Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School. I do not own the original story this is based on.
"Vlad," Danny said the word as if it were a curse, a forbidden name. For so long, Vlad had antagonized Danny with his ghost half, Vlad Plasmius. It had been months since they last saw each other, which meant one thing.
"What are you up to?" Danny asked with his arm guarding Phantasma.
"Oh, I was just in the neighborhood and thought, 'I haven't seen my friend Jack or any of you in a while,' and thought about coming here and causing you all endless trouble," Vlad held a straight face the entire time he spoke. After his words, he and Jack held in their faces until they snorted in laughter.
They were the only ones guffawing in the entire room.
"Ah, I'm such a kidder," Vlad wiped a nonexistent tear in his eye. "Anyway, I don't believe I had the pleasure of meeting your little friend here, Daniel. Who is this enchanting lady?"
Young Fenton tried to keep his girlfriend from getting closer to the mayor, but the older man's charisma worked to his advantage. The young banshee walked from behind the ghost boy as she peered at the man cautiously.
"Hello," she waved, unaware of his halfa heritage. "I'm Phantasma."
The banshee would have told him she prefers Phanty but noticed Danny's behavior. Sam and Tucker were in the same mood, giving the man venomous looks.
"Phantasma? What a mystical name," Danny took note at the faux politeness and feigned interest in Vlad's tone. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Vlad Masters, mayor of Amity Park, and an old friend of the Fentons. Isn't that right, Jack?"
"Righto V-man," Jack obliviously agreed. "Usually, he's busy doing his job, but we can always count on Vlad to make time for the important things in life. Such as ghosts! That's why you're gonna ramped up security."
"Ramped up security?" Tucker asked, checking into his PDA. Sam was now aghast with how Vlad would increase security. Danny held Phantasma's hand and squeezed it.
"Why yes, dear boy," Vlad's face, out of Jack's view, gave the gang a wicked grin that spoke of malice intention. "You know how ghosts love to cause even more trouble on Friday the 13th. So I thought to myself, Vlad, you have to do something about this. What would you do if ghost and the like were to suddenly, for inexplicable reasons, appear in droves like the one time with the skeleton army? You got to do something to prepare. That's why I'm going to meet with some associates in the following weeks to brainstorm some ideas on counteracting this supernatural threat."
"Which I still think you should've asked us to help with," Maddie said, coming from the lab."No one knows ghosts better in this town than us."
"Maddie, my dear, dear friend," Vlad struggled a bit with that last word. "While I enjoy your company, I tend to find it easier not to mix business with pleasure."
Danny and the others sent him a dirty look, matching the one Maddie had that remark.
She has not forgotten what happened in Colorado, but she tried to be patient, for he did save Danny's life during the ghost invasion from Pariah Dark. Although she didn't know how involved the 'old friend' was in the matter. Plus, Jack, for unknown reasons, still saw this man as his best friend.
"Still, if anything happens that my vast network of minio- I mean, employees cannot handle, I will keep you posted," Vlad said, showing off that smile that made everyone's skin crawl, except Jack's.
"Well, I must be going now. Mayoral duties and all. Have a wonderful day," Vlad said as he looked to Danny and Phantasma. "I'm the coming times will be...horrific."
"Vlad left the building with his friendly facade as he waved goodbye to everyone. Jack and Maddie went to clean up the mess, but the mother noticed Phanty trembling behind her son.
"Phanty dearie, are you alright?" she placed a hand on the disguised ghoul's shoulder. At the touch, the young banshee gave a shriek and stepped back, eyeing the Fenton matriarch with fear.
"Is everything okay?" Maddie was taken back by this behavior. No one had ever acted this way in her life, not even the ghosts. Well, most of them anyway.
"I'm fine, Mrs. Fenton," Phantasm managed to say. "I'm just a little tired."
Both Fentons saw through the lie but decided not to push forward with anything. Maddie had an idea Vlad was the cause, but that would have to be a conversation for next time.
"Mom, if it is alright, we are all going to my room," Danny spoke up. He needed to get Phanty in the loop of things and did not want to waste time. There was no telling what the older halfa was planning right now.
Maddie merely nodded, and the group of teens went upstairs to discuss the peculiar visits they had today.
Danny had just finished explaining to his ghostly girlfriend who and what Vlad is.
This was her reaction to it all.
"Vlad Masters is a halfa too?" Phantasma was sure she'd dissolve into goo from the stress of the revelation. It was starting to make sense to her why the two were antagonistic to each other.
"You seriously couldn't tell?" Sam was in denial of how the banshee couldn't sense the older man's powers. "I thought ghosts could sense one another."
