Okay, so I know I said this chapter was going to have the final battle with Pariah Dark, but as I was writing this, I realize that the finale I have planned out was so massive (Meaning it was going over my 4,000 word limit), I had no choice but to split it up into two parts. So this chapter will wrap up certain character arcs, and the next chapter will be the final battle as well as the aftermath.
The Ghost King Cometh: Part 4
Danny groans as he opens his eyes and sees that he is in his room. "I'm home? But how…" He looks to his side and sees Valerie unconscious and sitting against the wall. Danny sighs and says to the young ghost hunter, "As ironic as this sounds, I guess I owe you one."
Sam and Tucker immediately enter the room.
"Oh thank god," the goth says upon seeing her friend in one piece.
"Hey guys," Danny greets.
"Really?" says Tucker. "Your folks find you and Valerie out like a light upstairs, you clearly look like you've seen better days, and all you can say is, "Hey guys"?"
The halfa gets up from his bed, "I'll admit, that Pariah Dark was the real deal."
"You faced the Ghost King?" Sam asked with a surprised look.
"Just barely. He managed to knock me and Vlad out of our ghost forms. If Valerie hadn't showed up when she did we would have been…" Danny now has a haunted look on his face. "Wait…where's Sabrina?"
Sam and Tucker nervously look at each other.
The three teens make it to the Spellman household. Zelda and Hilda let them in and Danny immediately rushes upstairs to Sabrina's bedroom. He enters the room and finds the half-witch lying unconscious in her bed. Danny approaches Sabrina's sleeping form and kneels down next to her bed. He takes her hand, wraps it around his and lowers his head in guilt.
Sam was the next person to enter the bedroom and she sees her distraught friend on his knees. She walks towards him and puts a hand on his shoulder, "Zelda says she wasn't hurt too bad when she found her up here, just some bruises here and there, so the healing spell she had to cast wasn't much of a hassle."
Danny was silent for a moment until… "This is all my fault."
"Danny…"the Goth begins to say but the halfa interrupts her.
"No, it is. If I hadn't removed the Fright Knight's sword from the ground, none of this would have happened. This is exactly what I was afraid of, and I keep telling her that what I do is dangerous, yet she keeps insisting on helping me. Why wouldn't she listen to me? Why is she so hell-bent on putting her life on the line when she doesn't have to?"
Upon hearing that question, Sam crosses her arms and says, "Gee, that sounds awfully familiar."
Danny finally looks up at his friend with a confused look on his face.
The Goth uncrosses her arms and begins to explain herself, "Danny, Sabrina is behaving exactly like you did when you first got your powers. When ghosts started coming out of the portal and raised hell all over Amity, you thought you were the only one capable of sending them all back where they came from. When you told me this, I thought you were insane. I mean, sure, your parents may have taught you and Jazz how to defend yourselves against ghosts, but fighting them with powers you barely knew how to use properly? I thought you were going to get yourself killed. At some point I wanted to stop you before someone like Skulker and Ember get lucky and then Tucker and I would have to explain to your parents why their son won't be coming home tonight."
Danny starts to take it all in. All this time worrying about the safety of his friends, not once did he think about whether or not his friends feel the same way. The halfa can only imagine what goes on in Sam and Tucker's heads whenever he "goes ghost". They must worry about him constantly. If what Sam says is true, he can't help but be impressed by the fact that she was able to hold it together for as long as she had.
But Danny had one question on his mind. He looks at Sam, "You said you wanted to stop me from fighting ghosts. Why didn't you?"
After some silence Sam finally spoke, "Simple, you're my best friend. That and I guess part of me still blames myself for the accident, so I feel like I owe you. But as your friend, I made a promise to myself that, whatever bone-headed and crazy decision you make, I'll support you every step of the way. Now if I can do that for you, why can't you do the same for Sabrina?"
Danny looks back at the unconscious half-witch and sighs, "You're right, I shouldn't be controlling what Sabrina can and can't do, and I want to support her, I really do…but I don't think it's that easy."
"I never said it was," Sam responds.
"Her aunts taught her how to use her magic, but I don't think they ever taught her how to fight ghosts."
