...
There's no excuse for being this late with the story. I guess you could say I fell out of the fandom for a little while and lost interest in the story for a bit. But that isn't a good enough excuse. Especially if I just add in that I got busy with a new location for the same job I'm working at as well as getting promoted to Assistant Manager a year later.
But, I'm back with this story...for now. I won't be posting new chapters a lot as I did in the past. I'll post when I have a chapter done and go from there. On top of this story, I am working on some original ideas. So this one might get pushed aside again. However, I will work on this story when I feel like it.
And with that being said, I hope you enjoy the episode titled "13".
Enjoy!
I sat in front of my computer, looking through article after article about this new jewel that dressed my neck. Nothing important spoke to me, but then again, there wasn't much about this ghostly gem. All I knew was that it healed my Chronic Bronchitis and got rid of its symptoms, as well as gave me a power that I didn't seem worthy enough to have.
And the fact that it looked pretty...
I sighed as I leaned back in my chair, my anxiety tightening in my chest. Who gave this to Robin to give to me? And why was she calling me "Princess Briar"?
I looked at the time. 3 am. If I weren't part ghost, I'd find it funny that I was up at the ghostly hour.
...
Oh, who am I kidding? I still find it funny.
I giggled to myself before looking out the window and seeing Danny's light off. He was either asleep or out fighting a ghost.
I'm saying fighting ghosts. And not just because he wasn't home, but because ghost after ghost kept flying out of his house. I would have helped him, but it had been a mad dash to keep Amity Park safe from these lately. I was getting exhausted because of it. And, with Danny being Danny, he told me I could sit out of it for a while. I refused at first. But then...
...let's just say I almost got seriously hurt...while fighting the Box Ghost.
So, Stardust was on vacation for a bit. That is until it got too bad for Danny.
I stretched in my seat before standing up and noticing Cotton on my bed. I grinned, walking over and lying on the soft surface. The dip in the bed caused Cotton to wake up a bit, but she just scoffed at the fact that I was just now going to bed and fell back to sleep.
I giggled before laying my head on the pillow and closing my eyes for deep sleep.
A loud growl made me wake up. I looked over at Cotton, seeing her staring out the window with her teeth bared. She wasn't small, either. She was in the state where she was growing like that other ghostly pup.
"Cotton? What's wrong?" I asked, crawling over to the window and looking out it.
"I can sense a strong negative aura outside," She said. "Something doesn't feel right. I think Danny might need your help."
I sighed. "So much for a vacation," I said. "But I do feel more rested than I did with the Box Ghost. I should be fine." I quickly hopped out of bed and transformed into my Stardust ghost form before flying out the window.
"The negative energy is moving fast! Find it quickly!" Cotton yelled, making me salute in acknowledgment before picking up speed.
I searched around for Danny, and the negative energy, hoping I'd find one or the other shortly, before hearing the slicing of metal...and Danny's voice.
I flew quickly toward him and grabbed him out of the way of the falling lamp.
"Stardust?" He asked surprised. "I thought you were on vacation right now!"
"Cotton said you needed help," I said as a loud metal crunch and crash entered my ears. I looked over, seeing the Fenton Thermos broken as ghosts were released.
"Oh! Of all the rotten luck!" Danny yelled, making me look at him with remorse...until I noticed the biker on the roof of a building. I watched him look at me for a moment, his mouth upturned into a smirk before he drove off with a black shadow.
So he's the dark energy Cotton felt, I thought.
"And because of some stupid shadow, I had to spend another night rounding up the same ghosts again!" Danny yelled as we were hanging with Sam and Tucker. I held Danny's arm as we walked alongside them at the carnival the next day.
"You do realize I helped, right?" I asked, making him smile at me and pat my hand on his arm.
"Yeah, I know, babe," He said.
"Maybe you could do a web search on Shadow Ghosts on your PDA," Sam mentioned to Tucker, who smiled as he pulled out his PDA. He was ready to type it up when Kwan took it from him.
"Check me out! I'm Tucker Foley, styling large with the latest in techno-geek fashion!" He yelled.
"Dude, you do that a little too well," Dash said with his arms crossed. Kwan stood there for a moment, thinking over what Dash just said, and eventually...
"AHH! TECHNO-GEEK IS CONTAGIOUS!" Kwan yelled, dropping the PDA in Tucker's hand and racing off with Dash behind him.
"All right, that's it!" Tucker yelled, giving his PDA to Sam. "Here, you take it! I'm sick of being labeled! By the end of the day, nobody's going to call Tucker Foley a techno-geek anymore!" And he was off.
I sighed as Danny gave me a sympathetic look. I grinned, nodding to go after his best friend. He smiled, kissed my forehead, and raced after Tucker with Sam beside him.
"Well, it could be worse," I said to myself before walking over to a booth. It was a golden curtain with black pinstripes and a crystal ball sign on top.
Fortune tellers...hate them.
But I was alone and bored, so why not. I walked in, and pushed the curtain aside, and looked at all the figurines. Some were of ghosts that Danny and I fought, while others were of Halloween items. Why I'm not sure. But it was pretty cool. I picked up a girl figurine that looked like me in my ghost form. White hair with that icy blue stripe on the side of her head and bright blue eyes. But the difference about this figurine was that she was wearing a long black gown that hugged her curves with white and blue colored accents, and a black and blue jeweled tiara on her head.
I grinned, thinking that my 5-year-old self would love this figurine when someone dropping a box behind me made me jump. I spun around, staring at the boy behind the counter. He looked to be 16, with long and curly black and wolf-gray hair, and sun-kissed skin. He kind of reminded me of a surfer, but the amount of fur he wore (and there was a lot) said he didn't surf a day in his life.
And the fact that his eyes were glowing gold.
Great, a ghost, I thought. Why didn't my Ghost Sense go off?!
"Beca?" I shook my head, clearing my thoughts as I took in the name he just said.
"I'm sorry...what?" I asked.
"Oh, my God...I thought you were...I mean, you were...I mean...how..."
"Hold up! Do I know you?" I asked. He stared at me with wonder, and confusion even, as his golden eyes scanned my brown ones. And then...they dimmed.
"You don't remember me, do you?" I cocked my head. Now I was the one confused.
"No? I'm sorry, I feel like I'm missing something here," I said.
"Beca, it's me!" He said, reaching out his hand. "Hunter...Hunter Moon."
"I'm sorry...I think you have..."
"I know it's you, Ribeca!" He grabbed my hand, making me tense up as I felt how cold, yet warm, his palm was. However, the moment he touched me, he retreated, his eyes clouding over.
"When did you change your eye color?" He asked.
"My eyes have always been brown," I said. "Who are you talking a-?"
"AHHH!" I perked up.
"Jazz!" I dropped the figurine as I raced out of the tent, stopping as I watched a roller-coaster car falling toward Jazz. I was about to go ghost when out of nowhere, a guy on a motorbike grabbed her and drove her out of the way of the oncoming disaster.
"I...you..." She stammered before she met his eyes and smiled. He smiled back at her before I raced over to them both.
"Jazz!" I called, getting her attention as she climbed off the motorbike. Danny was right behind me in his human form.
"Are you all right?!" He asked.
"I'm fine," She said. "Thanks, to-"
"Johnny," The boy said. "The name's Johnny." I watched as she stared at him, dreamily for a moment, until...
"Shouldn't you two be somewhere else?" Johnny asked.
"No. Shouldn't you?" Danny returned. The two didn't seem to get along very right off the bat. I mean, I didn't trust him myself.
"Danny, don't be rude," Jazz said. "Hi, I'm Jasmine. Jazz. Oh, wow!" She finally noticed her hair. "I look like I was almost run over by a roller coaster."
"We...Excuse me, I mean, I think you look perfect, kitten," Johnny said. "But here, I bet you'd look great in this." He then pulled out a purple scarf and I immediately got red flags.
...
Hey...that could be a song.
"My/her name's not Kitten!" Danny and Jazz both said in unison as Jazz put the scarf on. Immediately, I noticed her eyes glow green for a split second before she elbowed Danny in the arm.
"But you can call me that if you want," She said.
"Ride home, Kitten?" Johnny asked, getting a gasp from Jazz in return before she hopped onto the back of the motorbike.
"Just...be safe, Jazz," I said, arms crossed.
"She's in good hands...Princess," Johnny said before speeding off. I blinked, frustrated at that weird pet name.
"I really need to know why I'm being called that," I sighed.
"Briar," I looked at Danny, seeing him look concerned. "I know this is supposed to be..."
"Come on," I said. "I'd like to know a little bit more about this guy as you do."
"Thank you," He said. "You are one very understanding girlfriend." I giggled.
"I try," I flipped my hair, getting a scoff from Danny as he took my hand and we walked out of the carnival. Though, a pair of eyes on the back of my neck made me look over, seeing Hunter staring from the tent I was in prior. He seemed angry and almost sad.
I also need to know who Ribeca is, I thought.