"Each ghost has a different set of powers," Phanty tried to fly right into Sam's face but forgot her amulet was activated and fell to the ground. Danny helped her up to see a small smirk on Sam's face. "Not all of us get any detection abilities."
The goth girl would've responded, but the glare from Danny and Tucker kept her mouth shut. With a huff, she turned to the window to notice a surly, grey squirrel staring into the room. While the not-jealous girl had respect for nature, when she tried to stare back in her anger, a few minutes of staring into its eye told her to back away from the window.
When she focused back onto the room and her friends, plus the banshee, the ghost boy had explained everything to her.
"So," Phantasma commanded the attention of the room. "that guy is half-ghost like you and is your arch-nemesis...and is after you and your mom. I got all that, right?"
"Pretty much yeah," Danny was worried about how his ghostly girlfriend would take this.
"And I'm guessing he has something to do with Dani?"
Everyone in the room nodded, though no one gave a worded response. Danny was nervous. He had been having so much fun with Phantasma that he forgot about Vlad. And who could blame him? The past summer was filled to the brim with love, save for three dates. Since then, the ghost boy had been thinking mainly about the ghoul in his life. But that was the tough thing about life. You could have a break, but not a vacation from the difficulties. And being half-ghost meant a lot of them.
And now it seemed like the break was over.
"So enough about Vlad. I think when you're ready, you'll tell me," Phantasma said. Reading teen monster magazines did say stuff like secrets would happen though they would never cover dating a superhero. "I'd like to know more about that cat lady from the fight."
This got the attention of Sam and Tucker, who were intrigued for different reasons. Yeah, the break was done.
"Yeah, so during the dating service, I was on my date with Felicia, and we went to the museum. And that's when it started. Then some thugs threw a smoke-bomb into the place, and I stopped them but-"
"Please get to the point," Sam interrupted. "I want to hear this before we graduate."
Tucker and Phanty glared at the girl. The banshee was more invested due to wanting to hear more about one of the previous dates. While she had nothing personal against them, it was still essential to know who Danny dated before he picked her.
"Sorry. anyway long story short, she stole something, we fought, then Skulker came, she helped, and..." Danny was hesitant to say the last part, but he knew they might find out. And that would be worse. "She kissed me."
"WHAT!?"
A combined shout of the small audience was heard. Danny flinched at the noise. Sam was in shock, Phanty was jealous, and Tucker's emotions were of the two previous with some awe. Technically it could have counted as another date.
"She kissed you!?" the two girls exclaimed.
"Just getting this off my chest, but how was she?" Tucker's response came swiftly in the form of a slap on the head, courtesy of Sam, who used his PDA as a blunt object. "My baby!"
Danny, while acknowledging his friend's reaction, was more concerned about how Phanty would take things. She was the jealous type, apparently, and her fight with Ember showed how she can get. To his surprise, the banshee just floated over in front of him.
"Phanty, look, I know you don't like it when other girls kiss me, but this was before I choose you. And I admit Black Cat is hot, but I'm not going to leave you for someone who steals and —"
"Danny," Phantasma placed a finger on his lips. Danny waited in anticipation for anything, as his friends did. To his surprise, however, his girlfriend pulled him for a kiss. It was only for a few seconds, but it delivered the message.
"Just shut up," Phanty said when they parted. Her tone had no anger or jealousy, but the ghost boy could help but think there was something hidden inside the voice. There was no chance to inquire about it, as the ghoul went in for another kiss. This one deeper and more passionate than the last. Danny slowly melted into the emotional act as he felt his girlfriend's initiative in the form of her tongue.
Sam was about to interject, but the quick-thinking Tucker, who saw where this was going a mile away, dragged her out. The goth girl would have given him a piece of her mind, but the techno-geek cut her off before any protests.
"Sam, just let them make out."
Worse was made by the fact that Sam sympathized with th banshee. For now, they were both in the same spot, in her mind, of seeing their relationship with the boy they like threatened.
Jack and Maddie Fenton had just finished cleaning the room of any ectoplasmic goo when they noticed the friends leaving. They waved goodbye but knew what that meant. The parents had been teenagers, after all.
Tucker had just "escorted" Sam outside the home when she finally struggled free. Her angry face leaned in close to her friend.
"Tucker, want to explain why we left," the goth's tranquil fury was clear as morning dew.
"Just let them make out in peace. No one wants to be watched."
"And let that-that girl use Danny?" she didn't use the word ghost in case of prying ears. " She doesn't even know him, and she's probably just—"
"Sam, let it go," Tucker turned to walk away. "Phanty's not out to get Danny."
