Hi, guys. How are things? Things are pretty good, I guess. Especially since my NFL team, the Giants, kicked butt in their season opener yesterday. 42-19 over the Cardinals! Also, my high school's football team won their season opener Friday night, 43-21! But enough about my life. Sorry about the wait. I got "The Ultimate Enemy" video game Saturday night, and I just couldn't stop playing it. It's really cool.

Anyway, now that that's out of the way, we're moving on to Chapter 17! Danny and Kim have arrived in South Africa!

When Teen Heroes Collide

Chapter Seventeen: Secrets in South Africa Spilled

South Africa, Saturday, 5:45 PM

Danny and Kim slowly floated down to the ground.

When they got there, Danny turned to Kim and said, "So you deal with free-falling with parachutes all the time?"

Kim replied, "It takes some getting used to. Ron still freaks out a little with the free-falling, though."

"So which way to that valley for the dust?"

"One second." She turned on the Kimmunicator again and said, "Wade, you there?"

Wade appeared and said, "As always, Kim. What is it?"

"Nothing big. Just need you to switch to map mode to get us to the valley."

"I'm on it." Within a few seconds, a first person map appeared on the screen of the Kimmunicator. Kim took a look at it and said, "First thing we do is go forward approximately ten miles."

Danny said, "Then we're off. No time to waste."

With that, the two heroes set off into the woods, Kim running and Danny flying.

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Amity Park, Indiana, Saturday, 6:00 PM

Monique sat across from Tucker at Nasty Burger. They had all agreed to have Monique and Tucker hang out for a while before going to the dance together.

As they ate, Tucker asked, "So Monique, how is it being back in Amity Park?"

Monique grinned, "Oh, it's so cool! Not much has changed, but it is awesome being back in Nasty Burger! Remember, you, Danny, Sam, and I all used to hang out here?"

Tucker chuckled, "Don't I ever."

"So how else has life been treating you?"

"Well, I'm never bored. Things were normal enough until what happened to Danny a few months ago."

Monique shook her head, "Man, I never would've dreamed that the shy but funny Danny Fenton I knew would eventually become a teenage superhero with ghost powers."

"To bad you weren't around to witness it."

"You know, this whole love spell thing with Ron and Sam must have been killing both Danny and Kim from the inside at first."

"You know it. First they started yelling at each other, and then they stomped off and started crying a whole lot."

"He really likes Sam, doesn't he?"

"Yup. He told me when he thought this love was real."

Monique smiled, "I knew it. From all the time I spent with you guys, there was hardly a moment when I didn't think that he liked Sam, and vice versa."

"So how has it been being friends with Kim?"

"Oh, it has been awesome! We have so much in common. We love shopping, dances, and boys. We talk about each others problems."

"Okay, okay! Probably not what I wanted to hear."

"Sorry." She then checked her watch and said, "Oh geez, Tuck. We have to get going if we want to get to that dance by 8:00."

"Right," Tucker said as they both had finished their food, and they both got up and left Nasty Burger.

But as they left, Tucker put on a wise smile and thought, But I have plans for you at the dance as well, old friend.

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Madison, Wisconsin, Saturday, 6:15 PM

"Excellent," Vlad said with a smirk.

He turned to his allies and said, "Everything is going according to plan. The young Miss Gray is in the vicinity of Daniel and Kimberly Anne, Samantha and Ronald are heading to the dance, and now their friends Tucker and Monique are heading there as well."

Professor Dementor, who had gotten there that morning, asked Vlad, "So what is next on this agenda?"

"It is most likely that Valerie will destroy Daniel rather than Kim. If she does, we have one less pest to worry about. If she doesn't, then we will. Now prepare. In one hour the next phase of our plan commences. But for now, I'm gonna sweeten the deal." He pulled out his cellphone again and dialed.

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South Africa, Saturday, 6:20 PM

Valerie moved swiftly through the woods. She had spotted Danny flying and was following his every step.

As she kept moving through the woods, she muttered to herself, "Yeah, keep flying ghost boy. When I'm done with you, you won't even be able to walk."

When she had first met Danny Phantom, she didn't know what to think of him because she didn't know what he was. She started hating him when he and the ghost dog wrecked her dad's job, and their stuff.

After Tucker revealed that Danny Phantom was a ghost, Vlad had sent her the weapons and she was very excited at having the opportunity to destroy him.

After several encounters, she had no luck, and still hated him. Then they had both been shocked by strange gadgets. When they awoke, they were handcuffed in the Ghost Zone, chased by Skulker.

Although they were both reluctant, they worked together to escape him. She wasn't as hateful towards him after that, even though her old stubbornness returned after a while.

When the Ghost King's crew attacked, they worked together with Vlad Plasmius to fight them off.

Then she tried to grab the Fenton Ecto-Skeleton, but Danny wanted it as well. When her dad came and saw, Danny ripped her mask off and he found out who she was. She was furious and tried to blast him, but her dad held her back.

Although Danny was able to save the town using the suit, she was more hateful toward him than ever. Her hatred and anger towards him burnt through her eyes like a camera as she followed him through the woods.

Just then, her cellphone rang. Still moving, she answered, "Hello."

"Miss Gray, I'm glad I got you."

"Oh, Mr. Masters. Can't it wait? I have sight of the ghost kid."

"Oh, I know. And I thought I'd give you a little tip. If you happen to see the young Danny Fenton there instead of Danny Phantom, destroy him as well."

Valerie stopped running for a second and said, "Huh? Why would I want to hurt Fenton? I like him."

"Would you like him after I told you that he is the ghost boy?"

Valerie's eyes bugged out at hearing this. She said, "No way. You got to be pulling my leg, right? How could he be…?"

"I've taken interests in ghosts, Miss Gray. Through my years of study, I have discovered that when fused with ectoplasm, humans can transform into ghosts when they wish. Danny is one of those who can."

Valerie was still disbelieved. She said, "You're lying. He can't be."

"Think about it. How much alike do they look? Same hair style, same figure, same voice. Just his eyes and hair color change when he transforms."

Valerie had known that they looked very much alike. It made perfect sense.

She signed andsaid, "No way. I can't kill off Fenton. He…"

"Why? Think it over, Valerie. He spoiled your finances and made you poor, lowered your father's job ranking, made you banished from the popular kids' table, and then revealed your hunting secret to your father. Wouldn't you want revenge, regardless of how he acts when he's human?"

Valerie sighed. She said, "But he always acts so nice when he's human. I can't…"

"So why is it when he is a ghost, he puts you to misery?"

Valerie hung her head for a minute. Then she scowled and said, "I guess he was trying to fool me, all this time."

"That's what I'm saying, Miss Gray."

"Okay. Danny Fenton or no Danny Fenton, I'm taking him down. Once and for all."

Uh oh! Now this is gonna be bad! That evil Vlad! Now he's revealing Danny to Valerie and turned her against him! What will happen out of it? I borrowed that idea from another fic I saw, but it seems, in a way, something good to put in. Anyway, sorry that chapter was so short; it just seemed like a good place to stop. The next chapter will be longer; I promise. And it will also be posted quicker than this. Just one more thing. Could someone help me with what I'm gonna do with Valerie next? I'm having trouble thinking of something. Please and thank you!