Walking down the street, hand-in-hand, on a gorgeous night was nice. Though, I could feel Danny's concern and tense nature. I looked at him and grinned, moving my arm around his. He looked at me and grinned as well.
"Sorry," He said. "I just..."
"I know, Danny," I said. "I'm worried, too. I mean...I dated a guy like him once."
"Really?" Danny asked, sounding a bit jealous.
"Oh, nothing serious. Just two dates and he already saw me as more," I sighed. "But then...let's just say I wrote a song called "Good in Goodbye" after we broke up." Danny nodded.
"I'll have to hear that song someday," He smirked, making me hand him the MP3 Player.
"It's on here," I said, getting a chuckle as he took the music player from my hand and pocketed it.
Eventually, we stopped in front of his house, seeing Johnny's motorbike in front of the building.
"He's here?" Danny asked. "Oh, man, this can't be good."
"You do have a last name, don't you?" I could hear this with my super hearing thanks to my ghost DNA. This was Jazz.
"Yeah. But everybody calls me "Johnny 13"," I heard Johnny.
...
Great...unlucky number.
"I kind of got this reputation for being...unlucky."
"Well, you were pretty lucky for me."
"Here, try this on."
We walked into Danny's house, seeing that Jazz and Johnny were about to kiss when Danny slammed the door shut. He eyed Johnny for a moment, getting a glare in return. I just crossed my arms, noticing the red leather jacket Jazz was now wearing.
Eventually, Danny took my hand and walked us around the corner.
"Hey, ain't you got a place in here where we can, uh, you know, be alone?" I heard Johnny ask. "Like a basement?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Jazz said. "Come on."
I looked at Danny, seeing the idea spark in his mind as he went to go fulfill it. I sighed...yet again that night.
"I'll be in your room, Danny," I said. He nodded, coming over quickly and pecking my lips before disappearing around one more corner.
~DANNY'S POV~
"Jasmine Fenton, you know you're not allowed to bring unauthorized personnel down here!" Dad yelled as I was leaning against the wall near the steps going back up to the main living area. My arms were crossed and a smirk was on my face.
"You know better!" Mom said as she and dad showed up.
"You were about to let some strange punk activate the Fenton Portal?!" Dad and I said in unison.
...
That was weird, not going to lie.
"Hey, lay off!" Johnny said. "We weren't doing nothing, pops."
"His name isn't 'Pops'!" Mom and I said in unison.
Again...weird.
"Yeah, whatever," Johnny said. "This place is getting a little too cramped for my style anyway."
"I'll walk you out, Johnny," Jazz said. "And could you be any more like them?" She then ran off to catch up with Johnny, making me perk up at the fact that she might have been right. But...
"I am not like him!" I yelled with both my parents, making me stand there surprised.
"This is awkward," I said.
"Danny," Mom sighed. "I heard Briar was up in your room. Why don't you go up there and not keep her waiting?"
"Oh, right! Sure!" I raced up the stairs quickly, watching as Johnny and Jazz said their farewells, and I just rolled my eyes. Yes, I know, she felt weirded out that I had a girlfriend before she got a boyfriend. But Johnny "13" as I heard him call himself did NOT seem like good news.
I'm just glad he didn't aim his eyes at Briar. I would have smacked him upside the head and thrown him in the Ghost Zone before he could lay a hand on her.
I walked up to my room and walked inside, seeing Briar sitting on one of my bean bag chairs. She smiled at me as she looked up from her phone.
"Took you long enough," She said, making me sigh.
"Sorry," I said, closing my door behind me. "I'm just worried about Jazz."
"I am, too," She said. "But we have to realize she's 16. She can take care of herself."
"I know," I rubbed the back of my neck. "Anyway, how about you play that song for me?" I took out her MP3 Player from my pocket. She smiled, tossing her phone onto my bed and standing up. She then grabbed the music player from my hand and scrolled through the songs on it until she hit play.
(SONG: "Good in Goodbye" - Madison Beer) [I didn't know where else to put this, I thought it made sense.]
The music played for a minute and then...her angelic voice.
BRIAR: You got blood on your hands/How do you plead?/Boy, it's like treason, how you treated me/It's eight Mondays in a row/nine days of the week/These tantrums been old/All bitter, no sweet/You're killing my vibe/In ways words cannot describe/But I'll try, I'll try./You put the "over" in lover, put the "ex" in next/Ain't no "I" in trouble, just the "U" since we met/'Cause you're toxic, boy/I ain't even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye/You put the "over" in lover, put the "ex" in next/Ain't no "I" in trouble, just the "U" since we met/'Cause you're toxic, boy/I ain't even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye.
