Danny sighed closing the lid of the Fenton Thermos and capturing what he hoped to be the last ghost of the night. It had been a long, hard night filled to the brim with ghosts and he was exhausted. He lifted up into the air, at least the ghosts weren't very difficult to defeat. They were all pretty much mild nuisances to Amity Park but Danny knew if he didn't get rid of them they'd spark a full panic within the small town. The wind pushed against his face. His snow white hair flying out behind him as he sped through the dark skies of his home town. He passed the clock and halted at once. "What the…?" He muttered to himself. "It's THAT late?" he cried, not only did he have to still finish his homework but he had completely lost track of time and it was now a half hour past his designated curfew. He was so dead when he got home! He sped up zooming through the sky searching the ground below for his house. His glowing emerald eyes never lifting from the dark buildings that lined the streets. For once he just wished the ghosts would take a day off, let him get home on time. But he had little hope of that ever happening. His parents were going to murder him when he arrived home this late, so far past his curfew. In fact he was surprised that they weren't out in the Fenton RV looking for him this very minute. Though they had no idea he was half ghost his parents were quiet aware of the supernatural and of course would figure ghosts to be the cause of their only son's tardiness. Danny did have one good thing coming though. School was almost out for Christmas Break and at least then he wouldn't have to worry about the ghost drills, his parents bursting in, and worst of all homework; he would be free to hang with his friends all day unless there were ghost to be fought. And there seemed to be quite a few. It never seemed to end; the ghosts never seem to tire of fighting with him. Though it was well known that there was a price on his head in the human world and much hatred for him in the ghost world Danny continued to fight and try to be the hero when the only people who knew he was a good ghost not an evil one were Sam, Tucker, Paullina, and… well that was actually about it. Then there was Plasmius to worry about, his arch enemy. And so close to Christmas it was almost like daring the other half ghost to try something to make Danny look like the evil villain and Jack Fenton, Danny's father, to look like a complete idiot. Danny was glad the ectoplasm in his blood helped keep him warm as he flew through the chilly December air. It looked as if it were about to snow; it would be nice to have another white Christmas. Then again that might mean shoveling the walkway. Danny shook his head his glowing emerald eyes falling at last on his house. He landed on the porch changing back into his human self. His snow white hair turning dark black, his glowing green eyes changing to regular blue, and his ghost suit being replaced by his normal human clothes. He took out his key and opened the door his sharp blue eyes fell upon the solemn faces of his parents. "Sorry I'm late…" he said for lack of anything better to say at the moment. He knew he was in trouble no matter what happened so as long as he didn't mouth off he could keep his punishment down to the bare minimum.
"This is the second time this week Danny," Danny's mother, Maddie Fenton said her arms folded and her foot tapping impatiently. This was defiantly not a good sign for Danny. "We were very worried about you Danny; we were just about to go out looking for you."
"Yes Danny," his father said his voice stern through Danny knew he was just agreeing with his mother. Chances were that his father didn't even know what they were talking about. Danny's mom handed his father a cookie and his dad sat down happily.
"Danny, a long time ago, around Christmas, there was a sighting of a powerful ghost known only as the Pumpkin King. He took on the role of Santa delivering horrific toys not only to children but to adults as well. I know the ghost has not been seen since, and I know his only appearance was before our time, but ghosts don't just go away. He could come back Danny, and I don't want you to get hurt." Danny's mom said angrily.
"I'm sorry mom, really I am!" Danny said his voice shaking slighting. He had not seen his mom get like this in a very long time. She must be very worried about this Pumpkin King ghost. But then again he got this lecture every year. Why was it now that she took it so seriously? "It won't happen again mom," Danny said looking his mother in the eyes. "I promise."
"I wish I could believe you Danny but I've heard that so much…" his mom said shaking her head. Danny blinked. His mom didn't believe him? Truth be told, he had promised that a lot but still that was no reason for his parents not to trust him. He had to fight the ghost. "Go to your room Danny. We'll discuss punishment later."
"Jack I'm worried," Sally said as she looked across the room at (her husband) the Pumpkin King. Sally looked outside of the window as the giant pumpkin shaped sun glimmered over the beautiful dead landscape of her home Halloween Town. Her dark eyes glimmered slightly worried, there was much on her mind, and so far from Halloween too.
"Whatever is there to be worried about Sally?" Jack asked looking over at his wife. His eyeless sockets drooped slightly showing his concern for her. Sally was quiet for a few moments as she continued preparing dinner watching the sun as it set behind the dark hills of Halloween Town.
