'scary eyes' but nothing would show up. He blinked as he looked down at his hand and tried to make a quick ecto-blast, his anxiety rising in his chest. When nothing came to the surface, his anxiety turned into fear. He looked up at Vlad, unable to hide his panic, "As I've said before, Daniel, I always win." He mused as he did a half-smirk before opening up the door.
Danny's parents walked through the hallway quickly with grins on their faces, completely oblivious to Danny's change in demeanor. He could only stare at Vlad in shock and was frozen stiff at the fatal realization; he had lost his ghost powers. Vlad noticed this and waved for the teen to follow his parents out the door. Danny tried his best to push away his raging emotions, but to no avail. He almost tripped out the door, making Vlad chuckle, "All it would take is one single sentence to change your situation," he said in a sing-song tone.
"I'm not that desperate, Vlad," Danny hissed out as he recollected his footing and stomped over to where the car was. Since his back was turned, he failed to notice Vlad's dark smirk as the older halfa closed the door behind him.
Walking over to the table felt like torture for the young halfa, "You never told me why Jazz isn't here," Danny said as he looked at his mother for an explanation.
Maddie shifted uncomfortably, "She wanted to catch up on her summer reading and said she would be down at the library," she said as they reached their table. Danny did a barely noticeable frown at that statement, he knew that Jazz was bluffing with the summer reading excuse. He started to get worried and felt offended that Jazz would purposefully ignore him. "She has been gone for a while though…I should call her…" She trailed as she pulled out a simple flip phone.
"She'll be fine," Vlad mused as he placed a hand on Maddie's, making her lower the cell phone, "After all, she'll be off to college when fall rolls around, won't she?" He asked with a small smile. Maddie nodded with a very small smile as she placed her phone back in her pocket.
"Or you know…" Danny trailed, drawing the attention of everyone, "You could check up on her," he stated, hinting that he was concerned about his sister. Jack rose an eyebrow and nodded and his wife. She stood up to take the call as Jack observed the scenery of the extravagant restaurant.
Vlad chuckled darkly, "How sweet of you to care about her after the way she left you in the forest," he whispered, barely above a hearable level.
Danny glared at the man, "She's still my sister, frootloop!" He hissed out, making Vlad clench his teeth at the nickname that Danny reserved for him.
"She's the reason why your core is malfunctioning, you stupid boy!" Vlad yelled, letting his anger slip up, he unleashed his own version of Danny's 'scary eyes' as he said it. Danny's will immediately felt drained as he looked away. Vlad had never been that brutally honest with him, and it hurt.
"What will you be having tonight?" Asked the waiter as he walked over to the table with a notepad in his hands.
Jack grinned, "I'll be having the lobster! It seems to be the only thing on the menu!" He commented as he turned to look at the waiter. The waiter look unamused as he blinked dryly, "And my wife will be having the same thing," he said in a friendly manner as he started to pile the menus together.
Vlad and Danny looked up as the waiter moved over to them, "And you two?" The waiter asked with a straight expression on his face, "The same I'll take it?" He asked in an uninterested tone. "Your food will be out in a few minutes…" He trailed, placing the notepad down to his sides. He took slow footsteps back to the kitchen.
"He seems like a swell guy!" Jack remarked, oblivious to everything that was around him. He went back to looking at the scenery again, his eyes catching a fish tank towards the back. "Is that an endangered red crabbed lobster?" He mumbled as he stood up and went to investigate.
Vlad and Danny sat in silence, "Why does it hurt so much…?" Danny mumbled as Vlad glanced over at the teen, "It feels so bad…Like my heart is being ripped apart," he stated openly. The teen began to wonder why he was telling Vlad all of this willingly. The words had left his mouth before he could stop them.
Vlad scoffed at the teen's ignorance to their ghost side, "Every ghost has an obsession, Daniel," he muttered as he sat back in his seat, "Hybrids are no exception to that rule," he informed as he looked at the teen to see if he was listening. To the older halfa's surprise, Danny was hanging onto every word he spoke. The man had to refrain himself from smirking at the boy's compliance. He had expected this from the teen, he just had never thought that he would see the boy actually do it. "Your obsession is to protect," Vlad spat out as he rolled his eyes, "Such an easily broken obsession, my boy, you should have accepted my offer from the reunion…" He trailed as he shook his head.
"What about an obsession?" Danny pressed, trying to hold the desperation out of his voice, "My obsession in particular?"
"Rejection is your kryptonite so to speak," Vlad stated, "Your sister rejected you, making your core unstable. It is a serious matter, as you have witnessed yourself."
Danny nodded numbly, "My ghost powers…" He trailed as he placed a hand to his chest. He suddenly grew panicked, "They aren't gone forever, are they?" He asked in a hurried rush.
Vlad chuckled, "Of course not, Daniel, don't be idiotic," he insulted as he crossed his arms and Danny started to grow angry with every word that Vlad was saying, "They are simply locked away. They can come back with an act of acceptance," Vlad said as he shook his head, "However, that still doesn't change the fact that Jasmine has made you ultimately useless."
"She didn't know what she was doing!" Danny defended as he glared, letting his anger get the better of him.
"And by doing that, she has made it so I may do whatever I wish," Vlad mused as the waiter started to come back to the table, "I could easily destroy your father at this very moment, and you would be powerless to stop me!" He threatened with a dark tone.
Danny's eyes grew wide as he understood what the older halfa meant, "Vlad, please don't-!" He began to plead, much to Vlad's amusement.
"Jack!" Maddie yelled as she ran into the restaurant, "Jack, no! You can't go into the tank!" She yelled with fear. She ran to where her husband was and tried to pull him down to the floor.
"But Madds! It's the endangered red crabbed – Oh no!" He yelled as he lost his footing and fell head first into the tank, effectively shattering it. It left the entire area covered in water, and Danny quickly stood up to help his father.
"Dad!" Danny yelled as he ran over to where the man was, "Are you okay?" He asked as he started to help him up. Vlad watched the action with narrowed eyes. The older half ghost was jealous that he got the woman that he loved and a devoted son. Shrugging the jealousy away, he straightened his suit and reminded himself that his time was coming. Patience was a virtue.
When Vlad got there, he found that two children were drenched. One had white hair, which the older halfa found peculiar, and the other was Mabel Pines. "Ah, sorry for my friend's incompetence," he apologized half-heartedly to the children.
Danny heard what he said and glared at him, though didn't say anything about it, "It is not your fault," Gideon remarked as he straightened his own suit, "After all, you cannot control someone else's idiotic tendencies…" He mumbled.
"Danny?" Mabel asked as she grinned and ran over to him, the ankle high water being sloshed against her feet as she ran.
"Oh, hey, Mabel," Danny said with a slight wave. Though as soon as he paid attention to the child, Jack slipped on the water immediately. "You're actually on a real date with him?" He asked as he referred to the white haired child.
Mabel rubbed the back of her neck, "He was hard to say no to…" She trailed as she glanced to the floor, "What are you doing here?" She asked with a small friendly smile.
Danny rolled his eyes at the question, "Dinner," he mused as he crossed his arms, "I guess instead of us catching dinner…" He trailed as he glanced at his dad with multiple lobsters attached to him, "Dinner sorta caught us," he stated.
Mabel chuckled, "Is that your dad?" She asked towards the man, "He seems really funny," she said with a smile. "You also saved me from another dating fiasco with-!" She began to say but was interrupted with Vlad and Gideon walking up to the duo.
"Since your evening got ruined due to Jack, I'll pay for another evening," Vlad stated.
"You will?" Gideon asked with a sly smile on his face, "That's much too kind!" He responded as his smile turned into a smirk.
Danny groaned, "Great, Vlad and Vlad Jr. together!" He hissed under his breath, "You just have to say no to him, Mabel, alright?" He asked as Mabel looked unsure of herself, "It's okay to say no."
Vlad placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, sending a sudden electric shock through him. Danny let out a slight flinch with the sudden electricity as he sent up a glare towards the man, "We must be going. You two enjoy your outing!" He yelled with false cheeriness. He forcefully led Danny away from the two children.
"Not only do you ruin my life, but you have to ruin Mabel's too?" Danny asked sarcastically as he tried to pry the older halfa's hand off of him. "You must enjoy it."
"The only one I enjoy to ruin would be yours, Daniel," Vlad stated with a smirk. Danny hadn't expected the honest direct answer and felt shocked. "And it will be ruined, my boy," he said as he whispered into the teen's ear, "Trust me on that."