I looked at Briar, seeing her tense a bit as she moved some of her hair to behind her ear. That's when I saw it...a scar.
BRIAR: I would take a bullet for you just to prove my love/Only to find out you are the one holding the gun/I'm just tryna get focus/Take some time for me/People started to notice all the sh*t you couldn't see/You put the "over" in lover, put the "ex" in next/Ain't no "I" in trouble, just the "U" since we met/'Cause you're toxic, boy/I ain't even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye/You put the "over" in lover, put the "ex" in next/Ain't no "I" in trouble, just the "U" since we met/'Cause you're toxic, boy/I ain't even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye/You're killing my vibe/In ways words cannot describe/But I'll try, I'll try/You put the "over" in lover, put the "ex" in next/Ain't no "I" in trouble, just the "U" since we met/'Cause you're toxic, boy/I ain't even gotta try to find the G-O-O-D in goodbye./G-O-O-D in goodbye.
(End of the song)
"Briar," I said, stopping the song from repeating and looking at my girlfriend. She just shrugged, making me put a hand on her cheek, staring at the scar by her ear. "He..."
"Yeah," She sighed. "He was controlling. Said I was to be a stay-at-home mom someday, not a musician. He thought my dreams were a waste of time."
"They're not!" I yelled.
"He abused me into feeling that way though, Danny," She said. "But the moment he drew blood with this one," She gestured to the scar by her ear, "I called it quits. I broke up with him and reported his ass to the principal. I never saw him again."
"Good," I sighed with relief. "But I want you to know, you mean the world to me. I would never hurt you and I will always support you. No matter what," She smiled. "Heck, I think an astronaut and singer would make an interesting couple." She laughed, wrapping her arms around my torso as I held her in place.
"Thank you, Danny," She said. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Briar," I said. "Always."
~BRIAR'S POV~
I will be honest, it felt good to have gotten that toxic relationship off of my chest finally. I had been holding that in since I came back from Ohio. And out of all of my friends to tell, Danny was the perfect one. He'd always have my back as a kid. I knew he'd have it now.
"The weirdest part was me and my parents were actually on the same page!" Danny explained to Sam and Tucker the next day at school as we were walking outside. "I'm not like them! Am I?" I snorted.
"No, honey...you're not," I said, patting his shoulder.
"Let's see, you're stubborn, overprotective, your last name's Fenton, and you hunt ghosts," Sam said.
"Only thing you're missing is the hazmat, goggles, and the wonder gut," Tucker added.
"Guys, not helping," I said annoyed as we sat down at a table with two other students. Though, they didn't stay long.
"It's Bad Luck Tuck, yo!" One said, making me look at them. "We out." Then they were gone.
"I AM NOT BAD LUCK!" Tucker yelled before getting his hand smacked in the air and making his spoon stab a beehive.
Finally! The end of the school day. I couldn't wait to hang out with my friends the rest of the day. My homework was done, so I had all day to do whatever I wanted.
Though...poor Tucker. He got stung by a lot of bees.
"Suddenly "Techno-Geek" sounds like a term of endearment," Tucker said.
"Bet you wish you didn't give it up, huh?" I smirked, making him groan as we walked down the sidewalk home.
Just at that moment, my ghost sense went off with Danny's, making us look to see Johnny driving his motorbike by us with Jazz on the back.
"Darn it, Jazz!" Danny yelled before he changed into his ghost form. I went to do the same when he stopped me. "No, you stay with Tucker and Sam. I don't trust this guy enough to let you near him."
"Danny..." I stopped as he pecked my lips.
"I'll be okay. If I need you-"
"I'll be with him," I looked down at Cotton, surprised to see her there. "I can let you know if you're needed. Just be safe!" She then flew off with Danny, making me sigh and look at Sam and Tucker.
"Well, I guess I'm free to hang out," I said.
"Awesome!" Sam said. "We were going to go see a movie. Wanna come?"
"Sure."
We walked into the theatre and walked up to the counter. We ordered our movie tickets and popcorn. But I should have known Tucker.
"One super large popcorn," The worker said before he went white and started sweating. He was staring at Tucker with fear in his eyes.
Great...
"I know you. You're Bad Luck Tuck!" He said.
"And you're Minimum Wage Stan, but you don't hear me broadcasting it," Tucker exclaimed as he took the popcorn from Stan.
