Disclaimer I do NOT own Danny Phantom or it's characters. All I own is the idea for this fic and any made up characters I decide to add.

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Chapter 6 – The Hardships

Danny had a lot the think about. About Sam, that mysterious ghost, how to keep his secret a secret, especially from Tucker. Those were just the ones just off the top of his head. But still, one question remained in his mind. How can a ghost die? And why was that one in the cloak so desperate to find a place to do so? Perhaps Mom and Dad know. Hey, it's worth a shot, after giving them the Box Ghost.

Going down to the lab, sure enough both his parents were there working ONCE AGAIN on the Fenton Locator. Danny wretched at it. If it would steal powers from ghost it would effect him as well. And he preyed they never finish it for his sake.

"Mom, Dad? Can I ask you something?"

"Why of coarse Son."

His mother said, looking up at him.

"Ask us anything you want."

"Um...Ok... Can Ghosts die?"

This time, both parents stood up, forgetting their work and looking at Danny with a strange glance. His Mother, Maddie was the first to speak up.

"Why do you ask that Danny? Are you interested in finding ghosts for us now?"

"Well, err...No... It's just that..."

He rubbed his arm anxiously. How to answer...?

"With you and all your Ghost research, I was just curious if you knew of such a thing."

He bit his lip when his father looked down at him with suspicious eye. Those same eyes when Danny knows his father was up to something.

"We believe so."

Danny's father said excitedly.

"When a ghost is done with it's paranormal life span, they prepare themselves to cross over."

"Cross over? Over what?"

"Why, from our world into the unseen realm. Heaven and Hell. Some say, they walk through a dark tunnel with a bright light at the end. Others think a pillar of light lifts the soul when they're going to Heaven, or falling down a fiery pit into Hell."

Danny's eyes widened for a moment, thinking intently.

-Is that what that Ghost meant by looking for a place to die? He's about to 'cross over' and he wants a place to do so?-

"Danny?"

His mother asked when she realized he was so deep in thought.

"Yeah Mom?"

"You haven't been messing with our equipment again have you?"

She asked when she noticed another modulator chip was missing from the Locator.

"No Mom. I haven't touched a thing."

Both Mom and Dad look at the device in confusion. Where are all the parts going? Danny took this moment too leave the lab. In the kitchen, he quickly tossed into the garbage a small computer chip and returned to his room.

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As the time reached towards midnight, Danny tossed and turned in his sleep. That ghost invaded his mind and he can hear its voice again.

"Cometh onto my Phantom. For on the neigh, shall we converse."

"Get... out...of...my...head!"

Danny ordered, only to have the spell cast on him strengthen.

"Harm shall not befall you. I hire your services to seek my place of rest. Cometh to me now."

"No... NO!!!"

At that last scream, Danny's eyes opened wide. They were no longer blue, they were glowing a golden light as the ghost's spell claimed his body and mind.

"I am not an ill spirit. Only provoked shall my powers be used. Only until your deed is done. What say ye?"

Will you leave us alone?"

Danny somehow asked from under the influence of the spell.

"You have my guarantee."

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The next morning, Sam waited by her locker. Hoping her lover would meet her there. She looked at her watch and noticed it was five minutes till their first class.

-Where is he?-

She wondered, hoping he was ok. It was not like Danny to skip the first part of school with letting her and Tucker know why. Mostly because of a loose ghost. But this morning, they didn't hear a single word from him.

"Hey Sam."

Tucker greeted, surprised to see Danny's not with her.

"Tuck, have you seen Danny today?"

"I figured he'd be with you."

"That's what I thought. You don't think something happened to him do you?"

"Nah. He's Danny remember? He knows what he's doing."

At that point, Sam threw everything she was holding for class into her locker and slammed it shut.

"That's what you said when he fought the Handyman Saturday."

And Sam began to run down the hall, towards the nearest exit. Tucker stood there and watched her run.

"But what about school?"

He called out. When he got no reply in return, the rolled his eyes and ran after her.

"I know I'll live to regret this..."

Sam on the other hand did not care about school at the moment. If Danny's missing, then something's wrong. Just as she was about to pass the door, Jazz came through. Sam skidded to a stop in order to avoid crashing into her.

"Oh, Hi Sam."

"Jazz, have you seen Danny all day?"

Jazz glanced about, then noticed he was nowhere near Sam.

"No. He wasn't in his room this morning. I thought he went to see you last night."

