Chapter 20: Guilt

A week has passed since that day. Sam and Tucker have agreed to not talk about what happened. Normally, she'd be happy a girl has stopped being into Danny and then she'd sigh about him being clueless, but Sam can't bring herself to. She saw the tears on Starfire's face. This wasn't some vapid girl or someone who has been a jerk to them in the past, this was a genuine nice person who had her heart broken. Sam can't bring herself to feel any relief.

During that week at Casper High, people noticed that Danny Fenton was more down than usual. It all started on that Monday when Dash came to do his usual harassment of Danny Fenton. He grabbed Danny by the collar and lifted him up.

"Hey, Fenton!" He said in his usual mocking tone. Danny doesn't answer, looking as disinterested as possible. "Don't ignore me!" He shouted. "Imma about to send you to Locker Town!"

"Just get it over with…" Danny muttered without any hint of caring.

"Fine!" Dash opens the locker and throws Danny into it. He slams the door closed. "How do you like that?!" He shouted and gave his signature mocking laugh.

"Whatever…" Danny said.

This causes Dash to snap, losing his bullying attitude and getting angry.

"Hey! I'm bullying here!" He shouted to the locker. "The least you can do is act like you care about your day being ruined!" Danny doesn't respond. His face turning red with rage, Dash opens the locker and pulls Danny out, putting him back on his feet. "You know what?! You don't deserve my usual bullying! Get lost!"

Rolling his eyes, Danny walks away.

Sam and Tucker look concerned for him as they see him walking up to them. He's getting worse.

The rest of the week went about the same, Danny would spend the day as Danny Fenton just disinterested in everything. When he's Danny Phantom, he takes his frustrations out on the ghosts he fought. It helped him feel a little better, but just barely. It wouldn't be until Wednesday when they spoke with his sister in the hallways.

"What do you think, Jazz?" Sam asks.

"Well, it looks like he's too filled with guilt over what happened." Jazz says. "Maybe he should say something."

"What? Go ask her out on a date after revealing he's not an alien?" Tucker asks.

"No. Clearly he's upset over breaking her heart and probably wants to make up for what he did. He's probably fighting more ghosts than usual because he's finding an outlet for his aggression." Jazz says. "Maybe he should go talk to her?"

"Yeah. Then she can tear him apart with her alien strength." Sam responds with sarcasm.

Tucker sees someone down the hall. "He's coming!"

The three of them act unsuspicious with inconspicuous whistling to avoid him noticing. Danny is too upset to notice as he walks past them. Once he's past them, they look concerned.

"He's getting worse." Jazz says.

Why did I do that?

Danny was thinking. He scolded himself. All he could think about what the look of tears in her eyes. He did grow to like her. He thinks that maybe he started since the night he met her, when he unintentionally kissed her at that store in her universe. Despite how boisterous and odd she was, she had a good heart, she was brave, she showed real loyalty and had no malicious intent with him. Starfire was… a great girl. Her lack of personal space not withstanding though, but Danny figured he could've told her so.

The saddened look in her eyes when she found out what he was etched into his mind. She had a smile to hide how heartbroken she was. If he could, he'd throw a punch in his own face. He grew to dislike seeing her upset.

He's tried to get her out of his mind, doing his homework and fighting ghosts. He was actually doing well in both, something that seemed unlikely given he's usually a C student. Still, he was doing very well that Mr. Lancer pulls him aside during their last class for school.

"Danny, is something the matter?"

"I don't understand. I'm doing good, aren't I?" Danny asked, wanting to leave.

"It's just… is something wrong?" Mr. Lancer asks.

"It's kind of a long story." Danny said as he heads for the door. "I need to go."

"Do you have a date or something?" Mr. Lancer asks, suspicious.

"Something like that…"

Since her return, Starfire hasn't really said a thing. Her friends noticed her saddened demeanor. Only Raven could figure it out, though she didn't speak up out of respect. It wouldn't be until a week later, during a battle with Plasmus, did something finally come out.

Plasmus broke out of prison and went about a rampage. The Teen Titans made their arrival.

"Titans, Go!" Robin shouted.

The Titans made their attack, Cyborg fired his sonic cannon. It blasts an arm off, but Plasmus regenerated it. Beast Boy transforms into a Triceratops and tackles into him, but Plasmus picks him up and throws him. Raven uses her magic to launch an I-beam into the blobby monster while Robin throws a bomb. These do nothing as Plasmus just breathes and launches the I-beam out. The I-beam is sent flying towards a couple walking by.

Noticing quick, Starfire flies to them. She takes the two to safety before the I-beam could hit them.

