Chapter Two: Ask Not for Whom the Bell Tolls
(AN: Danny and his friends are all nearing age 16, it has been almost two years since the story the Ghost Scepter, just thought I let you know.)
It was a cold December day in the town of Amity Park. There had been a snowstorm last night and school had been cancelled. all the little kids were playing in the snow and having a jolly time. Our story takes us to the park of this small town, where six friends were playing in the snow.
Now these kids were not your average kids. The leader of the group, Danny Fenton, was in reality a half ghost super hero named Danny Phantom. Also in this group was his girlfriend, Sam Manson. She has magical powers, these were taught to her by the next member of the group, Alicia Szivos. She is a witch, and her boyfriend, Alex Gladstone, is a wizard. The last two members of this little club were Valerie Grey and Tucker Foley, who are also girlfriend and boyfriend. Valerie Grey is a human ghost hunter and Tucker is the tech guy and occasional ghost fighter.
They used their powers to protect the town from all the ghosts that kept attacking. But this day they had taken a break for a friendly snowball fight, and by friendly I mean compared to world war two. They had gone to a secluded part of the park so that no one would see the horrible battle that would unfold.
They had decided to divide into two teams, girlfriends verses boyfriends. From in their forts the team captains were giving their troops a pep talk
"Ok men, were about to go into battle with the most violent and bloody thirsty beings on the planet, teenage girls." said Danny.
"Uh, can we back out then?" said Tucker.
"No we can't soldier, for we have to win this battle, if we don't we will be forever shamed. But if we win we can go back to our loved ones with our heads held high." said Danny.
"You got that from a movie, didn't you?" said Alex.
"Maybe I did, but you can believe me when I say that we will win this fight." said Danny.
"What movie did you get that one from?" said Tucker.
Meanwhile in the girls fort their fearless leader was rallying the troops.
"Ok girls this is it, the battle that separates the women from the girls, we go out their today nobodies, but we will come back heros." said Sam.
"Uh Sam, take it easy, its only a snowball fight." said Alicia.
"You never actually seen them have a snowball fight, have you?" said Valerie.
"No, what's the big deal?" said Alicia.
"The last snowball battle we had made the Battle of Normandy look like a picnic on the beach." said Valerie.
"Uh, can we surrender now then?" said Alicia.
"Stow that surrender talk missy, we will not let them beat us, they will have to bury us under fifteen feet of snow before we give up." said Sam.
"I hope my life insurance is paid up." thought Alicia.
The two leader went to the top of their forts and stared at each other, then came the moment of truth.
"Fire!" shouted Danny and Sam at the same time.
Then the snowballs began to fly, it was like giant snowflakes of doom were raining down from the sky. The battle was fast and furious, with Danny's ghost powers and Alex's magical powers giving them help on their side, and Alicia and Sam's magical powers giving them help on theirs. Both sides were getting it pretty bad. They were covered in snow and neither side seemed to be winning.
"We can seem to break through their defenses." said Sam.
"What do we do?" said Valerie.
"It looks like we have to pull out the big guns." said Sam.
Sam whispered her plan to Alicia.
"You're not serious are you?" said Alicia.
"I am, lets end this battle once and for all." said Sam.
On the other side of the clearing the boys were making more snowballs to throw when the fire from the girls fort stopped.
"What? They stopped firing?" said Alex.
"I don't like this, it smells like a trap. Tucker look over the wall and see if you can see what they are up to." said Danny.
Tucker looked over the wall at the girls fort. He could see Sam and Alicia on top of their fort, seeming to wave their arms back and forth towards the boys fort. As soon as he started to wonder what was going on a huge wall of snow rose up from the ground and they pushed it towards the him.
"Shit! We have a major problem, Sam and Alicia just sent a huge wall of snow at us." said Tucker.
"Damn them and their powers! Well we have a magic person on our side. Alex, get up there and stop that snow." said Danny.
