Beyond Life and Death

I don't own Danny Phantom.

Chapter 11: To Die a Never-ending Death

"I was saved by a ghost?" Sam asked as she and Maddie proceeded to the lab.

"That's true. It was odd though," Maddie said.

"Why?"

"This is the only pure ghost I've seen who has ever helped someone."

The two of them stopped at the lab door as Sam said, "I guess you've never experienced a ghost rescuing someone before like I have."

"That's true. I always thought ghosts were the same: that all of them despised humans. And now, while I am skeptical on the subject at hand, I witnessed a ghost prevent your own death. It's funny how ironic this is when what you hunt that kills your kind actually saves one of your own species."

"You be surprised at how some ghosts can show sympathy."

"Well, you're going to be surprised at this one."

The two of them opened the door and walked down the stairs towards the Fenton's lab. Upon entering the lab, Sam was surprised. First of all, there was a sort of hostile atmosphere around the room. Jazz and Tucker were leaning against the side wall, a sort of nervous tinge in their eyes, yet they remained strong. Jack sat in a chair at a desk on the other side of the room. An Anti-Ghost Bazooka rested on his lab, the barrel gleaming in the room's artificial light. His gaze was fixed on the middle of the room, as Jazz and Tucker's were. In the center of the room was…

"Hello, Desiree," Sam said with a calm tone as soon as she rested her gaze on the ghost.

Desiree, the ghost genie. It was she all right. She wore her Arabian belly dancer's clothes and headband, both sporting sequenced patterns. Her black hair hung over her face and as she looked up at Sam, she locked her purple eyes on her and gave her a friendly smile. She would have walked over to Sam to give her a more casual greeting, but she was literally tied up at the moment. She was bound in a metal chair by ectoplasmic energy binds. Her ghostly mist that were where her legs were, her arms, and her waist were bound to the chair, preventing her from moving.

"Nice to see you again Sam. However, I think that a thank you is deserved for saving your life," Desiree said.

"What? Why you?" Sam asked.

"I've been meaning to ask that question," Jack stated.

"I would of talked hadn't you knocked me out with your deadly toys," Desiree stated.

"How can I trust a ghost? How was I supposed to know you wouldn't kill us?"

"If you hadn't of fucking shot me-"

"Enough! We aren't going to get anywhere with you two fighting!" Jazz yelled.

You're daughter is right. We should skip this pointless bickering and get on to the true."

"Fine, but one trick and…" Jack finished by tapping his weapon.

"To start off this discussion, what are you doing here?"

Ah yes. Why me? Quite the surprise quest in this story of chaos," Desiree remarked.

"Just answer the question."

"As you wish. I'm here to stop the Necromancer."

"You know him?" Tucker asked.

"You could say."

"Then I guess the only real answers we need are who he is, where he's from, what is he using, and what is his plan?"

"You humans are such the curious bunch."

"Can you get on with it?" Sam asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

"Let our tale begin then. Well, the Necromancer lived during the time of the Babylonians-"

"You mean Babylon? The Tower of Babel, that one?" Tucker asked.

"Can I go do this without interruption? Okay, you see he became interested in the theory of another sort of life. And, so how, he actually got into the Ghost Zone. It's still something that has eluded everyone's ideas for many years. He became obsessed with this new world at that moment; he dedicated his life to spreading the word of this 'paradise'. He thought so highly of himself, he decided to be called the Necromancer, which can loosely translate to 'worshiper of the dead'." And then his kingship had him executed for worshipping false idols. He would never become aware that his work would be the backdrop for the beginning for Necromancy."

"Didn't everyone their just worship idols?" Tucker asked.

"Turns out the rule were either worship the empire's idols or die. People really need to investigate the past better. And, as anyone of us could guess, he chose to be a ghost instead of going to the next life. He spent countless decades beginning his ghost abilities up to their fullest potential. He became less of a worshiper and more of a king. Ghosts followed his rule in fear of his abilities. Soon enough, he built himself a city. He pictured a grand state for the ghosts. And he called it Necropolis."

"And then I came into the picture. Having just died old age, yet keeping my very lovely figure, I wondered into Necropolis and encountered him. He promised me things. He said he loved me. He said he would protect me. Sadly, I was still carrying the scars of the last failed love, and he drew me into his grasp. In time, he built revealed to me his abilities. He had found a way to use his powers to cut portals from the Ghost Zone to the Human World. But, he wanted to not just bring himself there. He wanted to bring every ghost there. That idea resulted in the creation of the building over Walker's compound."