"Then YOU teach her. You've been doing this for a year, you clearly have the experience...Maybe that's something the two of you can discuss on your eventual date night."
Danny perks up at the last thing Sam says and he looks at her with a look that says, "You know?"
The Goth with a smirk on her face says, "Come on, you think I didn't notice the constant googly eyes you two make towards each other every so often? I'm pretty sure everyone can see it. I know how much you care about her Danny, and I know you want to protect her, but don't start by dictating what decisions she makes. Start by just being by her side."
Danny takes in everything his friend just told him and he nods. He then gets up and leaves the room.
"Where are you going?" Sam asks.
"Back home to the lab," says Danny. "It's time I finally end this."
At the Fenton Works Lab, Danny's parents are arguing with Sam's parents as well as a group of other adults on who gets the wear the Ecto-Skeleton. It eventually lead to all of them judo-chopping one other, knocking each other unconscious in the process.
As Danny phases through the ceiling with his friends in tow, he sees the scuffle and says, "I guess we can forget about that distraction."
As the three teens land on the ground, Sam finally figures out what the halfa's plan is, "You're going to wear that thing aren't you?"
Danny nods.
"But you saw what it did to your dad…"
"I know, but I need something that can give me some sort of edge, and right now, I'm out of time and options."
"Uh, Danny," Tucker cuts in. "It looks like someone has the same idea you have."
Danny looks to where his friend is pointing and sees Valerie attempting to get inside the suit.
"No," the halfa thought. "I can't let her risk her life like that. I know Sam told me that I should support my friends with the choices they make, but I still think there are times in which a line needs to be drawn. And this is one of those times."
Danny approaches Valerie, "I'm going to have to ask you to step away from the suit."
The young ghost hunter glares at the half-ghost, "Back off spook. I don't know how you got through the ghost shield, but this is my fight."
"You don't know who you're dealing with."
"I do actually. That big ghost in the cape and his knight servant hurt my best friend."
"I know, and I want to hurt them just as badly as you do, but not like this. That suit will be too much for you to handle. It could kill you."
"Well that's a risk I'm willing to take. You gonna stop me?"
Suddenly, Valerie's dad enters the room, "What is going on here?"
Sam and Tucker were able to sneak away unnoticed.
Upon seeing Damon Danny immediately flies behind Valerie. "Hey, what are you…"
"You've been a big help lately, and I can't thank you enough. Now it's time I return the favor."
And with that, Danny yanks the young ghost hunter's face mask from her head and disappears, taking the Ecto-Skeleton with him.
Valerie starts putting her hands all over her face and shouts, "YOU JERK, WHEN I FIND YOU I'LL…"
"Valerie?" Damon interrupts.
Valerie puts her angry tirade on hold and smiles sheepishly at her father, "Heh, hi dad."
Damon approaches his daughter. "This is what you've been doing all this time? Fighting ghosts?"
"I…"
Damon puts a hand on Valerie's shoulder and gives a concerned look, "Are you alright?"
Valerie sighs, "I'm…I'm fine."
Damon smiles as he and his daughter embrace. However, when the two break from their hug, he then says, "Then you are in BIG trouble."
Back at the Spellman residence, Sabrina finally comes to.
Salem, who has been sleeping on the foot of the bed, also wakes up, "Sabrina? Oh thank goodness you're okay."
Sabrina looks around the room, "I'm in my room? How?"
"Your friend Valerie brought you here half an hour ago…At least that's what Danny told me and your aunts. You were in really bad shape kiddo, we were all worried sick."
"Where's Danny?" the half witch suddenly asks.
"Last I heard, he went back home to get something from his parent's lab. I think he's about to face Pariah Dark."
Sabrina's eyes grew wide, "BY HIMSELF? IS HE NUTS?" She immediately gets up from her bed, puts on her tennis shoes and runs out of the room.
"Sabrina wait," Salem calls out.
As soon as the half-witch reaches the front door, someone calls to her, "And just where do you think YOU'RE going?"
Sabrina looks behind her and sees her Aunt Zelda leaning against the doorway to the kitchen.
"Aunt Zelda, