(Author's Note: It's been a while since I posted a story in this category, and I've changed my screen name (used to be Dragonbringer). Anyways, I'd like to say a few things: one, I don't own Danny Phantom or any related characters, but I do own Raven, Shruikan (name borrowed from Eragon), Diana, Venemon, Tyrannique, Narcissa, etc. Second, this is going to be a BIG plot, so I suggest you watch the story as it gains chapters. Third, I no longer accept anonymous reviews due to a random problem person who likes to virtually spit on my stories. Other than that, please try to imagine my story as a Danny Phantom cartoon!)
Title: The Shadows of Time
Summary: After defeating his jerky older self, Danny is called to save the future again by Clockwork's nephew, the dark necromancer Shruikan. However, he accidentally uncovers a shocking secret about Sam's future- and his own. Meanwhile, Vlad tries to gain Wolfe as an ally, but ends up gaining an unwilling apprentice. And what does Valerie have to do with all of this?
Chapter 1: Back to the Future
Amity Park: The Present
It was a normal day in the town of Amity Park. There were no clouds, and there was a slight breeze playing on the wind. Aside from the usual noise of traffic, there were many kids laughing and playing in the green fields in and around the town. Some were flying kites, climbing trees, and playing soccer and football, while others were on the local playground. Meanwhile, Danny Fenton, Tucker Foley, and Sam Manson walking idly through the park, talking.
"So...you're saying Clockwork took you back in time, during the test, and your fight with your jerky older self actually happened before? Not to mention that Jazz actually uncovered his plot?" Tucker said to Danny, exasperated. Danny had just told them the long story of how his former future self, the evil, fully-ghost Danny Phantom, had trapped him and went to his time after Sam and Tucker returned to the past. "I still can't believe that that evil jerk told your secret to your parents and Mr. Lancer!" Sam said in a sarcastic voice.
"Well, at least I got that cool new power. Besides, I'm looking forward to having a nice break from ghost hunting for a while." Danny replied proudly. But no sooner had he said that, blue mist escaped from his mouth. "Oh no. Here we go again..." Danny said miserably. Then, dark thunderclouds appeared out of nowhere, flashing lighting. The whole sky was soon covered by black, and the thunder was loud enough to burst one's eardrum. There was a flash of blinding lightning, and a giant, glowing golden blob with electrified tentacles appeared, obviously a ghost, roaring viciously. It was at least as tall as a four-story building, had no neck, and a slit for a mouth. The people near the monster screamed and ran in all different directions as the beast began to stomp through the outskirts of town, destroying everything in its path.
"I'm going ghost!" Danny yelled as he ran behind a tree and changed into Danny Phantom, flying to greet the giant yellow monster. The colossal ghost turned its beady eyes on the ghost boy, and lunged at him with its many, thick tentacles. Danny easily dodged each of the flailing, dangerous live wires, and mocked, "Is that all you got?" Then, he shot an ectoplasmic beam from his left hand, which hit the blob-ghost square in the chest and knocked it to the end of Main Street. The ghost roared again, this time in English, "You will pay for defying the mighty Voltron!" Using its many tentacles to pick up parked cars on the wrecked road, it electrified the cars' bodies and started hurling them with extreme speed at Danny.
The ghost boy managed to dodge most of them, but he failed to avoid the last one. Screaming in agony as the car struck him with both immense force and electricity, he fell to the ground, his snow-white hair sticking on end and blackened, his body twitching. "Danny!" both Sam and Tucker yelled, running over to help him. Slowly getting up as they arrived, he said, "Wait! Don't touch me!" just as Tucker's finger get stung from touching Danny's static jumpsuit. Realizing his mistake, Tucker quickly took his hand back and flinched from the pain. Standing up while clutching his arm, while his friends took a step back, Danny said gravely, "There's only one way to defeat this ghost." Then, turning to face the giant Voltron as it was about to grab him in its tentacles, let out his Ghostly Wail, causing the blob-ghost to go flying. Danny then quickly used the Fenton Thermos to capture Voltron, and then turned back human from the wail's effect.
As soon as the mighty ghost disappeared inside the Fenton thermos, the thunderclouds evaporated and once again, it was sunny out. Wiping his brow, Danny sighed, and said, "Wow, that was a tough one." No later had he finished these words, the air near him began to shimmer. Forming a pool of silver light, it formed a figure about the height of a one-story house. Danny and his friends had to cover his ears from unseen pressure, building stronger every second, until a loud pop was heard. The gang stared in amazement as a giant, black dragon materialized out of thin air in front of them. Its entire body was the same as the ghost dragon Danny had fought before, except that it had slightly thinner tail. The dragon also had a black-scaled underbelly. Looking at the three teens, it made a strange laugh that sounded like a gurgle, chuckle, and snarl all rolled into one sound.