"Thank you!" The man says.

"You need not thank me!" Starfire says as she lands and lets them down.

"Let's go, darling!" The woman says as the two run. "Thank you!"

Starfire doesn't react. She shut down when she heard the woman call her boyfriend "darling".

It is what I was calling Phantom… or whatever it was he said he was named.

"Starfire!"

She heard Robin call out to her. Looking back, she saw Plasmus lauch some of his slimy body at her. This sticks her to the ground. The other Titans try to fight back when, moments later, Starfire bursts out.

Angered, Starfire's glowing eyes glares at the monster and then launches her starbolts. Within seconds, the monster blob is reduced to a puddle, one with a sleeping man in the center. Once she finishes, she manages to take deep breaths to calm down.

The other Titans just stare in shock at this.

"Starfire?" Robin's concern caught her attention. "Are you alright?"

Calming down, Starfire's eyes stop glowing and she looks about ready to break down as she lands on the ground.

She decided to tell her friends everything.

"No, I am not the alright."

After Starfire left, Danny and his friends decided to take care of Blackfire. They found her usual dark clothes in the hotel she kept Danny in and decided to put her somewhere no one can find her. It was a cell of some kind, made of Titanium alloy walls with bars of the same material. Danny enters the door, as Danny Phantom. He walks to her.

"Care to talk now?" Danny asks with his arms crossed.

Blackfire, back in her black outfit, gives Danny an innocent smile with her arms behind her back.

"I'm more than ready to talk with you." Blackfire says. She walks to the bars. "What's on the agenda tonight?"

Danny walks to the bars, still with crossed arms.

"How did you escape? And how were you planning to get home?"

Blackfire smiles at the shorter boy that she still lusts for.

"I'll tell you after we have ourselves a second date." Blackfire takes a hand through the empty spot between bars. "For now." She places a hand on his face. "Why not just come in and relax?" She pulls him in and tries to kiss him. Danny uses intangibility to get out of her grip. She gives a huff and a small smile. "Playing hard to get?"

"Not interested in your game, Blackfire." Danny says. "You should at least be grateful we're feeding you."

"Oh yeah…" She says sarcastically. "I'm enjoying the weird blubbery meats they serve. Don't suppose they have cake?"

"This is a prison, not a hotel." Danny snapped. "And holding me captive in one isn't a date."

"It is in my book." She smiles smugly.

Losing patience, Danny turns around walks to the door.

"This was a waste of time!"

"Nice butt!" She shouts.

Fuming mad, Danny opened the door and stepped out. He looks up.

"Okay! Use it on me!"

"Of course, Great One." Frostbite says.

He aims a blaster on Danny that causes him to regrow to his normal size.

Danny was grateful to have shown Frostbite some of his dad's technology. He and his tribe have made their own improvements. For example, he brought them the Fenton Crammer and they managed to make a better version that so Danny doesn't lose his powers when he shrinks.

They designed a prison in case if a Tamaranian ever attacked the Ghost Zone. Being able to shrink it helped make it better.

"She won't talk." Danny says.

"So, you wish for us to keep your girlfriend's evil sister here?"

"She's not my-" Danny started to snap, but stops himself before taking a breath. "For now, yeah." He flies off.

"And that's when I returned home."

Starfire explained to her friends what happened between her and Danny Phantom. She told them once they returned to Titans' Tower. She's left out a few things, like them kissing. Her friends were on the couch, jaw dropped.

"Whoa…" Raven is the first to say.

"So… he wasn't a Tamarian?" Robin asked, trying not to sound jealous.

"No… it was my mistake." Starfire said, sounding guilty. "I ignored the signs and just pressed on. I no doubt made him feel uncomfortable!" She isn't made at Danny in the slightest, she blames herself for stalking him and giving him trouble. "I had to leave."

"Starfire…" Cyborg says, sympathetic to her for fooling herself and causing another boy trouble.

"Are you going to be alright?" Beast Boy asks.

"I… do not know." Starfire says. She walks towards the hallway. "I… feel like I must be alone for now."

As the other Titans look to her, feeling nothing but sympathy, she makes her way out the door.

Alone, she enters her room and lies on her bed. She looks up to the ceiling. She left out the kissing for a reason, she still couldn't fully rap her head around it. He would willingly kiss her and she didn't understand why. Was it to fool her? If so, why did he reveal himself to her? Was he finally feeling guilty? But thinking back, he was rather afraid of her before. Perhaps he feared her and kissed her to keep her happy? She just wasn't so sure.