"I don't know Jack," Sally said after a long pause. She reached for a jar of Worm's Wart almost grabbing Deadly Nightshade by mistake. She pulled her hand away grabbing the right jar this time. She wasn't even sure why she still kept a small jar of Deadly Nightshade with her, it's not like she had to do much for the doctor anymore besides walk Igor occasionally. Jack looked at her worriedly, Sally sighed her mind wasn't in her cooking at all today. "I just have a bad feeling… that's all."
"Why Sally there's no reason to worry." Jack said cheerfully. Sally sighed; it was just like Jack to dismiss a bad feeling or a bad sign. "It's almost Christmas and Santa always gives us such a nice one too. It's so nice of him to include Halloween Town on his routes, he's really a great man and I'm sure that he'll have another splendid surprise for us this year." Sally wasn't as sure, despite her husband's efforts to convince her she still could not shake the feeling that she had.
"I'm not sure the world of the mortals will appreciate Santa coming. Especially not the town of Amity Park, remember what they did to Fright Knight?" Sally asked looking up at her husband's puzzled expression. She knew it wasn't like her to accuse the mortal world of anything but last Halloween in the town of Amity Park there had been a horrible mishap with one of Halloween Town's citizens.
"It was an accident; they didn't mean to unleash him before Halloween day. I'm sure they meant nothing by it." Jack said trying to comfort Sally but he was having little success. Sally shook her head, Jack had forgotten to mention that the town was full of ghost hunters and they had ended up attacking Fright Knight and imprisoning him in a plastic pumpkin. It wasn't his fault they were scared. It was his job. He had planned to release himself from the pumpkin and do a horrifying display then go back. He wasn't going to hurt anyone, but now he was really trapped and no one in Halloween Town dared go near Amity Park to free him for fear of starting some kind of conflict. But they had an understanding. Halloween Town left Amity Park alone and Amity Park returned the favor. This had been broken once or twice but nothing too catastrophic happened. "I'm starting to think they hate holidays. I hope Santa will be all right when he goes over there."
"Sally I'm sure Santa will be fine." Jack said, but he was unable to carry the conversation any longer for at that moment the door swung open. Sally felt slightly relieved that she had gotten everything she was worried about out in the open but she dared not continue the conversation now. "Hi kids!" Jack said cheerfulness returning. "How was school?"
"Horrible." both kids replied in unison, grinning slightly. The first inside was an almost spitting image of Jack. His eyeless sockets gazed around the interior only briefly before his attention was on a spectral dog with a pumpkin nose. The second kid was a girl with long brown hair pulled up into a ponytail. Her eyes were mismatched and she, like Sally was sewn together.
"I'm glad." Sally said cheerfully. "Jake remember it's your turn to take Zero and Negative out tonight." Sally said turning back to her cooking. The skeleton boy nodded patting the spectral dog with the glowing pumpkin nose on the head.
"Maybe they can bury him in the back yard again." the girl said with a gin. The skeleton boy, Jake, glared at her angrily. "Hey, I thought it was funny," the girl said looking up at Jake innocently. "And I'm sure the rest of Halloween Town would have too, you just be glad I was there to dig you up or just imagine the humiliation."
"The only reason you were out there Hally my dear sister, is because you were the one who took me apart in the fist place so that the dogs could bury me!" Jake replied angrily. The rag doll girl, Hally, looked at her brother with a look of false offense on her face.
"Jake honestly! Would I do something like that? I'm hurt that you would even think such things." though she tried to sound upset, Hally's voice was filled with laughter. Her brother glared at her even more fiercely but for once remained silent. Hally was unable to contain it any longer and burst out laughing. "Ok, so maybe I would do something like that. But that was because you untied my hand and used it to play fetch earlier that day."
"Jake, Halloween, let's stop arguing and start eating shall we?" Sally asked beckoning her children to sit down. Sally had just finished making dinner and not a moment too soon. Any longer and the children would have been literally ripping each other apart.
"Mother!" Hally complained as she sat down. "Not the real name! It's Hally not Halloween." Jake grinned at her triumphantly and she returned it by sticking her tongue out at him. Sally smiled slightly; she did feel a bit better though the sinking feeling remained in the pit of her stomach. But as long as nothing too bad ever happened there was nothing to worry about. There wasn't much the mortal world could do to anger the people of Halloween Town. She just shouldn't think about it, after all what was the worst a few mortals could do?
