Notteventure University

A sprawling campus curled around the mossy, enchanting banks of Notteventure Lake. One of America's foremost universities, with outstanding research facilities, state of the art sporting venues and access to one of the world's largest university libraries. Utilising modern technology in a historical setting and dedicated lecturers, Notteventure University will set you up for a magical future.

"A health profession? Maybe research? That's responsible, but-" Sam's eyes glittered. "Conservation law is the ultimate dream. Are there enough jobs in the field? I need to think about how I can affect the most change. With a moderate wage in a field of my preference, or in a position of power? Research could mean a unique contribution to our understanding of the natural world, but politics, oh, I could make waves... But I have such a deep love of literature, too..." Sam was lost in a world of her imaginings. She loved so many things so passionately that it was hard to choose. Every time she settled on an answer, another possibility occurred to her.

The trio of supernatural trouble were tucked around the table in the Fenton kitchen. The kitchen fan whirred overhead with a subtle hum. Butter yellow cabinetry reflected the setting sun, keeping the kitchen aglow long into the low afternoon.

Tucker was slouched over his PDA, unperturbed by the paralysing nature of choice. "A double degree in engineering and computer science," he said, "I'll probably join the robotics club, too. Is there anything cooler?"

"Only this house," Danny replied, teeth practically chattering. His lips were tinged blue at the edge and each breath misted on the air, puffing white. he had two hoodies on, layering the hoods around his face for the illusion of warmth. It didn't work. The cold was coming from inside him.

"It has only just rolled onto fall, Danny. It's 23 degrees ouside."

"23? Shouldn't our noses be falling off?" Danny mumbled, yanking his hoodie in closer to his neck.

"Celsius, Danny. The measurement of choice for literally everyone but the good old U.S. of A. 75, it's 75 degrees out," Sam huffed, but seemed more concerned than exasperated.

"Is there a major in pedantry?" Tucker wondered. Sam only glared.

"Normally I'd be looking for a ghost when I feel like this. I've been like this for days."

"You've been seeing Dani a lot," Tucker offered, "Maybe you guys have some bad cousin chemistry." He paused. "Not THAT kind of bad cousin chemistry, not like hillbilly chemistry, like bad body chemistry-I mean bad ghost body chemistry-Uh, maybe she makes you cold." He cleared his throat. "Perhaps."

"Maybe," Danny said. "It doesn't matter. She needs the training. We need to get the ghosts back in the zone before I leave, otherwise she'll always be behind. I don't want her to fail, too." He rubbed the back of his neck, nervous, and changed the subject. "I can't decide. If I want to become an astronaut, engineering or maths would be great, but I'm not sure if I could handle the math. Biological sciences could be useful... I feel like I have a good handle on it."

"Start with a mix of units. You're smart, Danny, you should see what you can handle before you put yourself down." Sam gave him a huge, hopeful smile.

"Or skip University. Just tell NASA that you don't need oxygen and that you can phase the rocket through space debris," Tucker grinned, "No one will talk about Buzz Aldron anymore! It'll be all 'there goes Danny Phantom, the Ghost Astronaut!"

"GHOST ASTRONAUT?" Jack burst into the kitchen, blaster at the ready, letting off warning shots of ghost vaporising matter at the kitchen cabinets. Danny ducked as Sam and Tucker shoved him down and scrambled to cover him.

"Uhhh he just passed through here!" Sam shouted, "He went down the street!" Jack yelled for his wife as he ambled out of the house and down the road, warning the populace as he did.

Danny's head thunked against the kitchen table and he groaned. "I can't wait to go to college... A mix sounds like a good start." As he lifted his head, the a page from the handbook stuck to his cheek. It flicked over. "I never thought I'd get this far. I don't even know what to want anymore." He flicked through the handbook, keeping his eye trained on the left hand corner where the title of each major was listed. "Botany," he read aloud, "Pairs well with Zoology. Hey, maybe Undergrowth could help tutor you. You could offer him twenty bucks an hour and the death of humanity."

"Botany?" Samantha tugged the book out of his hands and dragged it in front of her, delving into the specifics of the course.

"There she goes," Tucker said.

"We probably have an hour. Burgers?" Danny proposed.

The first day of September rolled around faster than it should have. Danny dabbed a wicked looking bruise around his eye where his translucent skin had split over the bone. Wobbling on his feet, he coughed, blood and mucus coming up in his throat. He spat in the sink. Blood and pearly green green goo swirled in the water and disappeared down the drain.

Danielle wrapped an arm around his waist.