"Hey, this is your fault for ditching the Techno-Geek label," Sam said, making me nod in return. "Maybe you need a "new" new thing." I gave her a look. The last thing Tucker needs is to change himself yet again. He's great the way he is and Robin would hate to see him like that.
If only she was here right now, I thought. But, her parents had to take her and Edwin on a vacation.
"A "new" new thing?" Tucker asked confused.
"Yeah!" Sam said. "You should go goth." I rolled my eyes as she pulled out a beanie from her bag. "Look, it says "I'm Tucker, but I'm also edgy and dangerous."
"Why the heck would I want to go goth?!" Tucker asked. "Isn't that your thing?!"
"Yeah," I added. "I know for a fact that Robin hated how Edwin turned goth right in front of her. But, she got used to it. I don't think she'll like seeing Tucker go from Techno-Geek to Goth Freak like that." Sam gave me a look. "Not that you're a freak, Sam! I'm just saying!"
"I get where you're coming from, but-"
Just then, my ghost sense went off, making me look over at the popcorn machine as it started to glow. I sighed. I knew what that meant. It soon kicked the dial to super high and before I knew it, I was being pelted out of the movie theatre with Sam and Tucker in a wave of popcorn.
Sam and Tucker popped their heads out of the popcorn as I followed behind, seeing the bored expression on Tucker's face.
"You win. Goth me up," I sighed as Sam took Tucker's red beanie off and replaced it with the black one.
"Will you guys be okay for now?" I asked, making them look at me. "Something tells me Danny needs help."
"Yeah, we'll be fine. Go!" Sam said, making me smile and nod before diving back into the popcorn, changing into Stardust, and flying off to find Danny. I stayed invisible so any moviegoers still inside wouldn't see me, and that might have been what Danny was doing because I couldn't see him anywhere.
But I heard something scream.
I turned my gaze towards the source, seeing the light of the projection screen and that's when I saw Danny and that Shadow from Johnny 13.
...
He can't stand the light.
"Smile for the camera!" Danny yelled, making me fly over to him as Shadow dissolved into little wisps and flew off through the ceiling.
"Need some backup?" I asked, making him look at me for a moment. I sighed, knowing what was in his brain. He didn't want me to get hurt, and I loved that he was protecting me that way. But I was able to take care of myself.
I grinned at him, pecking his cheek, and grabbing his hand. "Come on." I flew us out of the Movie Plex and he took over, flying us toward...wherever.
"Where are we going?" I asked, but he didn't answer. He just flew until we landed on a tree branch above Jazz and Johnny. I looked down at them, seeing how Johnny had Jazz in his arms, almost like how Danny held me.
And he was holding a ring, like the one Danny gave me.
"Oh, boy," I said. "He wants to make Jazz his girlfriend."
"I've...we've...got to do something," Danny whispered.
"I have an..." Before I could even finish my sentence, Danny jumped into the air, floated for a moment as he changed back to his human self, and then fell flat on the ground in front of Jazz and Johnny.
...
Can you guess what I did?
...
YEAH! I SLAPPED MY FOREHEAD!
"Hi-ya!" Not interrupting anything, am I?" He asked.
I sighed as I changed back into my human form and looked down.
"Danny, are you okay?!" I asked with mock concern. Yes, I was concerned because that was a nasty fall, but he did that to himself.
"I'm fine!" Danny yelled as Jazz came storming over and lifted him by the back of his shirt.
"Are you spying on us?" Jazz asked.
I sighed...once more.
"Were you spying on them?!" Mrs. Fenton asked after we were taken back to his place. I just stood up against a light post before noticing Johnny giving me this weird look. It did not say he was interested in me, but one that said he knew something about me. What that was, I'm not sure. And to be honest, he seemed like a two-faced liar and I didn't want to ask him only to be let down in a few days.
So, I ignored him.
"All right! All right!" Danny yelled, making me rush over. "Briar and I were spying on Jazz. And I'm really-"
"Good job," Mr. Fenton said quietly to Danny and I, making me stare in surprise.
"Yeah, way to go, Danny," Mrs. Fenton said. "And if you see Jazz with that hooligan again, you let us know."
I smirked with my arms crossed over my chest. I was glad they thought the same thing I did.
Eventually, I looked back over to see Johnny driving off without Jazz who just looked angry, pissed even. I don't blame her. I would be too if I had a sibling who spied on my relationships.
"And don't do it again!" Mr. and Mrs. Fenton yelled, making me snort out a silent giggle.
"But seriously," Mr. Fenton began in a whisper, "feel free to do it again."