"Last night? No, when didn't get together last night."

"Ok."

Jazz said, now worried for her brother's safety.

"You and Tucker look around the city, I'll keep my eye out for him here."

Thanks."

Quickly grabbing Tuckers wrist, Sam charged through the school exit just as the bell rang.

"Miss Fenton."

Mr. Lancers voice said harshly. Jazz turned to him rather nervously.

"Did I just see you letting those two run out to skip school?"

"Why no, Mr. Lancer. I was simply telling them to get that surprise package they wanted to deliver to the school. They forgot it this morning."

She lied, her voice sounding so convincing that she herself thought it was true. Mr. Lancers face eased a bit.

"Well, so long as it's for the schools benefit, I'll let it slip this once. Next time, however, you inform me first."

"Yes sir!"

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"Just...where do...we start...looking?"

Tucker asked, out of breath. They stopped in an alleyway to regain their breath. Running for over a mile was not on the agenda today.

"I...hate...to...eat...and...run...especially...at...the...same...time..."

Tucker wined, perhaps he shouldn't have eaten breakfast. Or allowed his stomach to settle first.

"Just listen for screams. Danny's bound to be near a ghost."

"And...what if...he's not?"

"Then we're screwed."

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Danny as Danny Phantom, walked mindlessly in the old basement of the abandoned warehouse that was once burned. The ghost had controlled his mind and Danny was forced to come here against his will. His eyes still glowing yellow at the effect of the ghost's spell over him.

"Behold friend, a palace of age and dust. Such a fitting place once before then."

The cloaked ghost floated to a collection of old newspapers. The headlines read:

Employees die in Warehouse Fire. One Body Still Missing.

The ghost stared at those words, a tear falling from his eye.

"Phantom, behold my grave!"

And the mind control spell ended and Danny was released.

"Wha.. How?"

"Fulfill your duty Phantom. Destroy this place and bury me within the ashes. Obey."

Danny looked around him, recognizing this place from the TV.

"Isn't this that storage depot where the 'Firestorm' began?"

He asked, recalling the event, which was famous in the city. Then he began to realize. If this ghost wants to die here, he must be the soul of the body that was never recovered.

"So that's why you brought me here? To bring the last of this place down on you?"

"Correct Phantom. I grow tired of my existence in this world. Every heart and mind I've read brings painful memories back unto me. I wish to forget. That is my request. Destroy this place, and my memory for all eternity!"

Danny began to sadden. This poor ghost existed a painful afterlife, after dying in a horrible way. The poor creature. Danny then pitied him.

"I pity you, nameless Ghost."

He said as his hands began to glow green.

"Forget pity. Remember duty."

Danny swore he saw the ghosts yellow eyes crying. Turning away, he phases through the building and loomed over the charred, burned remains of a building. Taking aim, he releases his greatest strike he has ever done, as well as the most terrible. The foundation of the old warehouse buckled and cracked under Danny's continuous assault. Under a storm of smoke, ash dust and debris, the building fell upon the waiting ghost beneath it. The Ghost took hold of the first newspaper with his headline and torn it apart just as the foundation fell upon him.

Danny floated over the wreckage, wondering why this ghost chose this. Yes, his life ended tragically, and his unlife was miserable. Perhaps there was nothing Danny could do to prevent this. Danny surrendered to the surge of emotion that rushed through his heart, and he began to cry. Sitting on the pile of what was left of the building and the nameless ghost, he wept.

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"What was that?"

Sam asked when she heard a loud crashing. Tucker, still trying to regain his breath looked up at her.

"Could be...where Danny's at..."

Sam grabbed Tuckers wrist and dragged him behind her as she ran franticly towards the source of the sound, and followed where the smoke was coming from.

Sitting in a pile of ruble, they found him. Danny Phantom buried his face into his hands, weeping. Sam fell silent. Getting Danny to cry was no mere feat. Whatever happened, it must've been hard and or traumatic for him.

Silently, she came up next to him, and wrapped her arm over his shoulder. Danny didn't even look up, as he buried his head into her chest. Sam's hand fell to the top of his head in a frail attempt to calm him down, nothing. She looked around and say only the ruins around them. Whatever happened here, Danny was responsible for, and his life would change once more at this point.

TO BE CONTINUED

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Will Danny be ok? How will Sam and Tucker help him? What more must Danny do? Hopefully you all won't have to wait long.

Until Next Time

Theo