Chapter 13
Danny
Danny woke up to his Ghost Sense going off. He quickly leapt out of bed and went Ghost, only to sense that it was Clockwork. "Clockwork, it's been a while," Danny said. The Ghost of Time chuckled and said, "For you, perhaps." Danny walked over to his sink to get some water before saying, "Willie and Morgan got home safely. Same with Seras. I take it this means that the ghosts will help us?" Clockwork told him, "Perhaps. Some will, some won't. There are many fates on the line now, many variables, many paths for the future to take now. However, one thing is clear."
Clockwork's tone became more serious then as he spoke with far more gravitas than Danny had ever heard before. "Daniel James Fenton, known around the world as the hero Danny Phantom, I have come to tell you, that your end is at hand. Within the next 24 hours, no matter what choices you make, you will die," Clockwork said. Danny dropped his cup and would have stared if he had eyes to. "So, that is certain, is it," Danny finally said after a long minute. Clockwork answered, "Yes. The final battle is nigh. And, because of the choices that you and others have made, this is your last day alive. There is no future in which you survive after today." Danny swallowed and a strange feeling fell over him. Perhaps it was experience, perhaps it was cynicism, perhaps maturity, but Danny didn't feel afraid.
"How you die could happen in any of a million ways," Clockwork told him, "The only question is, what are you going to do with the time you have left?" Danny nodded, "Thank you, Clockwork. I…have things I need to say, to people." Clockwork called after him, "Danny, for what its worth, your death need not be pointless. You may be able to save the ones you love. I won't say anymore, because then you won't make the right choices. In the end, that is all that ever matters in existence. Farewell, Danny Phantom." With a tap of his staff, Clockwork disappeared, and Danny realized that time was continuing once again.
He was…calm. Even he was surprised when he realized that he didn't feel fear or worry or despair. He would die this day, no matter what. There was nothing he could do about that. However, he knew Clockwork, he wouldn't have appeared if it wasn't important. Danny knew that this meant that he could do anything now. He could fight hard now. Harder than he ever had before. He could push his body in ways that he never would have if he thought he would suffer for it in the morning. Danny Phantom might die, but he would take out a lot of werewolves before he did.
After those thoughts ran through his head, Danny thought of his family. Jazz, Dani, Willie, Morgan, Cammie, and Dani's baby boy, Philippe. That was his entire family now. Tucker and Valerie had been by his side through this entire crazy ride for decades. Seras and Integra had helped train him into the powerful man he was now. They all were precious to him, and more special than anyone on the outside would ever know.
Danny opened his Third Eye, and found Jazz, Tucker, and Valerie together in the base's gym. He flew there, passing through walls along the way. He wanted them to know what would happen, he wanted them to be ready to take care of his kids, after he was gone. He arrived at the gym in time to hear Jazz land a hard spinning roundhouse kick to a heavy bag Valerie was holding for her. "UGH! Damn Jazz! Anyone ever tell you that you kick too hard?" Jazz chuckled and said, "Only after I kick them. But usually they just say, 'OW!' then hit the ground." Tucker spotted Danny first and said, "Hey, Danny, you here for training?"
Danny shook his head, "No. I'm here for something more important." Jazz asked him, "What's wrong, Danny?" Danny wished he could see them all, but he couldn't. He sat down on a bench and said, "Clockwork came to see me a few minutes ago. He wanted me to know something. Today, no matter what, is the day that I will die." Everyone present dropped their water bottles and Jazz quietly said, "No…he can't be right…" Danny shook his head, "Clockwork wouldn't have appeared in person if it wasn't important. And he's never wrong about this stuff. I'm going to die today."
His friends and older sister went to Danny and put their hands on his broad shoulders. He realized how large he had grown, and yet he felt so small knowing that they were there to support him. "I wanted you three to know first. I…I can't tell you all how much you helped me throughout the years. Jazz, you're the best big sis a guy could have ever asked for. Tucker, you are the greatest friend, helper, ally…I don't know what else I can say. We saved each other's asses so many times…there's no way I could pay you back. Valerie, thanks for helping us. Anyone on your bad side has a lot of things to worry about."
All of them were quiet, but he could tell that they were all crying. "When I'm gone…I want all of you to take care of my kids, all of them, Willie, Morgan, Cammie, they'll need all of you. Willie especially, he's gotten angrier and angrier since everything started. He'll need you to help him direct that anger into something good. Morgan will probably take it worst; she'll need all of your love. And Cammie…she's slipping away now. She's losing what humanity she has. Please, help her keep her decency. And Danielle, she needs to know too. She can help teach them in ways that only another halfa can. I'm going to go find her now," Danny finished speaking, and opened his Third Eye again, and found Danielle in her room with her baby.