Without another word Alex leaped up to the wall of the boys fort and began to use the same pushing motion as the girls. The wall of snow began to slow down and it eventually stopped half way between the two forts. The magic users were locked in a battle of strength to see who would be buried in a pile of snow. Unfortunately the advantage seemed to be on the girls side and the wave slowly moved towards the boys fort.
"Danny! I can't hold it back." said Alex.
"Don't worry, I'll help you." said Danny.
Danny jumped to the top of the wall and prepared to unleash his most devastating attack, the ghostly wail. It came out of his mouth and shot at the wave of snow, causing it to move back. But the force on the snow was to much and instead of hitting one fort or the other, it went straight up into the air and started to come back down on the clearing.
"Oh crap." everyone thought at the same time.
The snow fall back down and covered both of the forts, including the hapless teens in them. The only parts of them that were still visible were some arms and legs. The teens began to work their way out of the snow pile, finally thy all emerged and Danny and San confronted each other.
"I think we should call a truce for hot coco and a place to warm up." said the now shivering Sam.
"I second that." said the equally cold Danny.
Our heros went to Sam's house to recover from the battle. When they got there they found Sam's parents had left for a business trip and only Sam's grandmother was there.
"Hey grandma, me and the gang are going to head to the home theater for some hot coco and movies." said Sam.
"Ok dear, just don't do anything that would make me a great grandmother." said Sam's grandma.
"Grandma! I wouldn't do anything like that!" said Sam.
"I know, but can't an old lady make a little joke now and again? You kids have fun, I'm off to my extreme bingo game." said Sam's grandma as she left.
The teens headed down to the basement were Sam's family had a huge home theater. They got out some blankets and they snuggled under them and drank coco while they decided what to watch.
"You have Dead Teacher VI, this isn't even out of the theaters yet." said Tucker.
"My dad is friends with the guy who owns the studio, so we get DVD's before their release date." said Sam.
"I knew there was more then one reason I loved you." said Danny.
"Oh, and what would those other reasons be." said Sam.
"Well for one your beautiful, smart, and you're great at snowball fights." said Danny.
"And don't you forget it." said Sam and as kissed Danny.
"There's a lot of love in this room." said Alex.
"Yeah, lets take advantage of that." said Alicia as she kissed Alex.
"Well since everyone else is getting comfortable..." said Tucker.
"Why do we do so as well." Valerie finished as she began to kiss Tucker. (AN: Lets hear it for DxS, TxV, and OCxOC fluff.)
"Well look at the happy couples, I wish I had my camera." said a voice from above.
Everyone looked up to see the evilly smiling Vlad Plasmius floating above them.
"Plasmius!" was all Danny said before transforming.
Everyone else prepared to fight, each drawing on their powers, except Valerie and Tucker who were armed with a array of ghost weapons. So pretty soon Vlad was faced with one ghost boy, three magical teens, and two humans holding some painful ghost hunting weapons, and they all looked pissed.
"What the hell are you doing here Plasmius?" said Danny.
"Such language Daniel, and in front of ladies as well. I have not come to fight you, but to warn you." said Vlad.
"Warn me of what?" said Danny.
"That you are in danger of dying...and so am I." said Vlad.
"What do you mean?" said Danny.
Vlad went over the details of what had happened at the castle. How he was confronted by the Grim Reaper, and was told of why their souls were being taken. When Danny asked how Vlad knew of Dan Phantom he lied and said the Grim Reaper had been the one to tell him. Finally Vlad was finished.
"Let me get this straight, some guy named the Angel of Life and Death has sent the Grim Reaper after us because of the Dan Phantom incident, and believes we are a danger to humanity?' said Danny.
"Yes." said Vlad.
"And why should I believe you?" said Danny.
"Because he is telling the truth." said a voice out of nowhere.
"What, who's there?" said Danny.
A figure appeared out of a dark cloud in the middle of the room.
"Let me introduce myself, I am the Grim Reaper." said Grim.
Danny was skeptical, but the look of terror that came over Vlad's face made him pause. Unless Vlad was doing the acting job of the century this guy just may be the real deal. Danny decided to test him.