"Like Kitty was when she dated Danny?"
"I'm not arguing with you about this," The tech-loving teen started walking away. He knew his friend was too stubborn, fueled by her jealousy, to try and see that the banshee meant no harm. With each step, the yelling of the goth grew smaller and smaller. For now, more important things had to be attended. Mainly in being on time for his and Velma's video chat date.
"Fine!" Sam yelled before she stomped away. Her heart aching with each step.
From a tree nearby, the surly, grey squirrel looked at the events that unfurled.
"Okay," he said, pinching his nose bridge. "Looks like somebody, need a talking to."
Upstairs the teens were heated in the make-out session, with Phantasma taking the lead. Danny was surprised by her actions, but the mind of a hormone riddled teenage boy only thinks of these things for a moment. It wasn't long before the entrance of the Fenton patriarch charging in that any thoughts went back into motion.
"Danny, Phanty, I know I should be respecting your privacy as a parent, but I'm asserting my authority by coming in anyway," the door swung open in full force. "And thanks to my large body, I don't even need the Fenton Battering Ram."
Danny pulled away from Phanty, blushing deeply.
"Dad! Remember the words, 'don't destroy my door!?'" Danny exclaimed in embarrassment at the intrusion. This wasn't the first time, but the word appeared to be undermined with every time it was spoken.
"Whoops," Jack said, though the teens could see the smirk on his face told otherwise. "Anyways, dinner will be ready soon and your mother and I were wondering gif Phanty would like to join us."
"Sounds nice, but I'll think I'll pass," The banshee's tone held a slight note of depression and distant thoughts.
"Is everything alright?" Danny asked. "You sure you don't want to stay?"
"That's okay, I should probably be heading home soon anyway," Phantasma smiled gently at the ghost boy. Her face was full of loving warmth that told of her unchanged feelings for him.
"I'll walk you, Phanty," Danny said as he escorted her out. Well, he wanted to, but the banshee seemed a little unresponsive to his touch. After a moment, he let go of her hand.
"You sure everything is okay?" Danny took a step towards Phanty, but the ghoul gave a soft smile and said she was okay.
The ghost boy accepted the answer but was still worried. He left the room after his father, who said to let her be. Phantasma glanced around the room as her eyes passed to Danny's computer screen, mainly her reflection in the deactivated monitor. Her smile dropped as she measured her body with her hands thinking about how she compared to the cat burglar a few moments ago. And her flirty actions towards her boyfriend, which brought something to her perspective she hadn't thought of before.
I wonder who his other dates were.
Days had passed since their last date, and while the ghost boy respected his girlfriend's space, she hadn't texted or reached out to him as frequently anymore. This was a worrying sign, he even asked his parents what to do. His mom, knowing more about women than the father could, told him to be patient and give it some time.
The following days felt like years as the ghost boy resumed his daily routine, which mostly consisted of school, homework, ghosts, and of course, bullies. This time, he had enough of Dash's pranks and antics and sought some form of revenge. Despite some protests from Sam, the only thing that really stopped him was how his girlfriend would react when she heard how he used his powers.
Though that didn't mean Danny didn't deserve detention for no reason again. All he did was stand up to Dash's antics. The ghost boy was sick and tired of them and finally had the courage, albeit a little anger-driven, to stand up to the bully. He even got into his face. But because there was a game tonight, it meant Danny would be punished while Dash got away clean.
Once again, the hero of Amity Park found himself in a classroom after school. And as a special bonus, the boy was the only student in the entire school who was punished for today. Grumbling, Danny went to work studying, expecting Mr. lancer to come in with the usual speech of being here and how he should be studying while reflecting his actions or whatever.
To his surprise, the overweight teacher came in, glanced at the boy, slumped into the chair, and slapped his head.
Despite his better judgment, Danny walked over for some answers.
"Mr. Lancer, I know I shouldn't talking or anything else besides studying, but isn't this the time where you tell me to buckle down and study or something?"
Mr, Lancer sat up straight in his chair as he looked Danny square in the eye. They held frustration and exhaustion, but these emotions were not directed at the ghost boy.
"Mr. Fenton, do you remember how I once told you I look to my students as grades to my teaching abilities?" The teacher's voice was calm, and the student had no idea how to take that. So, he just answered the question.
"Yeah, you told me that after I flunked a test, you had me retake. I'm grateful for that, I guess," Danny noticed his teacher's demeanor didn't change. "But you were getting at something?"
Lancer gestured with hands as he attempted to speak. No words came out as he slapped his face, pointed to the sky, and tried to sound magnanimous.
