Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or 6teen.
To say Danny had grown accustomed to the everyday ghost attacks is to call the sun a fireball in the sky. Today was nothing special as he once again fought off another ghost.
This time it was his most persistent nemesis, Skulker, Ghost Zone's greatest hunter, who was engaging in close combat with the ghost boy. The two had been locked in hands as they wrestled in the sky, growling at each other as they battled in a contest of brute strength. Though limited, the hunter had upgraded his mecha suit, his tool for the hunts and fights.
Danny started to sweat under the pressure, laughing in the face of it as a response when he said, "What's wrong, Skulker? Tired of setting up traps just to fail? You skipping to the part where I kick your butt already?"
Skulker grinned like a maniac, showing his jagged teeth as he stared his prey in the eye. "Not exactly," he said. "I was just in the neighborhood and thought about getting some exercise. I have all the time in the world to make your pelt mine."
Normally, Danny would retort with a quip or jest, but the way the hunter taunted him was offputting. It was rare for the ghost boy to see his foe being so serious yet conniving and all in his face about it.
Sensing great danger, the ghost boy decided to end things quickly, conjuring his icy abilities as he channeled frost to Skulker's arms. The hunter's body became frozen solid as his metal body stiffened, the lights on his equipment dying down till the flaming mohawk on his head simmered to smoke. Yet, the latter held his crazy smile, even when thrown to the ground.
The ghostly hero looked at the crash site, inspecting the face of his frozen foe, still smiling. With a chill, he took out the thermos and vacuumed the mess with ease before leaving.
"Sheesh, Skulker was extra creepy today. What was up with that?" Danny spoke to no one in particular as he flew home. Today was just another day, making it boring. Even the fight with a long-time nemesis did nothing to spruce up the time.
"I guess I'll just head home and finish my home—"
Before the ghost boy could finish, an electrical charge had incapacitated him, making him fall through the air as he passed out. The last thing he heard was the familiar laugh of Skulker, but that couldn't be right.
Danny woke up in the familiar domain of Skulker in the Ghost Zone. The various flora and fauna reconstructing a generic jungle you'd see in old movies littered the ghost boy's vision in a blur. All that was missing was the politically incorrect names you might find in said old movies. His body ached from the sneak attack, but he returned to earth as he realized Skulker was in front of him, in his suit, and not in the thermos as he should have.
"What's going on? How the heck are you not in the Fenton Thermos!" Danny demanded as he pulled himself up, only to hear a familiar voice cry out in pain.
"Ouch! Watch where you're pulling!"
Danny paused, noticing Amélie next to him, cuffed to his hand. The situation became clear as deja vu hit him, retelling a similar event only last year. It seems Skulker enjoyed the idea of hunting two prey to be enjoyable, or he had no imagination. Danny's money was on the latter.
"Wait! Amélie!?...t-that is your name, right?" Danny pointed to the girl.
"Oui." Amélie nodded. "I believe we've already talked enough for you to remember."
"Good point." Danny inspected the cuffs. He recognized their design from before, made to keep his powers in check, all for a certain hunter to have his fun at the teen's expense. The only question was why Amélie was here.
Skulker laughed as the two teens glared at the metal hunter. Both stood up straight, ready to demand explanations and think of a way to escape as he monologued.
"I suppose one of you is wondering why you're here," Skulker started with a cocky face.
"Well for me, it's to hunt, but...why Amélie ?" Danny pointed to the french girl with his thumb. "I mean, I get ghost thinks she's important to me, but I honestly thought you wouldn't care."
"A true hunter uses everything to his advantage, including the use of bait," Skulker quipped with cross arms, almost as if his pride was insulted.
"Is that what he is? Le veneur?" Amélie glanced at Skulker. While part of her was nervous, it had mainly been that she was being used as bait again as she was starting to be desensitized to it. But what she had read back in the Parisian news, this situation was better than if Le Pappilion had caught you.
"Le veneur? I like that." Skulker took the moment to repeat the word. It rolled off the tongue to his liking. "Just for that, I'll add another thirty seconds for your headstart."