Danny stared at his parents while Vlad went to help them up. The teen felt like he was going to have a bad time if he didn't get his ghost powers back. And soon.
The next day came and Danny let out a sigh as he sat up in his bed and glanced at the vacant bed across the room, "Jazz…" He trailed as he stood up and walked over to the triangular shaped window, "Why did this have to happen to me?" He asked as he turned away from the window and glanced at the desk. "Please work!" He mumbled as he opened the desk drawer and pulled out his cell phone. He turned it on and prayed that he had gotten a couple of bars at least. One was all he really needed.
No bars.
No service.
Danny let out a groan of unsatisfaction as he threw the phone on his bed, "I need to get a better cell phone provider…" He trailed as he plopped back onto his bed. He examined the wooden ceiling and rolled his eyes, "What I wouldn't give to be back home…Away from all of this…" He said in a soft voice. "I was supposed to play that new game with Tucker all summer. And web chat with Sam."
The teen sat up on his bed suddenly and raised a hand up to the wall and tried to pinpoint all his anger and frustration towards the palm of his hand. He was frozen that way for a few seconds before he placed his hand back down, "They really are gone," he admitted out loud as his body slumped.
What should he do today?
He was away from his friends, his sister was avoiding him at all costs. He felt alone for the first time in years, and he didn't know who he should turn to.
"You should explore the forest," Jack said as he entered the room.
Danny was slightly shocked at the sudden entrance of his father as he glanced up at him. He blinked in realization that someone had actually entered and that he hadn't thought it up. The teen grinned sheepishly, "Did I accidentally voice that out loud?" He asked.
Jack chuckled as he slapped his son on the back, "I'm your father. I can tell what you're thinking!" He mused as he grinned, "Maybe we can find some ghosts in this old forest!" He said excitedly.
"Uh, what about mom?" Danny asked, wondering why she was separated from him. With him not having his ghost powers, his father was asking to be attacked by Vlad at any minute, "Wouldn't she miss out?" He covered up his worry as he stood up.
"She got invited to that bakery down the street," Jack stated as he shrugged, "Now," he said, getting back onto the topic at hand, "Let's get to that ghost hunting!" He yelled as he started to walk out of the room.
Danny rose an eyebrow, a thought slowly coming to mind, "Did…Did you bring ghost hunting equipment?" He asked, a sliver of hope forming in his mind. With the ghost hunting equipment at their disposal, his father wouldn't be wasted.
Jack chuckled, "Of course not! But we can make do with this!" He yelled as he tossed his son a clear crystal. Danny stared at it in confusion. Sensing the atmosphere, Jack continued, "It's supposed to let you see ghosts that normal humans won't be able to see!" He informed with a grin.
"O…Kay…" Danny trailed, not finding a need for such a thing. After all, in Amity Park you could see the ghosts as clear as day. "I guess let's go," Danny said as he started to exit out of the room. He wasn't too sure about this activity. He couldn't protect his father with Vlad around.
"That's the spirit!" Jack enthused as they made their way down the stairs. They passed Vlad who was making coffee in the kitchen. The older halfa rose an eyebrow, "We'll be gone for five hours, Vladdie! Don't wait up!"
Danny nervously glanced to the side, "Uh – Five hours, dad?" He asked, "That seems a little-
Jack didn't wait for his son to finish as he darted out of the house, eager to start his investigation. Danny could feel Vlad's stare on him, and the young halfa glanced at the man, "I'm surprised he didn't ask you to join us," the teen spat out venomously.
"He did," Vlad admitted with a shrug, "There won't be any ghosts in this forest," he responded as he placed the coffee cup under the maker and let the liquid fill the cup slowly. Danny watched silently. Although the teen agreed with what the man said, there was no way that he would admit that out loud, "Besides, why would I pity Jack when he will soon be taken care of?" He asked as he took the cup and took a drink.
Danny was frozen in shock, "W-What – How-?" He began to stutter incoherently as he shook his head, trying to formulate a clear thought. It wasn't working. Vlad was looking at him with amusement as he rose an eyebrow.
Vlad let out a fake dejected sigh, "All you would have to do is join me, Daniel," the older halfa stated nonchalantly as he shrugged, "Then your father will be saved and…Well…" He trailed as he took another sip from his cup, "Not dead," he finished.