"There's no other way to say this. So, I'll be frank with you," his now pleasant voice disarmed the ghost boy who took a few steps back. "I'm tired of having to play nice for students like Mr. Baxter."
Danny blinked before he was sure he needed a reboot. Had he heard the teacher correctly? Mr. Lancer, a teacher who had let the A-listers go Scott free with their trouble, had admitted he didn't like what he was doing.
"Okay, I know I shouldn't ask this, but if you don't like it, then why?"
"The bottom line is school funding. Pop quiz, Mr. Fenton. Where do you think money for schools comes from?"
"I'm guessing the government," Danny answer sounded like another question.
"You are partially correct. About more than a third comes from the government. The rest we need from locally, such as parents who give money in exchange for hearing their child is doing well. In which case, means not disciplining a failing student, who doesn't have any plans for the future, into focusing his energy more productively!" Mr. Lancer slammed his fists on the desk. He calmed down as he noticed the young Fenton taking a defensive stance. "My apologies, Mr. Fenton. I know you did nothing wrong. I've been in your shoes before."
Danny raised a brow.
"I was a cheerleader, remember? Do you really think it was acceptable for men my age to cheer at that time?"
"Oh. Oh! Ohh.."
"Exactly."
The room was now silent. Part of Danny wanted to hit the books to pass the time, but the hero in him couldn't stand to hear this. Even if he wasn't sure, Danny Phantom could help. Or could he? Well, that was a good thought, but he doubted his name as a hero could get school proper funding while allowing the popular kids to be kept in line, so to speak.
"Hey, wait a minute! Mr. and Mrs. Manson-"
"Are socialites who prefer to give their money away to things high society would like more of, as a way to get a better reputation amongst those people. Still, it would be nice since they would provide enough money to balance the books," Mr. Lancer had a small smile. "But for now, you can just sit quietly and do what you need to do. I'll see about ending detention early."
"Seriously!?" Danny was sure this was a dream. Since when had any student hear a teacher offering to let them out early from detention?
Lancer nodded, a smile was on his face. Listening to the school problems helped, but Danny still wanted to figure out a way to make sure the A-listers didn't have much pull anymore. And he was sure everyone was too.
It seemed the past summer was the start of some major changes.
The flight back home was calmer, without much madness, ghost attacks, or mad ghost attacks. Danny took the time to fly among the clouds and think about another important matter in his life right now. Phantasma. Days, when your girlfriend doesn't respond to you, feel like months. And for the longest time. He felt something but couldn't put his finger on what that was.
Thinking back, the ghost boy never thought he would find a ghost, well banshee, that would make his life seem better. Even though his parents were ghost hunters and his arch-nemesis now met her, he still wanted to make this work.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of manic laughter and people screaming. Danny rushed to the scene of the crime to see giant mutant potatoes crawling around and trying to eat people.
"I knew vegetables were bad for you!"
Danny spotted Sam and Tucker with Jazz. They were armed with Fenton weapons but weren't sure they had enough. Phantom even noticed these creatures didn't set off his ghost sense. Joining the trio, the ghostly hero fired off with a barrage of icicles, mostly in an attempt to cage them. However, the monsters didn't register the attack. Some of them had been impaled and sliced by the sharp beams of ice. None of them seemed to be complete creatures as their bodies were of solid potatoes stuffing. No organs.
"I guess potatoes are really just many eyes," Danny quipped as he and his friends battle the monsters.
Unbeknownst to them, a plant with a single eye was spying on them from a porch planter from above.
"So, this is Danny Phantom, one of the few 'Halfas" to exist in the history of monsters... and the specter who had stolen the hear of The Phantom's daughter, Phantasma," spoke a ghoulish hag as she observed the fight through a crystal ball on a web. "Interesting, while not on par as at the master ghost, he has far more potential."
Walking away from the spying orb, the hag reached for some ingredients on her many shelves and storages. Gripping a few picks here and there, the ghoulish lady, if you could think of her that way, dropped the items from her found hands into a cauldron, which made the pot boil a greenish-blue goo.
"Grim! Get over here now!"
"Yes, Revolta," said a large potato creature like the others. This one, known as the Grim Creeper, was just as large with one red eye but seemed to have more intelligence though that was mainly seen as he can talk and think, unlike the rest.
"I want you to go to return to Amity Park and plant more of your Venus Spy Traps. I want to know everything there is to this boy," Revolta went back to the orb as the mutant vegetable burrowed underground.
"Yes, Revolta. I'll go right away."
Within seconds he was gone, how long it would take for him to reach the town, was anyone's guess.
"Soon, I shall add his power to my own. And then the monster-dom shall fear the name Revolta, the Witch of the Web!
