Hello, peoples.

Wow, this chapter was hard to start. I think I've had my first experience with writer's block. It was like the story just vanished from my head. Luckily, I went into my head looking, and managed to find it. I'm sure nobody thought I looked too odd staring blankly into space, drooling. Anyway, I've managed to pick the story back up a bit. I'm happy with how things have been so far, but I think it was slightly in danger of slowing too much and petering out. This should help, even if this is the shortest chapter I've written for this story so far.

Thanks to all reviewers, and for those concerned, there isn't too much more 'sciency' stuff. It just always bothered me that Dani was a GIRL, so I thought it had to be explained somehow. For those of you that skipped the explanation or popped an aspirin, I understand completely. Be glad I don't go into infinite quantum bifurcation multiverse theories and subjective extra temporal experiences to explain Dan, we'd all need several bottles of the stuff, and most of you would probably stop reading. Fortunately, I'm not quite that evil. XD

Sam and Danny get their date! Yay! It was really fun to write, I hope its fun to read.

Bye!

HiddenAuthor

Chapter 9 – Sights

Danny and Sam reached the Amity Park Zoo after a leisurely five minute flight. Touching down and turning visible, the two strolled in through the main gates and headed off to the great ape exhibits. Sam wrapped her arm around Danny's waist and grinned up at him.

"So what's with the shirt? Wanted to dress to impress?" Danny chuckled.

"I didn't want to disappoint my biggest fan." He teased. "I know how hot she thinks my uniform is." Sam blushed.

"I don't know, the short sleeves might work for you." She teased back in a soft voice, running a finger up and down his forearm. Now Danny was blushing. The grinning couple slowly ambled along towards the Purple-back Gorilla exhibit. Danny frowned at the sign.

"Come see the magnificent Sampson?" He asked incredulously. "Come on, it's been almost a year, you'd think they could have changed the sign by now." Chuckling, Sam shook her head and pointed to the cage. Danny gasped. "Two? The zoo got another Purple-back?" Sam nodded, smiling.

"That's Sampson, and they checked this time. I read about it in this month's 'Ecology.' They managed to find a male Purple-back, and he moved in a few weeks ago. This zoo's efforts might save an entire species." Sam turned and smiled at her boyfriend. The two stood there and watched Sampson sit next to Delilah, his arm draped across her shoulder. "I wanted to surprise you. If you hadn't asked me out, I'd have found some other way to bring you here." Danny smiled back.

"Well, I'm glad Delilah has someone. She deserves it after everything she's been through." Sam nodded, smiling softly.

"Yeah, after all of that horrible ghost trouble, I'm glad she found love." Danny nodded.

"Someone to look after her, and keep her safe." Sam scowled slightly.

"Now hold on. Delilah can take care of herself, thank you very much. She might like Sampson, but she doesn't need him to kick butt. She's a tough gorilla." Danny held his hands up, slightly surprised at her tone.

"I'm not saying she couldn't! I've seen her in action, she's pretty scary! I'm just saying that since Sampson likes her, he'll do everything he can to keep her safe. When you love someone, you protect them." Sam paused, thoughtful.

"It's still chauvinistic, but I'll let it go this time." She smirked, and tugged at his sleeve. "Come on, Sampson, let's get that milkshake." A confused expression on his face, Danny shrugged, waving goodbye to the happy gorilla couple, and walked with Sam out of the zoo, his arm casually draped over her shoulder.

Since the Nasty Burger was nearby, the two decided to walk. The sun was starting to get lower in the sky, but it had been a hot day, and the asphalt was sending up visible heat waves. Sam was starting to 'simmer' slightly, and Danny paused to wipe his brow.

"Jeez, I'd kill to be able to freeze stuff like Dani." Sam paused mid-step and turned towards him.

"What?" Danny shrugged, as they continued walking.

"Today Dani sneezed and froze half the kitchen. I tried it, but I can't do it. It's weird; I thought we were basically the same." Sam pursed her lips.

"Well, you can't shrink like that other clone could, and neither can she. Maybe this is a Dani thing. No one said you'd both get the same powers. Even if some ice would be great right now." Danny nodded to himself.

"I guess. I mean, she can't do the Ghostly Wail, and dad's computer said she had enough energy, so that's not the problem. Maybe you're right. Either that, or we will have the same powers, just get them in a different order. It probably doesn't matter."

The two arrived at the Nasty Burger and paused to bask in the air conditioning. Looking around, they spotted Tucker and Valerie sitting at a booth near the back. Spotting the couple, Tucker smiled and waved them over. Nodding, Sam and Danny picked up their milkshakes and joined their two friends. Tucker was definitely overdressed for a casual date, with a full dress shirt, cuffs, necktie, and slacks. He must have been nervous about going out. Valerie was looking at his outfit with exasperation. She was wearing a blood red t-shirt with black markings. 'The Huntress' was styled across the front. Danny snorted.