"Headstart?" Amélie blinked as she put the pieces together. It was becoming obvious to her how the ghost hunter intended to hunt Danny Phantom for sport, but now fear was dropping into her body.
"Yes, but before I hunt you two down and skin the ghost boy, I'll give you time for some questions, just to spice up the hunt."
"Then how about answering how you got out of the thermos when I beat you this morning!" Danny demanded angrily, only to boil more as the hunter shrugged.
"Can't say," Skulker answered, but his nonchalant, highly smug smile told otherwise.
Danny would have to beat it out of him later. But now, he had someone else to worry about, knowing Amélie had been part of his adventures as bait, not a companion. He wondered why this kept happening, but the sound of a rocket exploding cut off his train of thought.
"Quick question." Amélie raised her hand. "How is it you captured me when I'm wearing the Spector Deflector, as the Fentons put it?"
Danny and Skulker looked at the girl's waist, where the device was intact and activated. The ghost boy raised an eyebrow, knowing how his parents made that belt to keep ghosts off.
"Courtesy of an associate who has gifted me with some loopholes." Skulker summoned as many weapons as he could from his suit. With Rockets, rifles, net-tossers, and gattling guns, the ghost seemed more ready for war than to hunt prey.
"And the explosion was your cue. You have thirty seconds to go."
Complaining about how Skulker stalled, Danny charged forward with Amélie lagging. Running at full speed, the ghost boy kept his eyes in front of any traps or pitfalls, fully aware that was the nearest threat besides the soon-to-be-closing hunter. But his tempo was halted as Amélie used the cuffs to stop him.
"Will you let me get my bearing?" Amélie looked at Danny in anger, leaning over the ghost boy with her height.
"Since when is running hard for you?! Did you not wear the right shoes or something!?" Danny pointed a hand at the girl's feet but saw she was barefoot.
The idea Amélie was holding him back was odd since her long legs were shown during gym, particularly the long jump and runs around the track, taking first place in any racing exercise. The ghost boy studied the girl's features when he noticed the girl was walking funny, moving with her lower legs, keeping her hips and thighs stiff as a board.
"Ok, why are...you...walking?—" Danny didn't finish as he saw how the girl was wearing the Spector Deflector. The anti-ghost device was constricting the roof of her legs as it scrunched up her skirt, restricting her movement from her hips and thighs. Looking into the girl's eyes, the ghost boy flashed an apologetic, nervous smile.
Relinquishing her frustration, Amélie explained how Skulker appeared in her apartment as she was getting ready for studies. In her haste for protection, the French girl armed herself with the Spector Deflector while keeping track of the hunter, putting the device on like so in her panic. While it meant she could not be harmed, it also limited how fast she could run in this state.
The belt was in a tight spot as the French girl pulled at it, showing how her waist thickened to a point where she could not move it into a proper position. Pushing it down was an option, but Danny wasn't sure his hormones could handle it, which left one last suggestion.
"Well, then I'll have to carry you." Or Danny tried, forgetting the device prevented him from touching her, even for her safety. Reeling back from the stinging pain, the two stopped in the middle of the jungle.
"I take it you've had worse days?" Amélie huffed in annoyance as she sat on the ground with her legs to the side. Due to her height, she did not drag Danny with her.
"There's a long list." Danny looked around the terrain for anything. "But last time I was here, Skulker riddled the place with traps. So be careful."
"I take it you've been here before?" Amélie looked around, trying to grasp her surroundings. The jungle flora seemed very cliche to her, but she barely saw any movies using such locations.
"Once and in the same way." Danny pointed to the glowing ghost cuffs. "He did this once before, except with someone who was fighting me with anti-ghost equipment."
"Is there anyway to get out of these?" Amélie pulled on her end, only dragging Danny across the ground, much to his surprise.
"Skulker has the key, and I doubt we can get it so easily. Like I said, the last girl I was chained with had weapons and a jet board."
"So, this Skulker likes to chain you up with girls to hunt you?" Amélie stared perplexed at the ghost boy, almost like she had reached a silly accusation. But nothing close came to justifying any coincidence as the two jolted up at the sound of snapping branches.