"That isn't fair!" Danny yelled as his eyes widened, "I…" He mumbled as Vlad shook his head at him. "I thought you said it was too early in the game for taking away a player!" He protested, Vlad seemingly ignored him as he was more focused on his coffee cup.
"Enjoy your day with your father, little badger," Vlad said as he placed the cup on the table. The teen looked up with a fear induced expression, "It will most likely be the last," he mused as he started to walk up the stairs, his hands behind his back, a smug smirk on his face.
Danny could only stare at the man before he heard his father running back into the house, "Come on, Danny-O!" He yelled as he ushered the teen to go through the front door. The teen felt numb but nodded stiffly as he followed his father out into the woods.
To say that Danny was on guard was an understatement. He was more alert than he had ever been before in his life. Everything that moved in the forest he was suddenly ready to punch at. His father took a confused glance back at his son, both eyebrows raised.
"Son, you'll know if there's a ghost with the sphere," Jack commented, unsure about his son's random behavior. "There's no need to seem so tense!" He stated with a grin.
Danny could only stare at his father. He was unaware of the situation he was currently in, "Right…" Danny trailed, though he still hadn't let down his guard, "Dad, you can look through it first," Danny stated as he kept looking around the forest. Vlad had to be around here somewhere.
Jack shrugged, "Alright," he mused as he held the crystal up to his eye and began to look through it, "Wow, there's nothing yet! I'll let you know when I see something!" He mused as he began to run through the forest and away from the teen who was trying to protect him.
"Dad!" He yelled as he outstretched a hand towards the direction he ran towards, "No, no, no!" He yelled as he began to run after him. "Dad!" He called out as he cupped his hands over his mouth and looked around the forest as quickly as he could.
"This was easier than I had anticipated," Plasmius said as he entered the area through a thick forest, "Have you reconsidered my offer?" He asked the teen.
Danny looked at Vlad and felt lost, "I…" He trailed as he looked down at the ground, "What exactly happens if I join you?" He asked in a quiet unsure tone.
Plasmius grinned, "Naturally, of course, after this summer you will come to live with me," Plasmius informed with glee, "I will start training you and we will rule the ghost zone together," he stated broadly as Danny looked up at him.
"Vlad, I don't know if I can do that," Danny said as he tried to persuade the man to think about something else, "There has to be something else!" He yelled, almost pleading at this point. Plasmius shook his head with a smirk, "Can you give me more time?"
"No, Daniel," Plasmius said as he started to walk towards the teen, "Will you allow your father to live?" He asked as he stood in front of him. "You're the hero, you make the heroic choice," he stated as he teleported away in a pink smoke.
Danny's heart sunk, "Dad!" He yelled in fear as he started to run again and found a small clearing ahead of him. He ran right through the thick shrubs, getting cut in multiple places in the process, "Where are you?!" He yelled as he entered a circular area. It seemed to be dead silent as the teen walked to a tree in the center of the circular area. It had an eye carved into it, and Danny felt a feeling of dread. He turned around and noticed the sphere where he had entered from. It was gleaming in the sun, but it was on the ground, "That wasn't there before," he stated with anxiety.
The teen knew that his father had the sphere and was concerned about his safety. He picked it up and lifted it up to his eyelevel, "Please let this thing let me find Vlad!" He mumbled desperately. Everything in the woods was dead and the teen brought the orb over to where a yellow light was shining through. He jumped when he saw a lone eye staring back at him. He brought the orb away from his eyes and saw that everything was green and lively. He narrowed his eyes as he brought the orb back up.
The lone eye slowly backed away, but not backed out all the way for the teen to see whose eye it was. It glanced towards the right area of the forest and then disappeared. Danny nodded, "I guess I'll follow his advice," Danny stated as he wasted no time in running towards the direction the lone eye glanced at. "Please, please, please!" He chanted as he ran through the thick shrubs once more, causing his cuts to grow deeper, a red crimson flowing down his exposed arms and legs.
"How did you follow me here, you filthy ghost!" Jack yelled as he dodged an ecto-blast that was fired at him. Danny's breath was hitched in his throat as he finally made it to where his father and Plasmius were. "Danny, stay back!" He yelled as he barely had enough time to dodge another ecto-blast.