"Ok, if you're the Grim Reaper, then prove it." said Danny.
"Ok, if you insist." said Grim.
He teleported behind Alicia, and with a terrified scream none of them wanted to hear again, he took out her soul. Once it was out he showed it to everyone them put it back in. Danny then realized he was in big trouble.
"Oh my god, you are the Grim Reaper!" said Danny.
"Yes, and I am here to take your's and Vlad's souls." said Grim.
What no one realized at the time was that a certain annoying ghost was watching them. When he heard that the two halfas were getting their souls taken he decided to place a call.
"Hello, sweetie, this is the Box Ghost." said the Box ghost on his ghostly cell phone to the Lunch Lady.
"Hello porkchop, what do you want to talk about?" said the Lunch Lady.
"I just saw the Grim Reaper speaking to the two Halfas, he is going to take their souls." said the Box Ghost.
"Really!" said the Lunch Lady.
"Yes, get everyone over here, they will want to see this." said the Box Ghost, then they hung up.
Meanwhile back with our heros Danny was showing the bravery that we have come to know him for.
"Waaaa! I'm to young to die!" Danny said crying into Sam's shoulder.
Ok, maybe not, but would you fair better when facing death personified, I don't think so.
"Danny calm down, it will be alright." said Sam.
"Daniel this is no time for crying, we have a crisis here." said Vlad.
"Your right, ok Mr. Reaper..." said Danny.
"Actually I prefer to be called Grim." said Grim.
"Ok Grim, what reason do you think you have to take our souls." said Danny.
"My boss, the Angel of Life and Death, decided because of the "incident" with your future self that you are a danger to the existence of the human race, and he has ordered me to reap your souls to keep that horrible future from ever happening." said Grim.
"But that's not fair, I beat my evil self and kept that future from happening, why must you take my soul." said Danny.
"Because he ordered it so, personally I think he is overreacting." said Grim.
"If you think that then why not spare us." said Vlad.
"Because if I defy his orders it will destroy the universe." said Grim.
"Why would sparing a life destroy the universe?" said Sam.
"Because God decreed that all decisions That the Angel of Life and Death makes on whther a person lives or dies are to be obeyed." said Grim.
"And this means what?" said Tucker.
"Ok, listen carefully because I'm only going to explain this once. The Universe, in all its form and splendor, functions solely on one principle, God is infallible. To prove Him wrong would undo reality and everything in it. Up would become down, black would become white, existence would become nothingness. So if I defy God's decree by disobeying orders and sparing their life, it will unmake the world." said Grim (AN: Most of this bit is borrowed from the movie Dogma, made by Kevin Smith, and I don't own it.)
"So there is no way?" said Sam.
"I'm afraid so." said Grim.
"Wait, can't they play a game to decide if they live or not?" said Tucker.
"We took that out of the rule book, to many people were winning. Ok you two, time to go." said Grim as he prepared to take Danny and Vlad's souls.
"Wait!" shouted Sam.
"What is it now? I have TV to watch and your making me miss it.' said Grim.
"You said the person who's soul is being taken can't play a game for it?" said Sam.
"Yes, it did." said Grim.
"What about another person playing the game on their behalf?" said Vlad.
"Let me check." said Grim a he summoned the Rule Book of Death.
"Hmm, there is a rule saying that a person can challenge me on a victims behalf." said Grim.
"Good, then I challenge you for..." said Sam, then commotion began.
"Hey, did we miss the going away party?" said Ember as she poked her head through the wall. Following her were all the rest of Danny's enemies.
"What the heck are you guys doing here?" said Alicia.
"Box Ghost told us that the ghost child and Plasmius were getting their souls reaped, so we decided to watch the show." said Skulker.
"Yes, and I, Technus, have brought popcorn and candy treats from the local movie theater." said Technus.
"Cool, can I have some?" said Tucker.
"Tucker! This is no time for popcorn." said Valerie.
"Sorry." said Tucker.
"Is it me or do our lives get weirder everyday?" said Alex.
"You get used to it." said Alicia.
