Chapter Four: New Normal

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Well, hello there, fellow DP fan, I hope you are enjoying this story and looking forward to what is coming. I have a treat for you a decently long chapter. Fair warning in advance: Time passes in this chapter, so if it seems like it may be moving fast, it is due to the fact that time is passing by, so pay attention for that, as for the rogues members I use as examples, it is what I thought of as good ways to show off the APPDGD.

Anyway, On With The Show:

It took some time for it to truly sink in for both Danny and the rest of the family, partially because of how busy they were that summer. Between overseeing training of the APPDGD in ghost fighting tactics, designing new defenses for the town with Axion Labs, conferences with police and military contractors for the designs of the RV which was more of an APC then a normal road vehicle, even a bit of training local residents in basic ghost defense measures the days of summer passed quickly. As for the ghosts they didn't know what they were going to have to deal with.

For a time, Danny led his ghost division from the front on every ghost attack, coordinating forces in take down methods. It was better than Danny had hoped, then the Rogues came.

Ember

Ember had come to try once again to have a concert in Amity Park, for a bit of fun and to see if she could mess with the dipstick. As ever, she had a large crowd, she was partially wondering where the kid was. What happened however would be very distressing for her.

"Sarge, what are we dealing with?" the Lieutenant as he also served as the team commander of the Ghost SWAT asked into his earpiece, as he was driving the Ghost Divisions SWAT APC, which was a Fenton RV painted in green and blue to represent the Division with his team in the back. It was a weird situation as technically he was a superior officer taking orders from a lower rank, but he and the Captain knew that while most of the time higher rank meant authority, when the situation was serious, experience outranked everything. There was also the fact that for the most part, Danny and he got on well with each other, so they didn't butt heads on the minor issue of command. Danny hadn't lead them wrong yet, and even put himself in danger to take an attack meant for one of the men. He had endeared himself to the team, they would follow him to the ends of the earth if they had too. The SWAT Team was basically Danny's personal force of ghost fighters.

"Ember, make sure everyone is wearing both Fenton Phones, to keep her hypnotic melody out. When you arrive, I want a man on a roof with a long rifle, trained on her, to cover me. Also, have the riot shields ready, she may turn the crowd against us. She has done that before," Danny told his men.

"On it sir," the officer confirmed, before addressing the others, "you heard the Sergeant. Jenkins, get up on the building across from the stage."

"Yes Sir," the officer named Jenkins confirmed, checking his ecto-rifle.

Danny floated just outside Ember's eyesight, surveying everything, as he had to be in a more tactical role, until everyone was in position. He had told his men that with the Rogues that he will take the lead for a time until he felt the team was ready to handle them on their own. As he was surveying the land, he had noticed that the team had gotten into position, "Alright, weapons tight, Jenkins cover me, I am going in. Rest of you slowly move in toward the stage, keep an eye on the crowd, and have knockout/tear gas and pepper spray ready just in case we need to do crowd control," he ordered before heading straight in toward the stage for Ember. "Ember, cease this attempt," he shouted as he came to land in front of her.

"Oh I don't think so, Dipstick, just look at them, do you hear them, calling my name?" Ember said to him.

"Only do to the fact that your music has a hypnotic effect on it, I am giving you one chance to stand down and leave quietly," Danny said, with his hands on his hips.

"How nice Dipstick, however, I have other ideas," Ember said as she turned the nob on her guitar, to fist and played the chord that sent the ecto energy fist in his direction.

Dodging it, Danny sighed, 'why do they never go quietly?' he asked himself in thought, "Takedown is authorized, move in men," he said in his earpiece. That was when Ember had noticed the ectoplasmic green uniformed SWAT officers. She turned the nob on her guitar again and sent out a mind control wave to the crowd to get them to rise against the interlopers. "Deploy knockout gas," he ordered his men.

"What about you, sir?" the corporal of the team asked.

"I'll be fine, do it!" he ordered. The officers fixed gas masks to their faces and opened knockout gas canisters and a couple had been launched by grenade launcher. The Knockout gas had been developed by Axion Labs based on a sample of the gas Spectra and Bertrand used in that Ghost Mosquito flu incident. Danny had done a little poking around the old building they had used as a fake hospital and found a sample of the that gas. They had found a way to make a formula that didn't affect Danny. Quickly enough, the crowd was subdued and it allowed the officers to advance toward the ghosts. Jenkins took a shot at one of Ember's back up ghost band members, which had vanished on impact as if they were illusions, and slid the charging bolt back and reloaded the chamber of his rifle for another shot, laying his sights on the lead ghost. Danny did battle with the popstar diva, keeping her distracted as his men moved in, until she was surrounded, and Danny had wrested the guitar from her grasp, breaking it over his knee.