"He...has a really twisted sense of humor. Let's just say that." Danny searched on his left and right. Seeing the coast was clear, he looked at his ball and chain, ironic given how the girl could probably be of help, but not with her current restrictions.
Amelia raised a brow at his gaze but said nothing. Walking at a slow pace was all they could do as they journeyed further into the jungle. However, they ran into their first booby trap when Amélie accidentally stepped on a wire. The trigger snapped, alerting the ghost boy as he pushed her down, ignoring the sting of the anti-ghost belt as turrets emerged from the jungle.
"Look out!"Danny just in time as hundreds of darts flew just a little over their heads. This was too close for comfort as they could feel the air rushing overhead, feeling more like sharp knives skimming the clothes on their backs.
"C'est craignos de chez craignos!" Amélie said, unnerved with a buried head. She clung to Phantom for security, or she would if not for the sector deflector. Yet, she knew the ghost boy was on her, shielding her with his body. She mentally thanked his presence, regretting she could not do more.
"Try living this everyday," Danny's voice laid a thick layer of snark as he waited patiently for the trap to end. Thankfully, the darts missed them, and he didn't have to deal with being paralyzed again...at least for now.
Note to self. After wrecking—I mean, interrogating Skulker, I should 'warn' him about using hostages. Danny thought as he got up, pulling up Amélie. The French girl dusted herself off, shivering slightly.
"On fait quoi maintenant?" She asked.
"I didn't get all of that, but I say we keep walking and watching our step," Danny said, admitting that they are making this up as they go along. Improvisation was an important skill to pick up but not one to learn on the hunt.
The two teens continued to walk and avoid detection and more booby-traps, but their snail's pace was a hindrance. They knew thirty seconds were up, so it was only a matter of time before Skuler struck. It was a safe bet the hunter hid in the foliage, invisible to the couple as he toyed with them.
That gamble would try to bleed the teens dry as they did their best to traverse the path. Minutes felt like hours as a click was heard, followed by a snap. Amélie screamed in French words Danny did not know as he pulled her forward. They had narrowly avoided a log trap as two tree trunks smashed together, splintering at the ends.
The good news, they managed to avoid becoming vertical pancakes with bloody syrup. Bad news, Danny found his foot in a bear trap, feeling the sharp teeth bite into his ankle.
"Oh, come on!" Danny was used to pain for his daily battles. The sensation of pierced skin meant nothing to him but being unable to phase out or blast the trap. To pry the mouth open would threaten his fingers, so that was out of the question.
"Are you alright?" Amélie hated how they were sitting ducks but felt pain for the ghost boy. But his apathetic face in the path of danger was encouraging as he sent a dull face. She put a hand on his shoulder in comfort, making him smile, but the moment did not last as their situation turned for the worst as Skulker came from behind.
"Like my improvements, ghost child? I've taken the precation to add more traps than last time. But that's the last thing for you and your new...play mate, I want to say, to be concerned about," Skulker said with a smirk. Wanting to savor the peak of the hunt, the hunter pulled a knife from his belt, twirling it in his fingers as he walked over.
Danny glared defiantly, ready to go down with a fight, but his head was not on that. His mind was on Amélie, who never wanted to be here in the first place. That made things difficult as the ghost boy wracked his brain for an idea.
Skulker was only feet away, making the ghost boy sweat. To the surprise of the spirits, Amélie stood in front, steadying herself with her legs locked and fist out. Danny stared at the French girl. He had been protecting her for so long, and now she was returning the favor. His face blushed as something stirred inside, making his heart beat as he watched.
"Seems I didn't find bait. I must say, you impress me. Not many would choose to fight Skulker on his terms." Skulker's smile was wicked but softened with respect as he stopped in front of the girl. "Just for that, I'll let you have the first punch."
Amélie stared at Skulker as he turned his head, leaning in with a smug grin. The girl blinked but gritted her teeth as she reeled back, rocketing her fist as hard as possible. To many, this would be the last stand, yet there was something the hunter forgot. Despite the restraint of the cuffs, the Spector Deflector was still active, providing a layer of protection similar to a boxing glove yet adding to the punch like brass knuckles.