"Ok, then if your waiting then lets get this show on the road." said Grim, and with one quick motion he ripped the souls from Danny and Vlad, which looked like their ghost halfs.
"Daniel Fenton and Vladimir Masters, your souls have been reaped by the Grim Reaper. As per my superiors orders you will skip the ghost phase and go directly to the great beyond. Daniel Fenton because of your good deeds in life, your selfless attitude, and your heroic exploits, you will be sent to Heaven. Vladimir, because of the evil you have done, the selfish life you have led, and the despicable acts you have committed, you are sentenced to the fire pits of Hell." said Grim.
As he finished two portals opened up, one was framed in blue and showed the pearly gates of Heaven, the other was framed in red and should the burning flames of Hell. Grim then moved forward to deposit them in, with both of them struggling to break free. Just as Grim was about to put them in a voice rang out.
"Stop! Wait!" shouted Sam.
"What the hell do you want?" said Grim.
"I just want to finish what I was saying earlier. I challenge you for Danny Fenton's soul." said Sam.
As soon as she said this the portals closed.
"So you challenge me ah? So be it. But know this, if you do fight, you will have to take Vlad's soul back too." said Grim.
"I can live with that." said Sam.
"Also, if you do challenge me and lose, I get to take your soul as well." said Grim.
"If it means saving Danny then I'll take the risk." said Sam.
"What! Sam, don't do it, it isn't worth throwing your life away!" said the disembodied Danny.
"Danny, there is no point to my life if your not here, I would rather go with you then lose you." said Sam.
This was a emotionally tear jerking moment. All the girls were crying at the love and devotion Sam and Danny had for each other, even the ghost girls.
"Ok then, so you have challenged me, but I pick the game." said Grim.
"So what do you pick deathboy?" said Sam.
"I pick for our battle...Dance Dance Revolution!" said Grim.
"Why that game?" said Sam.
"Because it is my favorite, and be warned, I have never lost to anyone on it." said Grim.
"Until now, bring it on!" said Sam.
"Oh I will." said Grim, as he teleported them all away.
Everyone found themselves in a large room with a DDR machine in it and a stand for people to sit on, which everyone except Grim and Sam were doing. In a cage sat the souls of Danny and Vlad, and their bodies where floating below, surrounded by energy.
"Hey, what are you doing to their bodies?" said Sam.
"I am putting them in suspended animation so they do not begin to decay while we have our little battle. There will be a slight period to prepare before we play." said Grim.
While they waited the others gave Sam some encouragement, but there was on question that still bothered her about Grim. She decided to walk over and ask him.
"Hey Grim." said Sam.
"Yes?" said Grim.
"I have a question for you. I always thought the Grim Reaper was a skeleton. How come you look human?" said Sam
"Do you really want to know?" said Grim.
"Yes." said Sam.
"Ok, the reason I look human is because I used to be human." said Grim.
"What! You mean you used to be a human. What happened to turn you into this?" said Sam.
"I guess I can tell you, we still have time. It began 160 years ago..." said Grim as he flashed back
Flashback
1847, Just outside of New Haven , Connecticut
I was once called James Wilson, and I lived in the farmland of Connecticut. I was the oldest of seven kid. My father owned a very nice general store, my mother was the local baker. We were all very happy, most of all me. I was the most happy person you could ever find on Earth.
My father had just said that he was going to make me a partner in running the store. In fact he had just hired a local painter to change the sign to Wilson and Son. To top it all off I was engaged to be married to the most beautiful girl in all the town, Eliza Smith. I loved her more then any other person in the world. I considered myself the luckiest guy on Earth, little did I know that it would all come crashing down.
One cold day in January my father asked me to take the wagon to the a town 20 miles away to pick up some items he ordered. I hitched up the wagon and left, not noticing the storm clouds gathering above. About half way there it started to snow, and it kept getting harder and harder to see. Soon I was in the middle of a blizzard. I thought if I just kept going I would get to safety, but I was wrong.