"Yield, ghost, you are hereby placed under arrest by the authority of the Amity Park Police Department Ghost Division," the Lieutenant said to the ghost diva, who took a notice of all the ecto weapons pointed at her. Danny pulled out his Fenton Thermos and captured the ghost.

"Good job men, you handled that well," Danny congratulated his team, "We should probably call for back up to help wake the civilians up." Backup arrived and helped revive to consciousness the formerly mind controlled crowd.

Technus

When Technus came around and was doing his usual antics, which was raiding technology stores and building a battlesuit to combat the defender of Amity Park. He got a surprise he never expected, as the ecto-charged EMP grenades shut down his suit and forced him out of it, "well, that's unfortunate," he remarked, just before Danny clocked him in the face.

"That was for pushing me and Valerie together," he told his enemy.

"Save some of him for me," he heard a female voice say, turning his head to see Valerie coming in hot on her hoverboard. Danny grabbed the ghost and tossed him toward her, who took the opportunity to blast him from afar before going melee with her ecto-charged suit gauntlets.

"You dare to use the upgrade I gave you against me?" Technus said, as he raised a hand to take control of the suit, but realized he couldn't, he was blocked out. "Impossible," the ghost said, astounded.

"I have had some further upgrades, ones that keep you from controlling me," Valerie said as she lobbed a handful of small pellets that packed a strong enough shock to any ghost they hit to noticeably weaken the ghost they hit. Combined with supporting fire from the Ghost SWAT team, Technus had been weakened enough to be caught.

"It is good to see you Corporal," Danny said to Valerie, once the master of technology had been caught.

"Sorry I wasn't there to help with Ember, I was out of town," Valerie said.

"Don't be sorry, the team did well, besides, we both had a score to settle with this one," Danny brushed her apology aside,.

"Yeah, Skulker is the other one we, or rather I owe one to," Valerie said. Danny's eyebrows raised a bit in mirth and he shook his head slightly with crossed arms.

"I am not letting you fight him alone, not yet," he said, "alright, everyone back to the station, there is a lot of paperwork to do," saying out to the team.

One of his men got his attention, "Sir, what about the battle suit?" Danny looked back at it and it fell apart into its component pieces.

"Well, the pieces will probably need to be either recycled or trashed as those circuits are no doubt fried from the EMPs. Someone call our forensics team out here to clean this up," Danny said.

"Right away sir," the officer said before heading to carry out the order.

Back at the station, despite the fact that both teens had said they wouldn't do much paperwork, they still had to do a decent amount of it, mostly for Danny as he was signing the forms to take custody of the thermos containing the captured ghost for return to the Ghost Zone, and the forms so that Valerie could get paid her bonus pay. The rest of the paperwork was the rest of the divisions problem.

Over the course of next few weeks, Danny eased back on going out to fight himself, leaving up to the team he trained and in Valerie's care, but a couple times he had to make a mad dash across town because of which ever member of the Rogues gallery decided to poke their head out, they did not have a good time at all, but eventually he barely went out to fight, knowing that he was leaving things in good hands, they had proved it to him as well, and when he did he mostly just was in a tactical overview role, he would float a good distance away from the fight and watch, coaching his team through it.

He did get to witness some funny interactions due to this, like when Johnny and Kitty technically got pulled over for speeding, and shoved into a thermos, or thanks to the family teaching and suppling regular citizens, when he had heard that Skulker was on the prowl, he got to see Skulker try to simply scare someone only for that person to turn around and blast him in the face with a holdout ecto-blaster. Danny intervened before the Ghost hunter could harm the civilian.

However, he did take up the lead when Vortex was on the loose, it was a good chance to test the defenses they had prepared. Lightning rods that could fling Vortex's lightning back at him, and Arc towers that fired powerful bolts at the Ghost that was able to mimic the level of intensity that Vortex could dish out.

"Hey, Vortex, remember me?" Danny cried out as he flew up toward the ghost to get his attention, the rain pelting him in the face, "how the hell did he get out?" he asked himself.

"The Ghost Boy, how droll," Vortex took a wheeze breath, "this time however, I will not let you," another wheeze, "turn my abilities against me. This storm will drown your pathetic town."

"We'll see about that that," he said to the ghost, "raise the towers," to his family and friends. Danny flew towards the nearest lightning rod, "Hey Vortex, don't you know that Lightning can't strike the same place twice?' he taunted. Vortex snarled and launched a huge bolt of lightning at the hero, who dodged at the last second. The bolt struck the rod and bounced back, striking the weather ghost squarely. As the ghost was collecting himself, "did you get a reading on the intensity of that bolt?"

Tucker's voice came back, "We did Danny, charging the Arc towers now to that voltage."

"Fire when charged, I will lead him to the center of the field," he said, taking off to lead Vortex to the center of town. With Vortex in tow, he led the weather ghost to the center of town to give the towers the time to charge.