"Going out in that shirt? Don't you think it makes your secret identity kinda obvious?" Sam turned and stared at her DP-shirted boyfriend, mouth slightly open. Tucker simply raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. Valerie smiled.

"Just showing my support. 'Whoever she is,' she needs some major PR work Even if she just helped Phantom, people around here still remember all the times she attacked him. It doesn't matter to them that she thought he was evil at the time. Until opinions get better, she's probably going to lay low and let Phantom do his thing." She turned her eyes to the black and white DP shirt. "I guess you're showing your support, too?" Danny flushed slightly, remembering what he was wearing.

"Err, yeah. I guess I'm a fan, even if I don't get to see him much." Tucker just rolled his eyes, and Sam and Danny sat down. Tucker gave the couple a smirk and turned towards his girlfriend, whispering conspiratorially.

"Don't you believe it. He wore that thing because Sam likes it." Valerie snorted as Sam and Danny both turned very red. "What about it do you like so much, anyway?" Sam glared daggers at her friend, who merely smirked back in response.

"Never mind, Tucker." She warned dangerously. Valerie grinned.

"Oh come on, Sam." She teased, eager to join in the fun. "You can tell us." Danny was starting to turn a bit red from suppressed laugher. Sam turned towards Tucker.

"You're never going to let this drop, are you?" Tucker just leaned back, casually draping his arm behind Valerie.

"Nope." Sam tensed, then just deflated, looking down at her shake.

"Whatever. I just think Phantom's outfit is hot." Tucker's eyes bugged slightly, and he almost choked on a mouthful of his shake. Valerie continued her teasing.

"Oh?" She asked, turning her eyes on Danny as Tucker coughed beside her. "And what does the boyfriend think of that? Still a fan of Phantom?" Desperately trying to control himself, Danny put on the straightest face he could.

"I guess. If she thinks Phantom is so hot, I'll just have to deal with it." Tucker rolled his eyes and groaned, and the couple both bit their tongues to keep from cracking up. Valerie frowned, confused.

"You're cool with that? You always seemed the jealous type. I guess you're really a fan of his, huh?" Gasping slightly to recover from his repressed laughing fit, Danny discretely allowed his slipping energy to shoot into the floor. A few lights on the Nasty Burger sign blew up in sparks. Sam just smiled, looking over at her boyfriend.

"We're both big fans of Phantom. But Danny's fine with it, cause he knows I like him just the way he is." Valerie shot Tucker an odd look, expecting some sort of jibe. Instead, he was just sitting back and looking at the two, slightly red-faced. Shrugging, she tried to make up for his mysterious silence.

"Yeah, but if you had to choose. What would it be? Danny's sweetness or Phantom's hotness?" Tucker groaned.

"This conversation is seriously messed up." Valerie raised an eyebrow at that comment. Not quite comfortable with where these questions were going, Sam and Danny gave a hasty goodbye and took off for the bowling alley. Along the way, Danny shot Sam an odd look.

"What?" He just shrugged, looking confused and uncertain.

"I was just wondering about that last question of Valerie's. I mean, you didn't try to go out with me before the portal incident. What about me do you like exactly? Fenton or Phantom?" Sam snorted, thinking he was kidding. Her smirk dropped when she saw the serious expression on his face.

"You serious?" Danny nodded mutely. Sam sighed.

"I like you, Danny. Human, ghost, whatever. I liked you before the accident, and I liked you after. If you lost your ghost half tomorrow, I'd still care about you just as much. I'm not just some Phantom fan-girl." Danny nodded quietly, but he looked relieved. "Let's go bowling, huh? Last time, you only beat me by thirty pins." Danny quirked an eyebrow playfully.

"Think you can beat me?" Sam laughed.

"Nah. But I bet I can lose by less than twenty." Arm in arm, the two walked towards the bowling alley. About a block away, Danny froze, blue mist flying from his mouth.

"Oh come on, can't these ghosts take a hint?" Quickly jumping into an alley and transforming, Danny floated up and scanned for ghosts.

"Hey…dipstick." A soft, raspy voice called out with barely a hint of its usual bite. Turning, Danny's eyes narrowed. Sam glared at the blue haired ghost and fished around for her Fenton Lipstick.

"Ember. I thought you'd already been tossed out." Ember shook her head at Danny, frowning.

"Nope. You didn't do it, so I can still pop in if I want. But I'm not here to fight. I…need your help." Witty banter dying on his lips, Danny stared for a second, and sank to the ground. Ember did the same.

"Fine, I'm listening. But no funny movements." Ember chuckled, then winced, grabbing her throat. Noting the movement, Danny's eyes widened as he remembered this ghost's former future. "Oh no." Pale, he motioned for Sam to put away her weapon. "Did a ghost hurt your voice?" Ember nodded mutely, then fell down on her knees and cried, wincing as even that hurt a great deal. Danny stood there in shock, changing back to his human form. "Hey, calm down. I really don't want to hear this, but I think I know what's going on. If I'm right, we'll probably need to sit down. Ember, you can pass for human, right? Let's go into the bowling alley and grab a table." The three quietly walked inside and sat down in a secluded corner. "Okay, talk." Sniffling, Ember started speaking.

In a remote corner of the ghost zone, music rang out through a large, gold-plated door. Jamming on her own private stage, Ember never noticed her hidden, red-eyed guest. Sure, she sensed someone had entered her lair, but some ghosts liked her music. She just hoped it wasn't Klemper again, he was so annoying. As she finished the last few chords, slow sarcastic clapping filled the room. The blue-haired ghost rolled her eyes.

"I know you're there. If you have something to say, say it. If you don't, get lost."

The dark shadow in the room chuckled coldly. The next thing Ember knew, the mysterious figure had grabbed her by the shoulder and shoved her outside, slamming the doors behind him. In the green light of the Ghost Zone, she saw a large frame with a swirling cloak and flaming hair. A familiar DP logo spread across his chest. Suddenly nervous, Ember fought down her emotions and fixed on a sarcastic smile.

"That you, Dipstick? Been working out? I gotta say, the freakishly huge look doesn't work for you." The blue-faced ghost didn't respond, he simply flew forward and grabbed her throat.

"Ember. No, I'm not the 'dipstick.' Not exactly, anyway. I want answers." There wasn't any rage in the voice exactly, just coldness. His eyes bored into her with great intensity, much like Danny's did when they fought. But unlike Danny, this wasn't righteous anger; it was an almost overwhelming desire to destroy. All the strength fled Ember's legs as she gazed into those empty, hungry eyes. She gulped.

"Wha-what kind of answers d-do you want?" She gasped out from the iron grip. The dark figure sneered at her.

"How powerful is Danny? Where is Vlad? Has anything significant happened at Amity Park in the last few months?" Ember stared, confused. The figure shook her roughly. "You should talk now." She quickly nodded, eyes wide.

"Danny is more powerful now. He beat Vlad on his own. Vlad disappeared after the fight, nobody's seen him." Ember muttered under her breath. "Jerk didn't even pay me for my services." Her attacker leered at that. Ember shuddered. "Not that, eww. Even if he wasn't a creep, he's still a human." The dark ghost shook her again. "What? What do you want?"

"Amity Park." He repeated coldly. "You still haven't mentioned Amity Park." Ember shuddered.

"Umm, Vlad tried to make them think Danny is evil. I don't know if it worked, I left too soon to see. There was a huge bounty on his head. And the ghost council declared Danny owner of Amity Park. Ghosts can't show up there uninvited." Her tormentor paused, then grinned, showing pointed teeth.

"Is that so? Well, I just might be an exception. I'll have to find out." Ember stared struggling again.

"I answered your stupid questions, now let me go! What do you want with that kid anyway? Revenge?" The cloaked figure didn't let go, he just laughed.

"Revenge is a human thing. Why would I do something human? Love, hate, anger, it's all stupid, all pointless, unnecessary. I just want to kill people." With that, he threw her hard into her lair door and fired a vicious beam at her throat. Cackling as she screamed mutely at the pain, he quickly flew off, firing at random ghosts as he went.

"After that I got my voice back, but I can't sing." Ember said in her raspy voice, eyes watering. "I know that, for whatever reason, you have a problem with my power. But even when I wasn't trying to rule the world, I liked to sing. What kind of monster would do this?" Sam was shaking, wide-eyed. Danny was pale, staring off into space.

"I can't believe he got out." He said quietly. He turned towards Ember. "Why come to me? I thought you didn't like me? That's what you said, anyway." Ember frowned.

"I don't. But with Vlad gone to…wherever he is, you're the strongest ghost around. And I figure if this bozo was so interested in killing you, you'd probably side with me over him. Besides, you're 'honorable.'" She said sarcastically. "I gave you a heads up, you owe me. Toast this bozo, whoever he is, and we're even." Danny nodded mutely. Finally, he found his voice.

"Thanks for that. Need a place to stay for a while?" Ember raised an eyebrow.

"Ew. First, I hate you. Second, you're a human. And third, aren't you with this chick?" She nodded towards Sam. "Nice makeup by the way." Danny shuddered, and actually managed to chuckle despite the situation.

"Not like that. You can hang out in my lair. No ghost hunters will go after you, and it's hard to find stuff in there, so you should be safe." Ember pursed her lips, and nodded.

"You know, kid? You're actually pretty cool. Now if you'd just let me rule the world…" Sam glared.

"Don't even think about it. Besides, you can't sing, remember?" Ember's face crumpled slightly. Sighing, she nodded, and motioned for Danny to lead the way. Sam quickly gripped his wrist, and the three walked outside. Once clear of witnesses, Danny transformed and flew Sam towards his house, Ember behind them.

In the swirling depths of the ghost zone, Dan Phantom turned his burning gaze upon a floating jungle island. "Skulker. Maybe he knows where Vlad went. Or maybe not. Either way, smashing his tiny body between my fingers is gonna be fun." Grinning, Dan flew down to the hunted hunter.