I still don't know exactly what happened, but what ever it was sealed my fate. Something startled the horse and it began to run at a fierce pace. I tried to regain control but it was no use. Then a heard a snap and the connection between the horse and wagon broke, and the wagon overturned. I was throw out of the wagon and when I landed I broke my arm. But that was the least of my worries.
I soon realized that I was trapped in the wilderness with no supplies and no way to get out. The horse had run off to who knows where, so I was on my own. I began to walk toward where I thought home was, it turned out later that I had actually been heading away from home. I trudged through the snow as it got higher and higher. Pretty soon frostbite was setting in and I could not feel my toes or fingers. It got worse from there, as I kept going I lost more feeling. Soon I realized that parts of my body were beginning to die from the cold, but I kept going. Then it happened, I tripped and fell on a log, which broke my leg. Immobilized I could not even keep even the tiny heat I had was now going away. I felt the icy hand of death upon me, and then their was darkness.
They next thing I knew I was standing up. I no longer felt the pain of my broken arm and leg, in fact I couldn't fell anything. I looked around dumbstruck, then I saw it. It was my body, covered in ice and buried in the snow. I began to panic, then I saw him. He was wearing a cloak and hood that covered his whole body, all I could see were his skeleton hands and his glowing red eyes. I realized that he was the Grim Reaper, and that I was now dead.
I was so angry, my life had been going great. But now because of stupid fate all that had been taken from me, including the love of my life. As he came towards me I was at the boiling point, and it finally boiled over.
As he was about to grab me I did him one better, I grabbed his scythe. What happened next can be best described by temporary insanity. Using the scythe I hacked the Grim Reaper to pieces, thousands of pieces, and scattered them on the forest floor. When I finished I realized that I had just destroyed death, what came next was quite the shocker.
As I stood over the remains of the Grim Reaper a booming voice came from the Heavens above.
"JAMES WILSON, WHAT HAST THOU DONE?" said the voice.
"Wh..who are you?" I said.
"I AM THE ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND END, I AM THE LORD THY GOD." said the voice now identified as God.
"What do you want with me?" I said.
"YOU HAVE DESTROYED ONE OF MY SERVANTS, THE ANGEL OF DEATH." said God.
"But it was a accident, I just got do mad..." I said.
"I KNOW, BUT THERE MUST BE A PUNISHMENT FOR YOUR ACTIONS." said God.
"What are you going to do to me?" I said, frightened.
"FOR YOUR ACTIONS YOU WILL BE CURSED TO BARE THE MANTLE OF THE ANGEL OF DEATH. YOU WILL REAP THE SOULS OF THE LIVING, AND THAT WILL BE YOUR PUNISHMENT." said God.
With that a bolt of energy flew from the sky and hit the scythe that was still in my hand. I felt the dark energy of death begin to flow through my veins. Within a few seconds I was transformed into a walking plague upon the Earth. All that I could ever bring to the world from that point forward was pain and death. Thus began my life as the Grim Reaper.
End Flashback
"..and that's why I am who I am today " said Grim as he finished.
"Oh wow, I didn't know, I'm sorry." said Sam.
"You don't need to apologize, especially since I'm about to beat you." said Grim.
"That's what you think, but I'm the one who will win." said Sam.
"We'll see human, we'll see. But now it is time for the game." said Grim
They walked up to the dance pads, and stepped on. Soon they would see who the winner and who the loser was.
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Me: You can cut the tension with a knife, I hope that Sam wins in the end.
Ember: I hope we see some action.
Me: Well if you consider DDR action then we will, also this story will go on for two additional chapters, then I begin to brainstorm about the story, the Return of Dan.
Ember: I love it when you brainstorm, I get to help you think. Ember kisses Rob.
Me: I love that part of it too, but now a message from me.
I looks like Sam is in for the battle of her life. With Danny's soul on the line Sam will have to dance like she never danced before. But will she be able to survive the special mix of three songs that Grim picks? Only time will tell, so read the next chapter of Danny Phantom Meets the Grim Reaper.
Me: Until next time Danny Phantom fans, Read and Review!