"Anyway," I said, wrapping my arms around Danny's. "Is it okay if Danny comes over, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton?"
"Sure," Mrs. Fenton said.
"Thanks! Come on, Danny," I then dragged him to my house across the street and we headed up to my room, where Cotton was sitting. I stared at her, wondering what was up.
"Cotton? Are you good?" I asked, making the little white ghost pup look at me and grin.
"I'm fine," She said. "I just, can't shake this weird vision I had recently."
"What weird vision?" Danny asked as he sat in my desk chair.
"Oh, just of that kingdom I told you about, Briar. The one in the Ghost Zone?"
"Oh, yeah, the one that the star on my suit represents," I said.
"Well, that's partially its symbol," Cotton said, making me look at her out of confusion. "The vision showed me more of its symbol. The Star of Bethlehem with a crescent moon underneath it, drawn like the letter U."
"What's the kingdom's name?" Danny asked.
"We don't-"
"Moonlight Park," I looked at Cotton. "The vision finally told me."
"Moonlight Park...okay," I said. "Now we have a name to research."
"Yeah," Danny said. "We'll figure this out soon. I promise." I grinned, nodding in response.
"Well, I'll let you two be alone then," Cotton said. "I'll spend some time with your mom. I'm sure she hasn't seen a ghost dog before." And with that, she floated down through the floor to go to my mom.
I sighed. "Well, the mystery has opened more as to...everything."
"I'm sure we'll figure it out eventually," Danny said, getting up from his seat and walking over to me. He wrapped an arm around my waist as he held me close. "But for now, let's just hang out. Okay?"
I smiled, nodding as he placed his lips to mine in a sweet kiss. After we pulled away, we lay on my bed as I turned on my wall-mounted TV and just laid in each other's hold.
~DANNY'S POV~
"Oh, this stinks!" I yelled as we walked out of the school with Sam - Briar had Glee Club today. The bell had just rung for the end of the day and I was so ready for the day to be over.
"My sister's dating a ghost, and I'm turning into my parents!" I continued before stopping at the sight of Tucker. He was wearing a lot of goth items like Sam. Though his shirt had a skull on it. What the...?
"What the heck are you turning into?" I asked.
"We're changing his image," Sam said, walking over to his side.
"That's right!" Tucker said. "No more "Bad Luck Tuck". I'm changing my image...again!"
"Come on," I said. "You can't pull off goth!"
"Sure he can," Sam said. "Tucker, show Danny your disaffected scowl." Almost immediately, from smiling and happy, to soulless and brooding was Tucker's face. Though...
"No, no, I can still see some hope," Sam said, taking the words right out of my mouth. "If you need us tonight, we'll be at Tucker's, darkening his outlook on the world."
"Good luck with that," I turned to the voice and saw Briar walk up. "Robin is just as hopeful and positive as Tucker. She'll bring him back when she gets home." Her smirk was cute, making me giggle in return before Tucker and Sam went off on their way.
"Hey," Briar said, walking up to me in this little red dress that flowed around her ankles. Even a pair of black strappy heels were on her feet.
"Hey, what are you doing out here?" I asked, pecking her lips as she grabbed my arm. "And you look beautiful."
"Why thank you," Briar said with a giggle. "And we're doing outside practice today. The teacher loves the sunshine."
"I don't blame her. It's a gorgeous day today," I said, making Briar nod in return.
"I also have a Glee Club Concert next week," She said, making me stare in surprise. "I have a solo."
"Babe, why didn't you tell me sooner?" I asked, hurt.
"I was going to the day you told Stardust to take a vacation," She said. "But, then Johnny showed up and it just didn't seem like the right time."
"Well, it's a perfect time," I said. "I'll be there. What time is it?"
"7 at night. And you don't have to come."
"Of course I do! I want to support you," I said, making her smile at me before putting her lips to mine.
"Briar, let's go!" She pulled away from the kiss as she looked over to see two of her fellow Glee Club members beckoning for her.
"Duty calls. See you later," She said before pecking my cheek and racing off to practice. I sighed, feeling my heart fly as I watched her hair shine in the sunlight. Her eyes sparkled with love and light and hope for the future. And the promise ring I gave her. It glimmered and glowed with every move she made.
How did I get so lucky?
~BRIAR'S POV~
I yawned, stretching as I walked down the street alone. It was dark out now and I had just finished Glee Club rehearsals for the day. I remember when I auditioned for the club. It was like riding a bike...and I was never in Glee Club back in Ohio.
So, to have it be that easy...