"Well done, Danny," came the creature's airy voice from out of nowhere. Danny jumped at the mention of his name. Seeing this, the dragon laughed again, and this time saw his two companions. "And you two must be Sam and Tucker." The two looked up in amazement at the black dragon, and nodded. Strangely, the teens felt no fear- only a calming, peaceful feeling. Danny, looking at the reptile as it bent its head to observe Sam and Tucker, asked, "Who...are you?" Tucker also asked, confused, "How did you know our names?" Turning to face the trio with a solemn expression on its face, the dragon said, "Forgive me. I don't believe I introduced myself," Then, glancing at its form, remarked, "Perhaps a better, more comprehensible form would help."
Then, the dragon turned into silver light again, and started to shrink. The teens this time felt as if the air around them were being sucked out. Then, the liquid light pooled together, another pop was heard, but softer this time, and a man appeared in the same place where the dragon once stood, floating a few feet off the ground.
The man was tall, almost the height of Danny's father, Jack Fenton, yet not quite. He was lean and muscular, had long, black hair tied into a ponytail, with white highlights, and had a black goatee and a Roman nose. He wore a black cape, black boots, and a white vest over a black, long sleeved shirt. It took several seconds for Danny to notice the man's glowing green eyes, sparkling with mischief. Danny stared hard at the man, and asked warily, "How did you do that? Are you a ghost?" The man landed on the ground and responded with an eerily familiar voice. "So many questions, so little time," he said mysteriously. Danny stared at him in disbelief, and then stuttered, "Clockwork?"
The man, slightly surprised, replied with a grimace, "Ah. I see you've met my uncle. Unfortunately, I am not he, and my name is Shruikan. I am the master of shadows, and quite an accomplished magician. A dark necromancer, in your human terms." then, glancing at Sam and Tucker, continued, "I've come because of an urgent matter, involving the future. Since you defeated your older self-" he turned his gaze to Danny again- "-a new evil has been born." Danny, confused, asked, "What? That's can't be right. I defeated my evil self, didn't I? So the Ghost Zone and the human world are safe." Shruikan looked at the boy and laughed scornfully. "Wrong. It seems my uncle, all-powerful as he is, miscalculated. You see..." Then, he gently ran his hand over the open air. A green, swirling circle appeared there, then formed an image.
A young girl, about fourteen years of age, was chained to the wall in what looked like a whitewashed prison cell with no openings, save for ventilation. She had long, unkept, raven-black hair, and stared at the opposite wall with icy blue eyes filled with anger.
Shruikan frowned, as Danny wondered about this girl. Who was she? She was quite beautiful, and was somewhat similar to him in appearance. Just as Danny was about to look more closely, Shruikan waved his hand over the image, and the prison scene disappeared. "Ah...here we are. Sometimes I get a little off-target," the dark necromancer said. Another image was now there...
A ghost army was gathering, consisting of horribly mutated animals, skeleton warriors, and strange, vicious beasts. Their numbers were innumerable, and yet still more poured in to their ranks. As the last of them keyed into their combat units, the Fright Knight rode from the sky on his fiery steed to greet them. He bellowed, "Today, we shall destroy those pitiful beings we call humans, and rule in our world and theirs!" The monsters roared in response. Just then, a dark figure flew up behind the Knight. Turning around in surprise, the Knight exclaimed, "My lord! You are here!"
Just as Sam, Tucker, and Danny were all watching, transfixed, the image disappeared. "What was that? The ghosts massing together?" Sam asked, and Danny said, "Who was that?" Shruikan glared at both of them, then replied, "I cannot say. But we I have wasted too much time already." Turning back into dragon form in a heartbeat, he commanded, "Danny, get on my back." As Danny ran over to the black dragon, though, Sam and Tucker said, "Wait!" Sam shouted, "Where are you taking him?" and Tucker yelled, "How can we trust you?" Shruikan looked with eyes full of compassion at the two teens. "To meet a friend in the future. As for trust, time will tell. One of you two may betray it." And with that, with Danny on his back, Shruikan took off.
"Hold on tight." he told Danny. In response, the boy gripped one of the dragon's neck spikes, and as they ascended, and silvery wormhole appeared in place of the sun. The sheer wind power of the takeoff had forced Sam and Tucker to brace themselves. As Danny glanced back at them, he saw both of their faces filled with concern. On Sam's face, he also saw something in her violet eyes. He couldn't identify it, though her gaze looked longing and passionate. As they headed for the wormhole, they became dots on a field of green, as well as the other people in the city. Suddenly, Danny was hit with unexpected force. He became lightheaded and dizzy, his vision and thoughts blurred, and eventually, he gasped and fainted on Shruikan's back.
(P.S.- So, how did you feel about the first chapter? Please review, and try not to put flames! Also, I may upgrade the rating later for violence, and possibly romance. No, there are no lemons or limes in the story, so don't even ask. If I misspelled Wolfe's name at the beginning, please tell me in your review. Who are the girl and the mysterious lord of the ghost army? Where exactly is Shruikan taking Danny? And who are they going to visit? Find out in the next chapter of The Shadows of Time!)