Danny crashed onto the couch when he arrived home. The monster potatoes, while somehow seemingly edible, were more of a hassle than he thought. This was mainly because: a) he felt like he was being watched the whole time, and b) he still was thinking about Phantasma. Ever since that fight on Axiom Labs, the banshee had this sad, distant look of her face, and she was barely keeping contact.
"I guess it's true what they say about crossing paths with a black cat," Danny groaned. "Especially on Friday the 13th."
"Still trying to see what's bothering Phanty?" Jazz took a seat next to her younger brother. Being one who used psychology to get through most of her life, she had learned enough about behavioral language to know when people were going through some unpleasant phases.
"She hasn't texted me or anything. And when I call, she says she's busy with school," this behavior had the ghost boy on edge for the past days. The banshee had always kept regular contact within acceptable hours. She'd had been so happy when they officially dated, and now, it was like she was someone else.
Danny would have kept thinking about her, had his older sister not placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Little brother, relax. She's just going through something."
"You think so?"
"I know so. As for what, I don't know cause I wasn't there last time Phanty came."
Danny slouched even further. Jazz was trying her best, but there was only so much she could do with the books she read. The only thing the girl knew was that her sibling needed some time to think, which was why Sam and Tucker were told to leave him alone for today. She understood that relationships can be complicated, even more so when they have distance between them.
"Danny, you have nothing to worry about," Jazz put her brother in an affectionate headlock or hug-lock in this case. "The next time you meet, she should have everything sorted out."
The young Fenton looked to his sister. Her words helped, if only for a small inch, but he was happy at the idea that his girlfriend will be alright.
How long that will take is another question.
Beneath the home of the Amity Park mayor, Vlad Master was in his private office enjoying a favorite hobby of his, spying on the Fentons and anyone of interest to him. Curled up in his lap was his faithful cat, Maddie, who purred with each stroke the older man gave the cat upon her head.
"Maddie, while I must say things have been nice ruling this town as the mayor, I must admit to wondering what more there is to life."
A sharp beep and with a subtle vibration indicating his phone had received a message. Grasping the object from within his coat, Vlad's happiness went from slightly satisfied to wicked content.
"It seems to be our little associate was satisfied with the results of the robbery days ago. With this, my plan is another step closer. What a happy day."
Skulker phased through the floor and made himself known as he floated in front of the halfa. While at first wary, given that no one can see the ghostly hunter with him, nor anyone in public, the mayor gave him a stern glare. He did not transform but produced an anti-ghost weapon from another pocket. The message was: he didn't need to transform.
Skulker nodded menacingly, he hated being told that but did find some enjoyment working for the man. Especially when it involved payment and prey.
"I found the school the banshee goes to," the hunter gave the man a glare. "I still say you should've let me do more."
"Come now, Skulker, all good things come in time. You're a hunter, you must know some patience. Besides, if you're more concerned about our new...employee, then we'll just have him give a demonstration."
The hunter was not happy; he was relegated to doing reconnaissance work and NOT stalk anything. Plus, the new guy was a nut. The school was a prime target for prey, in his opinion, though some he deemed to be too young or small. He had some pride in hunting. The more robust the game, the better he thought.
"Now, what did you find?"
To Vlad's question, Skulker gave a full, malicious grin.
"Where should I start?"
It looks like Danny gonna have some bad luck for a while. But it happens. How he and Phantasma will make it through is the fun part. But now Vlad knows about the school. This will not bode well. Also, Revolta finally enters the scene. Where will she fit in? Next chapter, we get to see what's up with Phantasma and maybe get a better idea of what Vlad has planned right now. Till next time, stay safe, and have a good day.
Special Thanks to Flower Princess11 for help with the chapter.
Reviews:
Luiz4200: made sense to me. I mean, technically all a ghost is made out of is ectoplasm. So, yeah...
Dreams Come True 996: Thanks! Sam will hopefully stop being jealous soon, but we won't see what Vlad's up to for a while.
Major Simi: Thanks!
danifan3000: I can't say for sure, but I have given thoughts to the predicament of their powers and of those in the monster world. There are some differences, but that will be elaborated on in later chapters.
Jebest4781: Interesting idea. Thanks!
61394: We'll probably see about Ms. Grimwood's hiring practices are in the next chapter. As well as maybe a certain cameo.
Chester A Bum: We shall see if the Grimwood girls remember you. Maybe even more.
nightmaster000: Thanks! For Danny's reputation, he's not popular in all circles, especially where villains are involved. I believe most teen monsters like though. As for more face, we shall see.