"Plasmius, stop!" Danny yelled as he ran to where his father was, ignoring his orders and stood in front of him, "I won't let you waste my dad!" He yelled as he narrowed his eyes at the older halfa.
Plasmius merely rolled his eyes and shot at Danny. He expected the teen to move and avoid the attack. He was slightly surprised for the teen to take the hit so it wouldn't hit his father behind him. "Move," Plasmius ordered in a dark tone as he floated up to the teen. Danny shook his head as he held his shoulder, where the attack had hit him. Since his ghost powers were locked away, his super healing didn't work, and blood started to flow down his arm. "Daniel, move," Plasmius ordered more intently.
Danny gripped his shoulder hard and glared up the man, "No!" He yelled in defiance as Plasmius shook his head. Jack tried to move in front of the teen to take the blast, but he tripped over a tree root that was exposed. Danny let out an agonized yell as Plasmius shot his lower leg, making the teen fall to the ground.
"I only hurt you because you make me, dear boy," Plasmius stated grimly as he floated over to Jack, who was standing up from his unplanned fall. "Now…" He trailed dramatically as he powered up another ecto-blast and aimed it at Jack.
"Wait!" Danny yelled through clenched teeth. He was in a lot of pain and knew that if he didn't say this now, his father would die. Plasmius glanced back at the withering teen, "I'll do it," he stated as Plasmius smirked. "I'll-
Dipper let out a yelp as he accidentally walked into the scene, "Danny, are you okay?!" He yelled from half-way across the area. He noticed that the teen was bleeding in his shoulder and lower leg and was bleeding a lot. "Stay away from him!" Dipper ordered in anger at Plasmius.
Plasmius let out a growl, "Butter Balls!" He cursed as he glanced at Dipper. He knew that with a witness, no one would believe that Jack was killed in the forest by himself. He knew that his plan needed to be revised and he needed to put the uncommon factor in his equation. He then glanced at Danny and narrowed his eyes at the teen, "I'm not satisfied with your answer, Daniel," he stated, making Danny narrow his eyes back at the older halfa. "I want you to beg," Plasmius said in a dark tone as he disappeared in a pink smoke.
"Danny, geez, are you okay?" Dipper asked as he ran over to him. Jack also ran over to his son and scooped him up into his arms. "Was…Was that a ghost?" Dipper asked as he looked over at Jack. "I've seen a ghost before, and he didn't seem that…" Dipper trailed as he thought back to the murderous look in Plasmius' eyes, "Evil," he finished.
"All ghosts are evil," Jack said in a dark tone, "The Wisconsin Ghost will not rest until he has hurt me and my entire family," he stated in a serious tone. "You're Danny's friend, aren't you?" He asked as he smiled slightly, making Dipper raise an eyebrow at the sudden change of emotion. The boy nodded his head, "Let's head to the house. Luckily Vlad knows how to do first aid!" Jack beamed with pride as he started to walk through the forest.
Dipper nodded, not wanting to argue with the man who he just met. Danny heard what his father said and groaned in response. Great, not only was Vlad the one who hurt him in the first place, he was also going to bandage him up. The world liked to have a sick sense of irony.
Dipper and Jack were talking to each other about ghosts in the living room. Mostly it was Jack talking and Dipper taking notes in his notepad that he had brought. Danny and Vlad were in the kitchen, and the older halfa was stitching up the boy.
"You seem to already have scar tissue on this shoulder, little badger," Vlad commented as he strung the thread into the flesh and pulled. It was non-too gently as well, making the teen hiss out in response, "I'm guessing that mark is from a weapon that Skulker uses."
"You would know all about that, wouldn't you?" Danny challenged sarcastically, knowing exactly why Skulker was after him that day, "And to answer your question, no, I didn't change all the toilet paper in City Hall to blue…" He hissed as Vlad pulled the stings together again.
Vlad sighed in mock dejection, "I suppose it must have been someone much more childish than you," he mumbled as he began to work on the leg. Danny knew it was Youngblood playing a prank on Amity Park. The younger halfa just wished that Youngblood knew the consequences that his little 'harmless' prank held on him. "You wouldn't be having to get stitches if you would just accept my offer…" He trailed as he started to thread the needle again.
Danny glared at the man, "The important part is that I didn't officially accept it…" He mumbled as he closed his eyes tightly as the needle penetrated his flesh and started to close it together.