I stopped dead, my smile falling as I saw Cotton on the sidewalk, staring at Danny's house. She was growling with her fur standing on end and her eyes glowing with angered color of red.
"Cotton?" I raced up to her spot, stopping as I knelt beside her. "What's wrong?"
"Danny...he's in trouble," I gasped, looking over at Danny's house.
I raced into the house, trying to keep it quiet so Mr. and Mrs. Fenton didn't wake up, and ran down the stairs with Cotton hot on my heels.
"It's Johnny! I can sense it!" Cotton said.
"No doubt!" I yelled. "He's been a thorn in Danny's side since Day 1!" We soon hit the bottom step and turned the corner just in time to see the shelf fall on top of Danny in his human form.
"Danny!" Jazz and I yelled in unison. Surprisingly, Johnny didn't hear me. He just went straight for Jazz's hand and put a ring on her finger. That's when his Shadow came from behind and put on the scarf and jacket he gave her days prior. I watched as it glowed around her, draining her of her energy before he made her open the Ghost Zone.
"No," I raced over. "Don't!"
"Buzz off, Princess!" Johnny said as he pushed me away, making me fall to the floor. "You're nothing but a weakling like that boyfriend of yours."
"I'm not weak," I said, standing up as I turned into Stardust. "And why are you calling me 'Princess'? That's not my name!"
"Well, you are, aren't you?" I stared, confused as to what he meant as I could see Jazz changing into a different girl. A girl with green hair and pale skin, with her outfit being more of a biker chick than a simple girl next door.
"What are you...?" Before I could finish my question, Danny came flying in as his ghost form and punched Johnny away.
"Stardust, you okay?!" He called down to me.
"I'm fine! But your sister!" I pointed to Jazz, making him look over before flying toward her and taking the ring off her finger. Immediately, Jazz returned to normal.
"Johnny?" I could hear from the Ghost Zone.
"I don't know exactly what's going on," Danny began, "but I KNOW you can't do it without this!" He showed the ring to Johnny, making the ghost biker stare in shock. "See ya, freak show!" He then flew out of the house by going intangible.
"Shadow, fetch the ring!" Johnny said.
"No!" I yelled as I went to follow the Shadow when...
"No, you don't," I looked at Johnny. "I've waited years to see you."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. "I don't even know you!"
"You are Anthony Winthrope's kid, right?" I stared, surprised that he knew my father's name.
"How'd you know that?" I asked.
"Because he's been asking for you."
"That's a lie! My dad was able to go to Heaven!" I yelled, feeling the anger in my stomach as he stared at me, confused for a moment until it seemed to hit him. His eyes widened and his mouth formed an 'o'.
"Oh, wait...he never told you," He said.
"Told me what?!" I yelled.
"Told you of his kingdom," Johnny smirked, making me stare in surprise.
"Kingdom? What kingdom?" I asked though Johnny stayed quiet now. His smirk grew more and more sinister with each passing minute when...
"Come on, Johnny!" I looked at the portal, seeing the same girl from before. "You know I can't switch places unless she's wearing my stuff!"
"Hey! What's going on down there?!" I heard Mr. Fenton from upstairs.
"Oh, crud!" Johnny said.
"Mr. Fenton! Help!" I called, making him glare before he shot me away and into a wall. I was dazed a bit, though I saw him fly through the ceiling, most likely to stop Mr. and Mrs. Fenton from coming downstairs.
"Stardust!" I looked toward the voice, seeing Cotton come running up to me. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I said, shaking my head from the hit before standing up. "Now tell me...where's Danny?"
~DANNY'S POV~
I flew around town, trying to stay away from the Shadow chasing me, while I was on the phone with Sam and Tucker. I went through a car and he followed me, making the car break down in its spot.
"Come on, guys!" I yelled.
"He's working on it!" Sam returned before I looked up and saw the Shadow in front of me.
He soon punched me away and I fell to the ground, breaking half of a park bench. He screeched, flying in a circle before he was hit away with a blue ecto-ray. I looked toward the source, seeing Stardust floating in the air with a hand outstretched.
"You mess with him, you mess with me!" She yelled as she flew after it.
"Stardust, wait!" I called before...
"We're good to go!" Tucker yelled on the phone. I smiled.
"Time for somebody else to get a little dose of bad luck," I said before flying after Stardust and the Shadow.
"Hey!" I called, making Stardust back down. "Catch me if you can, spooky!" I then flew away, hearing the Shadow follow me as Stardust flew next to me.
"What's the plan?!" She asked.
