Hello, again!
I trust that most of you enjoyed my first chapter? I apologize for the relatively short length; I'll try to make them longer in the future.
Now, in a step I have decided to take initially, I'm perfectly aware that I'm not the only person to have thought of this basic plot line. In fact, this is quite an oft told story. However, I plan, with your help, to make my story a bit more unique than others. I thank you all once again for taking a minute of your time to help me.
Okey dokey, here we go...
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned herein.
Chapter Two: The Masked Ball
Casper High was buzzing with activity the following day. The school grounds had sustained significant damage during the invasion. The football field looked like a war zone: blast craters and skeletal debris littered the ground, and the recently toppled goalpost was barely holding in the endzone. Above all, the lingering and pungent scent of ozone hung in the air.
"At least our classes have been shortened," said Tucker. The three teenagers stood beside Danny's locker as school let out for the day.
"Yeah, but we have to help in the cleanup after school's out," added Sam. "I'm not even sure if that's legal or not."
Danny had already gathered his books and shut his locker. "It's volunteer work. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. What's that?" He gestured towards the newspaper in Sam's hand.
"USA Today. Your rescue made the front page. It's been like that in every newspaper I've seen."
"Don't you think people are getting out of hand about all this?" asked Tucker. "I know Danny saved the city, but none of his so-called 'crimes' have made national news."
"That might just be the case," answered Sam. "Take a look at this: the mayor and his administration are throwing a costume ball in your honor tonight, Danny."
Danny froze in his tracks. "What?"
The gala was simply extravagant. All of the upper-crust and main players in the recent events had been invited to attend. A special hall had been rented out just for the occasion. Chandeliers dripping with crystals of every conceivable color and shade hung from the ceiling, and black and white trappings were draped along the ballroom.
Only three guests refused to show up. The first, the ghost boy for whom the party was for, could not be contacted. The second, a billionaire from Wisconsin who helped build the battlesuit that owed to the victory, had sent a note explaining a recent illness. The third, daughter of Damon Grey, security director of Axion Industries, had been grounded for reasons kept private.
Danny, Jazz, Tucker, and Sam sat at one of the round tables, trying not to attract attention. The were the only four not in costume. All had considered that idea incredibly embarrassing, and were in no mood to join their parents on the dance floor. Besides, classical music was the choice of the evening.
Actually, only the Foleys and Mansons were dancing. Jack and Maddie, dressed in their jumpsuits with upturned hoods, were blathering on about ghosts to the mayor, who seemed bored to tears.
"Danny," said Jazz, who had taken notice of their parents near the lead table, "I think we should probably go somewhere less conspicuous before anyone recognizes us."
"Good idea." They then started to walk towards the exit, waving goodbye to Danny's friends.
It was at that moment that a wisp of blue vapor escaped Danny's lips.
While Jazz walked outside, he quickly looked around for any sign of a ghost, but saw only a small group of murmuring people crowding around the exit in a large circle. As he walked by, the temperature in the immediate area seemed to drop about twenty degrees. The teenager then made a run for the nearest hiding spot; in this case a high hedge outside the entrance.
"Jazz!" he exclaimed upon seeing his sister.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" replied Jazz. "Were you hiding here? I'll just hide over there, then." Danny waited until his sister was out of view.
"I'm going ghost!"
A halo of white light shot out of Danny's mid section, which then split in two and spread in opposite directions up and down his body. The dress suit he was wearing vanished, revealing a black hazmat suit with white gloves, boots, belt, and collar. On the chest was a white combination "DP" emblem. His hair became a snowy white, and his eyes a glowing, ghostly green. He had become a half-human, half-ghost: Danny Phantom.
Quickly, he became intangible, his skin now translucent and glowing blue. He then phased through the wall, becoming invisible upon reaching the other side. As he gained altitude to observe the object of the crowd's attention, Danny came upon a strange sight:
A gaunt figure dressed entirely in shades of red strode across the dance floor with a delicate gait, a circle of curious guests about five feet in radius surrounding it. The person was male in appearance and had on a European nobleman's outfit, complete with a matching, feathered tricorn hat resting on its head. A long, scarlet cape embroidered with gold stitching trailed behind it like a king's train, and tight-fitting knee-high boots hugged its thin ankles. It held a walking staff of about five feet in length with a fancy brass skull on the tip. Yet most disturbing of all was its mask: an incredibly detailed death's head that covered its entire face.
As Danny approached the figure unseen, his ghost sense went off again. There was no doubt in his mind now; this figure was obviously a ghost who had crashed the party in the guise of a literary character Sam had once talked about in the sixth grade.
Who was it again? he thought. I know who this guy's dressed as, but I can't place the name...
The crowd around the menacing partygoer parted away, revealing it to the whole of the ballroom. The Mayor, who had broken off from the Fentons, walked towards the crimson figure with sheer indignation.
"Now see here!" spat the Mayor. He was not very imposing considering his rather short height. "Who are you? Everyone has been accounted for, and I will not have any uninvited-"
He had started to poke the figure in the chest when it had shot out one of its gloved hands. Before anyone knew what had transpired, the Mayor's arm had been caught in the vice-like grip of this masked stranger. With surprising strength, it lifted its antagonist up to its own eye level.
"You would be wise not to touch me again." The figure spoke in a male voice that was both masterful and ubiquitous. "When Prince Prospero dared to touch the Red Death, he brought death and decay upon a thousand innocent people."
That's it! The Red Death! thought Danny. He was about to make himself visible when he saw his parents brandishing their ghost-hunting equipment in the direction of the man in red.
"Get your hands off our duly elected leader, you odd manifestation of ectoplasmic energy and post-human consciousness!" declared Maddie as she aimed and charged her Fenton-Bazooka.
In one fluid movement, the Red Death pointed its skull-staff at the Fentons. A ray of blue energy lanced out of the tip, blasting the two ghost-hunters into a nearby refreshment table.
"There's no need for any of that!" said the crimson ghost. He then released the Mayor, who sat on the ground, completely stupefied along with everyone else. Danny could see that the man no longer stood on the ground, but levitated in midair. "I don't mean harm to anyone who doesn't harm me first."
As the ghost in red glided across the ballroom, the guests did nothing but stare at him like fascinated infants. Danny could now see that he was hovered towards the table where Sam and Tucker sat...
Sam had lost all ability to move as the grotesque figure approached. There was a certain air about his presence; the type of hypnotic effect created when she listened to her new music box for a long period of time. The ghost halted when it reached the table, still levitating in midair. The two teens looked around: although everyone was staring in the direction of the ghost, no one seemed to pay the slightest bit of attention to anything it said.
"You know where to find him, don't you?" stated the masked specter.
At last, Sam regained the ability to speak. "Wh- What do you mean?" she stammered.
"The ghost boy. You two know who he is and how I can find him. Soooo...where is he?"
"Right here!" The scarlet ghost whipped around in time to see the black-and-white blur of Danny Phantom flying at him like a comet.
Danny connected his first strike, ramming his adversary in the stomach. Thick, blue smoke started to spill from the orifices of the flying costume until a mass of fog filled the room. Accompanying it was a malevolent cackle that sent chills down his spine. The vaporous mass then began to glow and rose upwards, disappearing when it hit the ceiling. Danny started to glow the same shade as he chased after the gas, Tucker and Sam following closely behind.
Oh I just love cliffhangers, don't you? As you probably know from the new summary, I've chosen my villain along with developing the original character you've just borne witness to.
All I need now are some of your ideas to help me along. I thank you in advance for your courtesy.
By the way, Ultimate TH and Mina-Chan AD, thanks for your support!
Your sincerest regards,
Monsieur Caracal.