"That's the last one," Danny breathed, "They're all back in the box." He grinned at their reflections. "They always get out, through my portal or someone else's. So be ready. But you should have a week or two to start fresh at school."

"Back in the box," Dani agreed, "Except the box ghost, I suppose."

"Do you know how to use the Fenton Thermos? Completely?" Danny interrogated, "One hundred percent?"

"Completely."

"You don't know how many Fenton Thermos accidents have caused me a patented Fenton Catastrophe. Seriously. If you have any questions, call me. If Vlad comes back-If you SMELL him-"

"Call you," Dani interrupted, "I get it." She shoved his side, making him groan.

"Danny! Dani!" Madi called from the kitchen, "Lunch is up!"

"One minute!"

Dani dabbed some concealer around Danny's bruise. It wasn't gone, but the severity was less apparent, so when it healed in a matter of hours, it would at least be less suspicious.

"I need to get me some of this," Danny noted, watching his bruises fade before his eyes.

"Here." Dani pushed the compact down into his palm. "A going away present."

Danny tugged her into his arms and gave her a long hug. "Thank you. You're a good cousin. And you're a great half-ghost butt kicking clone."

They went down the stairs together, each a spitting image of the other. They drifted to masculine and feminine extremes, of course, but their bright blue eyes, blue-black hair and pale skin was all the same. They had the same sharp ski-slope nose.

Maddie was bent over the table, wiping it down, and lifted her head to speak. Her words evaporated in her mouth.

Danny cleared his throat. "I hope you don't mind Danielle hanging around, she's interested in the ghost catching business, see, and I thought she could give you a hand while I'm gone..."

Maddie's gaze flicked between them. "Danielle, dear, how did you say you were related again?

"Your cousin's sister's daughter on your uncle's brother-in-law's dog's mother's side-Twice removed," Danielle smiled. "Or something like that. I forget. Thanks for making me feel so welcome, Mrs Fenton."

"Please, call me Maddie! Or-" She frowned, "Mum, because you might as well be a child of mine..." It was true. Genes that had gone unexpressed in Danny's male figure were instead evident in Danielle's body: Curvy and short like her mum. "Have you ever tried a jumpsuit? They're very flattering. Exhibit A." Maddie gestured to herself. "Something tells me you'd look great in one."

"I'll keep it in mind." Danielle smiled, with an edge of shyness.

"Oh, I hope you don't mind," Maddie began, turning to a collection of shopping bags on the floor, "Jazz and I took the liberty of organising your school books this year! You're just starting out, and the book list is such a pain, and well..." Maddie lifted up a bag of writing books, pens, pencils and textbooks. "I also made the executive decision to include a Thermos, you know, just in case you like to take a hot drink for lunch! But not just any Thermos!" Maddie pulled out a green and silver contraption. Her bright grin slipped a little when Dani said nothing at all. "Is-Uh-Danielle, dear, I didn't mean to overstep my bounds-"

Danielle flung her arms around Maddie's shoulders. "Thank you-I love it, just-Thank you..."

"Oh, Dani..." Maddie hugged her back. Over Dani's shoulder, she gave Danny a look, as though to say 'you'll explain one day'. "You're always welcome, you know. With Jazz out of the house, and Danny going away to college, it could be lonely around here. I know you don't have family in town." She squeezed the girls shoulders. "Come visit us plenty."

Maddie's nest had emptied, more suddenly than she was prepared for. As she made Dani feel welcome, chatting to her about the house she was renting and her extra-curriculars, Jack bounded into the room, holding onto a remote control. A green and white drone with four stabilising propellers whizzed past Danny's head, around in a circle. A soothing, robotic female voice declared, "Two agreeable targets. Shall I activate instant kill?"

Enormous goggles bugged out of Jack's head, magnifying his eyes. He blinked at them. "Do you see them? The ghosts?!"

"Uh, no," Danny replied sheepishly, as the drone whizzed in a figure eight above his and Dani's heads. "No-No ghosts here, just little old us."

"Agreeable targets nearby. Shall I activate instant kill?" The voice offered. The drone stopped above their heads, facing Jack, as though giving him an impatient expression.

"Arrgh, damn it." Jack took off his goggles and pressed a button on his control. The drone made a sad whine and whizzed down to the floor. "Another failed contraption."

Wishing that he could validate the depth of his father's genius, Danny offered, "Uhm, you know, I think I stepped in some ectoplasm while I was cleaning the lab last night. Maybe that's throwing things off."

"Me too!" Dani added, giving him a hopeful smile.

In his head, Danny thought to himself again, I can't wait for college.