"You'll see!" I returned as we flew through my house, through my parents' room - while invisible - and through the floor to the basement. We flew through the panel that opened the Ghost Zone door, only to make it malfunction and blow up, causing the portal close shut.
I could hear Jazz's moans and groans, making me look over as she fell to her knees.
"Danny?" I looked back up, watching as the Shadow grew closer. I smirked.
"You want this stuff?" I showed the ring. "You're going to have to be faster than that!" I then flew out of the room again, leaving the Shadow in the dust.
"Danny, wait up!" Briar called as she flew after me, now by my side. "What are you planning to do?"
"Just wait and see!" I said as we landed in a clearing. Immediately, I heard Johnny's motorbike in the distance. I looked over as Johnny skidded to a halt.
"Hey, I don't know what you're up to, kid," he began, "but there's nowhere to run." I could feel Stardust's gaze on me, most likely with a look of worry and concern. I didn't blame her. But I wasn't going to let this idiot ruin my family and my relationship. So I stood my ground.
"Stardust," I began, "go hide."
"What? I'm not leaving you to-"
"Go hide!" I looked at her from the corner of my eye, seeing the foreseen worry on her face. I could tell she wanted to argue more, but I wasn't going to let her. I just nodded, saying I'd be fine and she sighed, racing to the side when...
"Shadow, fetch!" Johnny yelled, making his black Shadow fly above him and toward me.
"Maybe I'm not trying to run," I said, waiting for a moment when... "HIT IT!"
~BRIAR'S POV~
"HIT IT!" I heard Danny yell, making me stop at a bush and look, seeing the Shadow about to attack Danny.
"Hitting it!" I looked the other way, seeing Tucker and Sam at an electrical box. Tucker had pressed a button on his PDA and made all the lights around us turn on.
The baseball field. How did I not notice that's where we landed?
The Shadow's screams brought me back, making me stare in surprise as I took a few steps forward.
"Maybe I'm exactly where I wanted to be!" Danny said, covering his face from the bright lights.
Eventually, the Shadow dissolved into nothing, making me smile with excitement.
"Yes!" I yelled.
"Oh, no! My Shadow! My Power!" Johnny yelled. "I've got to get out of here!"
That was my cue. I quickly flew around, aimed, and punched Johnny right in the face. He fell off his bike and landed on his back with a loud thud. I stood over him, arms crossed.
"Better luck next time," I said, a smirk forming on my face as Johnny sat up.
"But next time..." Danny began, standing next to me as he opened the Fenton Thermos and sucked Johnny inside, making his bike disappear as well. "...stay away from my sister."
I smiled as Danny turned back to his human self, with me following suit when...
"Danny, where's Jazz's boyfriend?" Mrs. Fenton asked, making Danny and I look at Danny's parents.
"Gone," Danny said, with a fist. "And he won't be coming back."
"You decked him?" Mr. Fenton asked. "But we brought the bat, with the word "Fenton" on it."
"Oh, Jack, he's like a little you," Mrs. Fenton said, making me snort at the fact that they thought this as I saw Danny's face fall.
"Don't worry, hon," I whispered in his ear. "I don't see it." He grinned, nodding me his thanks.
I walked down the street, heading to school the next day when I saw Danny in an orange jumpsuit that looked like his father's. He did NOT look happy to be wearing it.
I walked over as Dash and Kwan came over, making me stare in worry.
"Ha! Good news, Tucker! We're going to stop making fun of you and go back to making fun of-"
"Hey!" I yelled, getting all their attention. "Finish that sentence, and you're dead." Dash gulped down the nerves before huffing away with Kwan beside him. I smirked, walking over and taking Danny's hand.
He smiled. "Thanks."
"Of course," I returned. "Anyone messes with you, they mess with me." I pecked his cheek in return as the thoughts of the battle came back to me. My father's kingdom? My dad wasn't king, though it almost felt like that sometimes.
"Hey, you okay?" Danny asked. "You seem out of it." I looked at him, seeing the concern in his blue eyes. I just grinned, squeezing his hand for reassurance.
"I'm fine, just..." I sighed. "...just something Johnny told me while you were fighting off his Shadow."
"What did he say?" Sam asked, making me look at them all. I couldn't keep this from them. I couldn't keep secrets from my friends. So, I went to tell them when the bell rang for school. I grinned at them.
"I'll tell you all at lunch," I said.
~THE END - END OF CHAPTER 12~
Again, I'm really sorry for the late update. Things got carried away and I fell out of this PHANdom (lol).
Anyway, thanks for reading, God bless and remember: don't just write a story, paint a picture.
Peace!
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