"Towers charged Danny, you in position?" Tucker asked.

"Fire the Arc towers," he ordered. Tucker in the command center, pressed a few keys on the terminal to aim and activate all the towers. Each tower sent out a lightning blast that locked onto Vortex and sent enough voltage through the ghost to render him weak enough to be captured. Everything was going much more smoothly for him.

In terms of the rest of the family, his parents kept busy between Axion and other contracts, they were propelled by their excitement that people were finally taking them seriously. To say nothing of the wealth flowing in, that they wisely set aside and vowed not to get to large for their britches like that one time with the GIW.

As for Danielle, she spent most of her summer days with Mr. Lancer, playing catch up in terms of schooling. The process was helped along by the use of the learning helmet that Casper High used on his class to fast-track their studying for that exam. Danielle wasn't to pleased with this, as she was still very much a free spirit, but she knew it was necessary. Danny had told Jazz to make sure Danielle had stayed on top of her schooling. She was happy to oblige him this request. At the same time, Jazz also was Danny's coordinator in many ways, when it came to certain meetings that he had to go to.

As his police team proved its to be a success, Danny was able to turn his attention to other matters. Heck, he even agreed to be on a talk show, under the idea that this would answer most of the questions people may have for him, so that the crowds that gather on and off outside the house would calm down.

Talk Show:

"Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we have a very special guest. He first appeared on the scene only a few years ago, and we questioned his motives, but time and time again he has put his life on the line to protect this town from the other side. You know him, you love him. Please welcome Amity Park's own son: Danny Phantom," the host, Col Bert, introduced him. He walked out onto the stage to the roar of applause of the crowd. Danny took the hand offered to him and shook it tightly before sitting down on the guest couch.

"Let me just say that it is an honor to have a real-life superhero on the show," Col said starting the interview.

Danny smiled a bit, "Yeah, it is a heavy burden to be one, nothing like the comic book heroes I like reading in my free time, but what is like what we read."

"Speaking of that, you have been trying to lighten the burden on your shoulders, haven't you?" Col asked him.

"Yes, the Ghost Division of the APPD, this town couldn't be in better hands. I have worked alongside them for about a month and a half now, and let me tell you, they are some of the finest men and women I have had a pleasure of working with," Danny answered, as he said that last bit he heard a few people in the crowd shout cheers, and a 'thank you Sarge,' he had recognized the voice of the officer it belonged to as a member of his SWAT team. "Due to this fantastic and enthusiastic group, that I am know able to take a step back and focus on other things, of which there are still many to do."

"So what is next for the world-renowned half ghost hero?" the host asked.

"Well, I am planning on writing a book about my experiences that will also serve as a true account of the Ghost Zone, to put right the wrongs of misinformation and clear up confusion," Danny answered.

"Sounds like a very interesting read and I am sure we are all looking for forward to its publication," shifting topic, "so Mr. Fenton, I am sure most of our viewers, either long time or first timers who are here for you, want to know: How did it begin for you?"

"An accident with the family ghost portal, all I will say is that I was lucky to survive," Danny said. For almost an hour, Danny answered questions, told his story, and talked a bit about the Ghost Zone.

"So, Mr. Phantom, I am sure many of our viewers are wondering, are you on the dating scene?" the host asked him.

Danny knew that question was coming, and he laughed slightly, "No actually, I am happily in a relationship with someone right now," he could hear the disappointment from across the town. 'I really need to take her on a proper date,' he thought to himself.

As they reached the end of the time slot for the interview, Col asked one more question, "Well, Danny, we are out of time, is there any last remarks you want to say to our viewers?"

Danny turned to face the audience and the cameras, "I want to be treated like a normal person again, while I like the praise, I also want things to be normal again, but I guess I can't do that as my true identity is known, but for my sake, please just chill out. As for someone else, Vlad, if you are watching, know this, I am coming for you, you will not hide forever, either from me or the GIW."

With Vlad

As soon as Danny made his last remark about coming after him, a pink ecto-blast destroyed the tv in a fit of anger. "Damn that little brat," Vlad swore to himself, "going on TV and calling me out. I can't even get to him or even the pathetic clone, Amity Park is on high alert for me. Once my new portal is finished, at least I will have a way to possibly get to him, or at least a place to escape to if they find me here." Ever since Danny had exposed both of them to the world, everything had gone topsy turvy for him, none of his usual retreats were safe for him, they were either destroyed or so quarinted by the GIW, he couldn't even get within a mile of them. Getting the parts for a new portal had also become nearly impossible as they had become very controlled, no doubt that Jack and Maddie let it known what poarts he would need to build a new one and the companies that made them had shut down the production of them. He was making due with what he could, but it was slower than he wanted.