"Your friend Dipper Pines got in the middle of our business," Vlad addressed darkly as he glanced over in the living room and noticed the young boy. Danny opened his eyes and growled back at the man, who now focused his attention on the teen.
"You touch him and I'll never forgive you," Danny threatened as Vlad merely shrugged and pulled the stitches again, making Danny hiss out in pain once again, "Do you have to pull so hard?" He spat out as he glared at the man.
Vlad looked at the teen in mock sympathy, "Did I pull too hard?" He asked as he smirked at the teen, "You're not one to make threats, dear boy," he whispered as he finished up the stitch, "If your friend becomes a problem, I will take care of him."
Danny let out a shaky breath, "He's not involved in this," he said in a low tone.
"He is now, isn't he?" Vlad asked with a half-smirk as he walked out of the kitchen, leaving the teen to be alone with his thoughts.
"You want me to tell him no, Mabel?" Dipper asked with a raised eyebrow, "I'll do it."
"Thanks, bro bro!" Mabel yelled as she embraced her brother with a grin, "You're the best brother ever!"
Danny let out a small chuckle, "Isn't he the only brother?" He asked as Dipper grinned. "I guess I'll go with you, Dipper," Danny stated as he stood up from where he was sitting. "You know, in case Gideon tries anything on you."
Dipper let out a laugh, "Like what? Use magic?" He asked as Danny let out a smile. "Sure, we can rub it in his pale face of his," he stated as the two of them started to head out the door. As they were walking towards where Mabel was supposed to meet up with Gideon, Dipper suddenly grew silent. "I have a question."
"Okay…?" Danny asked as he stuck his hands in his pants pockets, "Shoot."
"Are ghosts really evil?" Dipper asked as Danny let out a sigh, though it seemed to come out as a borderline groan. "Did I say something wrong?" He asked, based upon Danny's reaction.
The teen shook his head, "You've been talking to my dad, so it's expected," he mused, "I think that you have to know a ghost to really know if he's evil or good," he stated as Dipper nodded for him to continue talking, "Now, Plasmius?" He asked, "The ghost in the woods? He's super bad."
Dipper nodded, "I figured," he admitted, "The look in his eyes…"
"He won't come after you," Danny stated in absolute confidence, "Me and my dad will protect you," he said with a smile. It lifted the boy's spirits and he nodded.
"Well, this is the place…" He trailed as he looked up at the abandoned warehouse.
Danny rose an eyebrow, "Were they really supposed to meet here?" He asked as Dipper shrugged in response, "I think this is a trap."
Dipper nodded in agreement, "I think so too. But Gideon's in there," he said in a serious tone, "Maybe," he added as Danny chuckled. The two started to enter the warehouse and spotted Gideon sitting in an office chair with wheels. He spun around and revealed that he was petting a little doll of himself.
"That's so messed up," Danny commented, not even allowing for Gideon to speak first.
"I have had it up to here with your constant mocking of me!" Gideon yelled as he clutched the amulet around his neck, and suddenly Danny went flying and collided into a pile of boxes.
Dipper narrowed his eyes at the boy in front of him, "Hey!" He yelled, "My sister doesn't want to date you man, leave her alone!" He yelled and then suddenly he was lifted up into the air. His feet were dangling, and the boy's eyes went wide.
Gideon growled as he stood up, "You're in the way of me and my love!" He yelled with a glare, "Maybe you should be cut from the equation!" He yelled as a large pair of sheers were suddenly levitated into the air and began to move in the cutting movement.
"That was a bad pun!" Danny yelled as he bulldozed right into the white haired boy, making him lose his hold on Dipper and the sheers. "It wasn't sheer genius at all. Don't quit your day job," Danny said as he slammed the boy into the wall. The teen then grabbed hold of the amulet and tossed it on the ground, rendering the boy useless. Although he tossed it away from the boy, he didn't shatter it. "Come on, Dipper, let's get out of here."
"S-Sure!" Dipper yelled as he scrambled to his feet, slightly disoriented from falling from such a height. Danny was ahead of him, his stitches had been reopened, and blood was seeping through his shirt, as well as down his leg.
Gideon let out a growl and rose his amulet to the air from the ground, "You're not going anywhere!" He yelled as a blue light surrounded Danny and Dipper. They didn't expect a sudden attack from the boy and were sent flying to the air.