All she knew is that he did help her save people in Paris. He also called out Val-Yor's poor treatment of her and Blackfire being a very bad sister. Him saying the nice things to her was also something she couldn't stop thinking about.

That and his good looks. Despite realizing his non-Tamaranian features, he was still a rather attractive male. Especially his smile whenever he looked genuinely happy.

Thinking back on this made a smile form on her face, even though she feels bad for putting him through trouble. It seems she still has feelings for him.

It would be days later, Danny tried a different method. Returning to Blackfire's cell, he brought flowers and a box of chocolates.

She got up off her bench of a bed and clapped her hands together at the sight of what he brought her.

"For me?!" She smiled. "You shouldn't have!" She gives a light laugh. "I kid, of course!"

"You win, Blackfire. Tell me how you get back home and I'll let you out of this cell, I'll even come with you."

"Oh, a proper date?" She asks. "Alright then." She walks to the bars and holds them as she leans in to speak to him. "You know what I want right now."

Danny sighs.

I guess if this is how I get her to help me.

Reluctantly, Danny leans in his face hovers in front of hers before she reaches out and pulls him in for a deep kiss. Danny tries to move out of her grip and it would take a moment before she finally lets him go.

Blackfire looks at him with bedroom eyes and a big smile. "Perfect."

Danny wipes his mouth with his arm. "So, tell me."

Blackfire straightens up, though the look in her face doesn't go away.

"That jewel your hairy friends took from when I was brought here? I'm supposed to use it and the magic would return me home." She says as her arms cross.

"I'm guessing it works if you had someone with you?" Danny asks.

"I was gonna take my sister or you back." She says. "Either to finish her off or to keep you." Danny gives her a dirty look for admitting what she plotted to do to him or Starfire. "So, I guess you want to come with me?" She asks.

"I'll come along, and I promise you'll be let out of this cell." Danny says.

"So… finally decided who you're meant for? Okay, you got a deal Danny." She says.

Danny nods. "Alright, let me tell Frostbite and his tribe."

He turns around and walks to the door.

Blackfire leans and the bars and smiles.

Soon, I'll be out of here. My dear sister won't be so happy now since it looks like she knows he's not what she thought. He's all mine now anyway.

Danny is regrown and walks to Frostbite.

"I got what I needed." Frostbite nods and walks away, causing Danny to smile and look up. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I owe Mr. Lancer."

He though back to what he heard from Mr. Lancer earlier than day.

Hours Ago

Casper High's students were let go for the day. Mr. Lancer noticed Danny was still upset.

"Danny?" He calls out to the boy. "May I ask what I think is your problem?" Danny turns and shrugs. "It's girl trouble?"

Danny blinked before looking to his feet.

"More like a girl who liked me that I met some time ago."

"So, not Sam?"

"What?" Danny asks.

"Nothing!" Mr. Lancer says defensively. "Proceed."

"Anyway, she misunderstood something about me and liked me for it, when I had to tell her the truth, I think I broke her heart." Danny says.

"So, you feel bad for it. I get the feeling her interest in you wasn't one-sided?" Danny just looks away. This told Mr. Lancer what he needed to hear.

Showing sympathy, Mr. Lancer got off his desk and walks to Danny. He places a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Danny, my advice to you is to try and make things right with her. There's a book I once read called Daggerspell, where a prince fails the woman he loved and vows to set things right with her. Granted that was fantasy novel and had aspects that a teenager like you shouldn't read about… but I think you should follow this mindset. Make amends with her."

Hearing this, Danny realized what he must do and only one person can help him do that.

Present

It would be an hour later, Blackfire's cell is regrown and her is let out. She doesn't try to escape, because she's been informed that Danny is from a different universe and the Ghost Zone was the link to that world. She didn't know how she'd get home, so this was necessary.

Danny brings her the jewel she was given as a means of returning to her world.

"How does it work?"

"You hold my hand, then I think of where I want to go with it."

"That's it?" Danny asks.

"Just about." Blackfire answers. She holds out her hand. "Ready?"

Danny takes a deep breath.

This is for Starfire.

He nods and takes her hand.

"Let's do it."

Blackfire smiles. She squeezes the gem in her hand.

"Take us to the Earth of my universe, outside Jump City."

Confession, I never read the Deverry books. However, I knew of the main character (who I assume is the main character) wanting to make amends for hurting someone he loved.

I decided Mr. Lancer, who knows nothing about Danny's secret life of fighting ghosts, being a literature nut, would be a good inspiration for his desire to make amends.

Now Danny is going to find some way to make amends for breaking Starfire's heart.

As for Starfire, she's not over him.

But now, he's going to meet the Teen Titans. What will they do when they see him?