"What is that anyway?" Maddie asked.

"It enhances his powers to make bigger portals. Yet, you need as power source. Ghost souls can work, but you need more of a kick. Human souls provide that sort of power. The purpose of coming here was to gather humans and turn them into a power source."

"That's sick," Jazz stated.

"And now onto my favorite part: why I left him? When the day came, I was excited to finally go back to the human world. However, there was a catch. He needed me to be a power source for his device. And to think, I thought he loved me. But, all he cared about was his goals. I got the hell out of there before he could go with it. And next thing you know, the whole city is wiped out."

"How?" Maddie asked.

"As if I know. He, his followers, and most of the city were wiped out by something. All that's there now are ruins and echoes. And now, here's the part that should divulge into the idea of how Danny is involved in this. There was legend in the zone that the Necromancer didn't die. Instead, he drifted as nothing more then some power mass without something to start it up. And you know what was needed to start it up? Human energy."

"Vlad and Danny," Sam said.

"Yes. Vlad and Danny most likely both acquired the Necromancer's powers without knowing it. But, which one? A year ago, the Ghost Zone was hit by a sort of power ripple. Ever ghost could feel it. I can tell you one thing…it felt familiar. To some, it was that same brand of energy that we feared. But why was it back? Why was it here? The only possible guess was that someone finally woke up the Necromancer in their bodies. I know it sounds stupid, but that's the only idea."

"But Danny is dead. How can he be there?" Sam asked. And saying this caused hurt her even more.

"More or less, when the Necromancer woke up, he probably bent the rules so that instead of going all the way as Danny intended, he became a ghost and is using Danny's soul as a vessel."

"All right, we get it. One becomes one, other power, great loss, and exc. We just need to know how to take this thing down," Jack stated.

"And here I am trying to tell a touching little story. But, humans can be so irritable. Anyways, knowing him, he would have put up some kind of invisible shield around the base as well as your town. I can get you through the shield, but the rest is up to you. I want revenge, but I'm not getting my hands dirty."

"Don't worry, you wouldn't," Maddie said. "Our plan is to go in, kill anything that is a threat, and plant an Ecto bomb that will knock that thing into the next life."

"And boy am I ready!" Jack yelled as he got up.

"But, I think we should get some food and rest. Have to be at our top form for tomorrow."

As everyone headed up the stairs, Desiree called out," What about me?"

"Can't risk you escaping, so just relax," Maddie replied.

The last to get to the stairs was Sam, who was stopped by Desiree. "Wait you. I want to have a word with you."

Sam turned to her and looked at her questionably. "I'm no threat as long as I'm on this chair. And besides, I at least don't have to listen to everyone say, 'I wish this day never happened'. I mean, I'm no goddess."

"What is it?" Sam asked.

"Call it a sixth sense, but you don't want the boy to be this," Desiree stated. Sam looked away as she heard this. She didn't want Desiree to look at her solemn face and realize her pain. But, turning away only made it worse. "I see. And you wish he were back to normal and you two can live happily ever after, is that right?"

"And how would you know?"

"I have wandered the Earth and Ghost Zone for over countless years. I have found love, had its thrill, and then become broken when it ended. And now, I have encountered something far worse then death physically."

"And what is that?"

"If you crave something to much, it builds up. The more it builds up, the more one feels it chipping away at your soul. And finally you feel it. You have died on the inside. You fee lost. You feel a pain that can never be satisfied. And here I am a genie who makes over feel pin so that can feel better, but it just never makes me feel satisfied."

Sam then began to walk away, for she was sick of this ghost's ranting. But, halfway up the stairs, Desiree called out, "Have hope all you want, but in the end, you could die a death greater then even death itself."

Those words struck Sam dead on. Even if she didn't want to believe it. Desiree made a point. Is the want of Danny retaining to his old self killing her? Is he going to stay this Necromancer for long? Can he be saved? She was questioning herself and she didn't want to. Still, her hope was beginning to diminish."

Is Sam at a loss? Is the Necromancer/Danny going to destroy the world of mortals? Chapter 13 is coming soon.