Danny struggled to move in the air, "Dipper, get behind me," he ordered as Dipper tried to control his movements in the air and did as he was told. "Even if I'm bruised and beaten I won't let Gideon put a hand on you," he said protectively.
"Danny, you're going to get seriously hurt if you do that!" Dipper yelled as Danny shrugged it off, "Besides, I'm not a coward, I can fight for myself."
"Isn't that sweet?" Gideon asked sarcastically as he walked over to where the two were floating in the air, "How about you take a plunge and still have that confidence, hmm?" He asked as he thrusted the amulet towards the warehouse window.
The two of them went flying out the broken window and started to plummet down a cliff. Dipper started to scream and Danny was trying to will his ghost powers to the surface. He felt them very briefly, he thought it was most likely his obsession still sticking around. Since he had protected Dipper in the warehouse, his obsession had been fueled. "Dipper?" He asked as Dipper was screaming and clawing at the air in a desperate attempt to stop himself, "Dipper!"
"What?!" Dipper responded with wide eyes. At seeing how calm and collected Danny was, Dipper started to calm down slightly, "What?" He asked again at a normal volume.
"I need to know if you're going to accept me if I show you something," Danny stated in an unsure tone. He wasn't sure if he would completely shatter if someone else rejected him that he cared about. He thought of Dipper like a little brother, and wasn't sure if he could handle if he didn't accept him.
Dipper stared at him and blinked, "Unless you're going to show me your Spell card collection, I won't judge," he stated as he wasn't even concerned with falling to his death anymore. He found it odd that Danny could make him feel that way; he felt protection from the teen.
Danny nodded as he closed his eyes and willed his ghost powers to the surface. It burned his skin and his core to bring in to the surface. It felt agonizing and he held down a scream that was about to escape his throat. But, if he didn't do this, then he, along with Dipper, would certainly die. "Here! We! Go!" He yelled as he placed his arms over his head, "I'm going ghost!"
Dipper could only watch as the transformation happened swiftly, yet, it seemed as if Danny was in pain. Once Danny was in his ghost form, it seemed as if the pain disappeared. There, floating to his death, was the ghost that he had seen when they were running form the gnomes. The one that was feeling depressed in the forest. Right in front of him, "You're a ghost!" He yelled.
"Actually, I'm only half," Danny corrected as he smiled gently at him.
"Dude…A ghost…Half ghost…In front of me," Dipper said in broken English as he grinned. The suspense was slowly killing Danny. Did Dipper accept him for what and who he was? "This is so cool!" He yelled as he brought out his notepad from earlier and clicked a pen from his pocket, "I have so many questions!"
Danny let out a smile, knowing he had been accepted by his friend, "But first, let's not fall to your deaths, agreed?" He asked as he grabbed hold of the boy's sweater and lowered him slowly to the ground. Once he was on the ground, Danny was exhausted with the minimal use of his ghost form. He reverted back to his human half and collapsed on the ground. He looked at his leg and was overly ecstatic to see it healing with his super healing.
Dipper smiled sadly at seeing how exhausted his friend was, "I guess my questions will wait for tomorrow. Come to the Mystery Shack around two pm?" He asked with a pleading tone.
"Sure, I'll be there," Danny said with a smirk.
"Whoa! Are you two okay!?" Mabel yelled from above them. The two looked up and saw Mabel floating down to them with the blue amulet in her hands. She landed on the ground softly with a smile, "I'll take that as a yes!"
Dipper's eyes widened, "He didn't hurt you, did he?" He asked as he ran over to Mabel to examine her for any injuries from Gideon.
She shook her head, "No, but I hurt him!" She said slyly as she glanced to her left, exactly where a recovering Danny was, with reopened stitches. "Danny! Are you alright!" She yelled as she ran over to him.
"Sure, don't ask if I'm alright," Dipper mumbled as he rolled his eyes.
"Peachy," Danny stated as he chuckled, "I think we should smash that thing before he can use it again," Danny stated as he pointed up to the amulet still in Mabel's hand.
Dipper nodded, "Smash it, smash it!" He chanted as Mabel smirked and did as she was told.
"Touchdown!" Mabel yelled as she tossed it on the ground harshly. The shards scattered on the ground of the forest where the moonlight casted a haunting gaze on them.
To be continued…