Date Night

With everything going his way, and being able to take some time for himself, he turned to making his relationship with Sam proper. The first thing to do was to have a proper date night, with dinner and a movie. He took Sam to a fancy restaurant of her choosing, they had a laugh as they sat down as Danny told her that he had to tell them that he was Danny Phantom just to get a reservation there. It was a bit awkward for them at first as they had known each other for so long that they knew almost everything about each other, but it was still a nice night. As for the movie, it was a monster horror movie, while maybe not the ideal date movie for some, for them, it was a near perfect night, aside for a moment when a random ghost when by them and was being chased by his team, but they did not let that harsh their night.

Danny dropped Sam off late back at her house, "Thanks for taking me out for a proper date tonight, Danny," Sam said to him.

"Your welcome, Sam, it was nice to do something normal for once, instead of having to hide our relationship," Danny said.

"I am sure it will be in the papers tomorrow," Sam said, a bit jokingly and also serious, as she thought about her parents, taking a look over her shoulder at the house.

Knowing what she was thinking about, "Don't dwell on it, you and your parents are at a bit of an impasse already, and you knew this would happen eventually," Danny tried to encourage her.

"I know, just a lot to process," Sam said.

"Well, good night Sam, I will see you tomorrow," Danny said, they embraced and Danny placed a light kiss on her lips, he whispered in her ear, "if it goes south, you are welcome at my house."

"Thank you," she whispered back. They broke their embrace, he bid her a final goodbye and left. Sam stayed outside for a moment longer, not entirely ready to face her parents, but she steeled herself and went inside and up to her room.

The Next Day

Sam awoke to the screech of her mother's voice, "Samantha Manson, get dressed and get down here."

Sam gritted her teeth and sat up, "its too early in the morning for this," already knowing what this was about. She got out of bed and got dressed and went down the stairs to the living room. There were her parents standing with their arms crossed and scowls on their faces and her grandmother on her scooter with a look of compassion on her face, 'at least someone is on my side,' she thought. "what is this about?" She asked, thought that was a rhetorical question. Her father, Jeremy, tossed the days newspaper at her feet. She looked down and saw what the front page was about. There was a photo of her and Danny on their date last night that she did not remember being taken, it seemed neither of them knew about it, and the headline: Danny Phantom's girlfriend's identity. She looked back at her parents.

"Care to explain yourself, young lady?" her mother said.

"Yes, I am dating Danny, what of it, I like him and he likes me, I don't see the problem," Sam said.

"He is a Fenton, those crazies are no good for you," Pamela said.

"Those 'crazies' saved your lives if I recall correctly," Sam countered.

"He is half-ghost, meaning he is half dead already, no daughter of mine will date or marry someone that is half dead," her mother said.

"I am the one who is mainly responsible for him getting his powers, and have been the one being his constant support to do the right thing," Sam nearly shouted back, her ire rising, also partially wondering why her grandmother wasn't stepping in to side with her in the matter. This argument went on, back and forth for a good thirty minutes until Sam got so fed up, "If you can't see how much I care for him, and want to be with him, then I will no longer consider this my home, and you will not see me again," Sam shouted at her parents.

To Sam's surprise, Jeremy and Pamela eased back and even a bit of a smile cracked her father's upper lip. "Well done, Sam," Sam was utterly confused.

"What?" was all she could ask.

"You passed the test, you may date Danny," her father said.

Sam just shook her head in confusion, " I don't get it." Her parents beckoned her over to sit between them on the couch so they could talk.

"We were just testing your convictions in this matter. To make sure you strongly felt this way about your boyfriend," her mother said.

"The fact that you were willing to leave home in the pursuit of the one you love speaks to your resolve, that is what we wanted to make sure of," her father said.

"I did the same thing to your father when he started dating your mother," her grandmother spoke up.

"Listen, we may not like it right now, but we will support your choices," her mother said, "we are family, and that is what family is supposed to do, stick by each other, and support each other." The Manson family had a group hug.

Sam would later swear she heard a disembodied voice say, "everything is as it should be."

Holy moly, did this chapter get away from me or what? I jest but at the same time, man it was a lot. I hope you enjoyed and are excited for what is to come. I think next time, we may have a Fenton Family adventure into the Ghost Zone.

Did you happen to catch my subtle references to other things, like the talk show host was named Col Bert, Colbert, after Steven Colbert. I would have used a DP character had I found one that did a talk show, but I didn't and I made a choice. The other more subtle reference is when it said that the Lieutanant and the Captian knew that experience outranks everything that is a Star wars The Clone Wars reference.

I thank you for reading and please let me know what you thought and please, if you have any ideas or questions please submit them to me, I will address them in some way. If anyone is curious, including what I have already written for future chapters, I am sitting at about 100 pages. Crazy.

The Emperor is out. Peace.