"Casse-toi!" She shouted as Skulker was sent back a few feet, partially discombobulated. The girl panted hard, taking deep breaths as her chest rose and fell rapidly with adrenaline. Danny watched in awe, but that was cut short as the hunter shook himself back together.
"Feisty. I must say, there's more to you than what those boys see. If anything, I'm more than impressed," Skulker said condescendingly before walking back over.
Amélie was still catching her breath. The punch was effective, but not enough. The one with real muscle power was Danny, but she knew the hunter would not let him throw a fist. And that's when she got an idea, waiting for Skulker to get closer with each step. She stepped forward as they met, then jumped back as she yelled, "Me jeter!" The French girl grabbed the cuff as tight as she could. In an instant, the ghost boy got the message, twisting his body with all his strength as the girl flew into the air. This swift motion only allowed Skulker a brief second before he saw the girl's feet ram his face.
The combined effort of the two produced the wanted result as Skulker rolled back, yelling in pain. Without thinking, Amélie grabbed the teeth of the bear trap and managed to pull it apart for Danny to escape. While the Spector Deflector prevented the blades from cutting, all this excitement took a look out of her. And with her legs still locked, running would get her nowhere.
Skulker rose from the ground. His wicked smile never left his face.
"Impressive. Perhaps I should let the game continue." Skulker took one step as a snap was heard. The hunter groaned as his foot was caught in a snare, throwing him away from the teens as he shouted, "Don't think the hunt is over!"
Danny and Amélie took the time to catch their breath for now. But the former knew they needed the key. The French girl sniffled with her head down, feeling like weight before anger took over.
"Et Merde!" Amélie cried with a kick of her foot. She huffed as the dust settled, pulling Danny back to her as she reached for the Spector Deflector. "I can't stand this anymore!"
"Hey! What are you doing—" Danny stopped mid-sentence as he instantly saw what the French girl did. It all happened so fast, and the shock took over as something swung fiercely at him.
After regaining his dignity, Skulker kept his gaze at the ground, tracking the teenagers by their footprints. This feeling of superiority as he cornered prey was long forgotten as he relished the seconds. It was like a real hunt, back in his previous centuries in the Ghost Zone, when he made a name for himself. Those were the days, but the only prey he was interested in was still cuffed and powerless. He knew they couldn't get far, with the French girl unable to run, grinning wildly as he soon began to catch back up.
"Now, where are you two." Skulker came to the spot he last saw Danny and Amélie, searching for their tracks. But they were cut off, almost as if they vanished.
"Impossible! What is this!?" Skulker activated his jets as he flew up. He was met with a flying Danny with ecto-charged hands.
"Surprise! how's it feel to become the hunted again!?" Danny yelled with his blast, pushing the hunter to the ground.
Skulker groaned, rubbing his head as he kept the Ghost Zone from spinning. With a strong shake, the appearance of Amélie charging forward brought more questions than answers as she threw the Spector Deflector at him like a flail. The heavy anti-ghost metals pushed the hunter back into Danny, who retaliated with his own fist.
"How is this possible!? I cuffed you, and the girl shouldn't be able to do anything!" Skulker cut his sentence as he noticed how Amlie was running towards him. He looked closer at the girl's legs, free of the belt. He did not know how, but this was bad news. A kick to his stomach, courtesy of Danny, brought the hunter down before any thoughts were formulated.
"I gotta admit, seeing you beat up Skulker with just fists is pretty cool." Danny looked at the girl's panting figure. The sweat glistening off her face, arms, chest, and legs were a sight for the ghost boy, making his hormones run wild as he watched her, stopping at the tied-up cloth that made her skirt. "But was it worth ruining your skirt? I mean—"
"One good thing about growing up in Europe, you have a different sense of body appreciation. Boys, they gawk, but everyone does not see nudité as shameful." Amélie kept pelting the hunter with the anti-ghost belt. She was sweating as she took out her frustration at the ghost hunter for kidnapping her, feeling great catharsis in showing off her strength. "Plus, in the grand scheme of things I'd rather get nue to live than to die pathétiquement. Or in this case, just showing my culotte for a moment. I believe you are...digne de confiance...trusty, I believe the word is."