Danny flew over to her in time to hear her burping the baby. "Hey Cuz, what's up?" she asked him. "Dani, I have something hard to tell you," he began. Danielle put her baby down in his crib before saying, "Go on." Danny took a deep breath, "Clockwork, the Ghost of Time, one of my ghost friends, he came to me this morning. He wanted to tell me something important. He can see all of the different ways people's choices can change the future. Clockwork told me that today, no matter what I do, I will die."
Dani fell on her bed, "Oh God…Danny, no, no…" Danny leaned down in front of her and held her shoulders, "Listen to me. Everyone will need you now more than ever. Especially my kids. You're the only other OG halfa, like me. There're things you can help them with. Only you. Just as there are things only Jazz, Tucker, and Valerie can teach them. When I'm gone, I need you to do that for me, alright?" Danielle was sobbing as he spoke, but she nodded her head, "I got it." Danny kissed his clone's forehead and said, "Thank you, Dani." He then opened his Third Eye one more time, to talk to two of the most important people to him.
Willie and Morgan were in their room, they just got finished getting dressed in some workout clothes. "Whoa, Dad, what's going on?" Morgan asked him. "I just figured that I should help you kids with your workout today," Danny told her, "It's been a while since we sparred." The three halfas went Ghost and phased through the roof of the base, flying a good 200 ft in the air before Danny made a copy of himself and said, "Alright, let's see what you kids can do!"
Willie and Morgan didn't need to be told twice, and they immediately rushed at Danny head on. Willie's lightning powers made him just as fast as lightning, Danny only avoided his charge because of his Third Eye, while Morgan's ice rays were blasting at his copy. Danny's Copy and Danny dodged and created ghost shields to protect themselves, and Danny realized how powerful his kids had been forced to become. They were far stronger than him at their age, even if they didn't have the same variety of powers as he did. The three of them flew around in patterns that put any airplane to shame, dodging and countering lightning, ice, and ectoplasm.
The entire time they sparred, Danny gave them advice. "More speed Morgan, you're hesitating too much! Willie, you're too impulsive, your attacks are wild and easy to dodge! Come on, use all your powers!" Willie and Morgan immediately created seven copies each and the battle intensified as Danny created six more copies to match them. In ancient times, such a spectacle would have been called a battle of gods, but for them, it was only sparring. Danny knew that this would be the last time he would spar with them, he wanted to make sure that they would survive after he was gone.
After two hours, Danny finally called time out. Willie and Morgan were exhausted and fell on their butts after they flew back down to the base. "Dad, that was intense," Willie said. "And you guys all kept up with it. Man, I wasn't half as good as you guys at your age," Danny said, for the first time he was glad he didn't have tear ducts after Vlad destroyed his eyes. Millennium's science might have saved him and healed his major injuries, but they couldn't give back what wasn't there. If Danny could have, he would have cried proud tears at his kid's progress.
"William, Morgan," he began, and his tone let them know that what he was going to say was important, they paid more attention. "Ever since the day you were born, I knew how lucky I was to have you in my life. Every day I watched you grow and did everything I could to help you become better than I could be. Sam and I…somehow, we managed to do that. You're braver, more generous, less selfish, stronger, and all around better than I was. I know, I never said this enough, but I'm proud of you, and I love you with everything I am," Danny said. He couldn't think of what else he could say.
Before his kids could respond, Jazz ran up to the roof and yelled, "Danny, kids, we're in big trouble! Come with me!" The three of them followed after the eldest Fenton as she led them through the base, Willie and Morgan had to grab some ration bars for breakfast as their aunt explained, "The Order of the Fang is making their final move! They're attacking Israel. They're trying to launch the Samson Initiative!" "What's that?" Willie asked. Jazz continued, "Israel has been surrounded by enemies since it was founded, to try to prevent their destruction, the Israeli's created the Samson Initiative, basically, if the Prime Minister or other government official doesn't type in a specific code, their nuclear defense program will automatically launch their nuclear arsenal on numerous major cities! The automatic defenses will respond in kind, creating a nuclear war across the entire world!"
"That would destroy everything! Even the werewolves would die!" Morgan yelled in shock. "We need you guys to head to Israel pronto!" Jazz told her, as they reached the hangar of the base. There stood three Fenton Ecto-Skeletons! "Get in and get to Israel as fast as you can!" Jazz told them. Danny, Morgan, and Willie climbed into the Ecto-Skeletons, and Jazz's voice sounded on radios inside the Ecto-Skeletons, "I updated the Ecto-Skeletons, they're more efficient than ever, but they are still powered by your own energy, otherwise you couldn't use your ghost powers through them. However, I put fail-safes inside them, if your energy gets too low, they'll automatically shut off so you can get out of them, and escape if you have to."
"You're a genius, Sis," Danny said as his Ecto-Skeleton connected with him. "Get going!" Jazz yelled, and the three Ecto-Skeletons went Ghost along with their pilots, turning black for Danny, green for Willie, and sky blue for Morgan. The three halfas flew out of the hangar and into the air, and then blasted off faster than the speed of sound, for Israel, and the final stand of Humanity.