Skulker groaned from the ground as he pushed himself up. Only a few inches off the floor, the Spector Deflector smashed his head back into the ground.
"Besides, this is worth it." Amélie's tone exaggerated the last word with primal joy as she lifted the belt.
This was a moment Danny knew he would let Amélie have. After being used as bait for ghost schemes, she deserved some time at the punching bag, even if it was filled with metal. Of course, the gooey center inside could barely handle the earthquake produced in his suit.
"Stop this!" Skulker's true form, a small blob, bounced around in his helmet like
"Wow, even with hormones bothering me, I gotta say Amélie's kinda hot beating up Skulker like that," Danny remarked. "And not just because of the glimpse I got."
Now the ghost boy hoped his father would never hear him say a statement like that. He didn't need any more comparison between him and the large man, especially with women.
By the time Amélie was done, Skulker's suit was wrecked worse than a freeway collision in the movies. The hunter's head fell off as his blobby form flailed his legs. Danny picked up the mini-pilot, holding the hunter to his face.
"Now talk. How did you escape the thermos? How come the Spector Deflector didn't prevent Amélie from being captured? And why shouldn't I stick you in the Fenton Thermos for the next century?"
Despite his gooey center on display, the hunter still smiled. He said, "As I said, my associate provided me with some loopholes. Though granted, that belt can only prevent ghosts from touching the girl, not nets from capturing her."
"And why shouldn't I torture you?" Danny added.
"Because then how can you find my associate?"
"It's Vlad, isn't it?" Danny's eyes were half-lidded. He watched as the hunter blinked with a deadpan face before shoving him into his head. "Well, that's just great. Now what?"
"If I may." Amélie walked up with the Spector Deflector and some branches. "I believe I have the perfect solution."
Wrapping Skulker tightly in the branches, she wrapped the anti-ghost device around the makeshift container as Danny iced it. The belt activated with a continuous shock, immobilizing and agonizing the blob inside.
"I gotta say, smashing the cuffs with the Spector Deflector was awesome. How'd you know that would work?" Danny smiled at Amélie. The girl responded with a shrug, giggling like an innocent girl as her emotions leveled out.
"I figured this belt had to be good for something. Now then." Amélie walked up to Danny with a hand on his shoulder. "Would you mind escorting me out of this Ghost Zone?"
"How about I take you home?" Danny lifted the French beauty like a princess as she held on, partially blushing as her eyes met his, blaming the emotional rush on feeling her chest press against his. Flying away, Skulker's domain shrunk in the horizon as the sight of Fenton Labs soon greeted the duo before flying off to Amélie's apartment.
However, the teens never noticed someone appeared in Skulker's domain after they left. The man looked at the icy prison as he said, "Well, that went better than expected. Looks like this are going according to plan."
The next chapter was supposed to be a Christmas chapter, but I felt that rushed things and decided to add two more before feeling jolly. Anyway, looks like Danny saw more of Amélie than he ever hoped. Hormones might be at work since Amélie doesn't mind getting dirty, but he can't blame them for everything, but things may get spicy, but I do not make lemonade, making that clear right now.
Ironically, citrus soothes the tongue after eating spicy foods. Look it up if you want. Water does nothing.
Special Thanks! to Flower Princess11 for all her help!
Thank you for your reviews:
RonaldM40196867: Yes, Star will have a bigger role as she hangs out with Amélie . Amélie will get emotional at times as she adjusts to being an active target to ghosts. I plan for more. More sympathetic, given how they never stopped before.
qazse: Oh yeah. Star is not happy Danny Fenton, an unpopular boy, is being taught French by her new friend, who she thinks should've asked her first.
pokemon fan 1991: I need to see about miraculous. I dropped off after the third season, or was it the fourth?
Invader Johnny: Trouble is just starting.
Jebest4781: I got a timeline working out. That's going to be a long ways from now, but the wait will be shorter than expected.
Luiz4200: Cause she expected her friend to ask her, not the unpopular boy.
josh(guest): Yes, much, much later.
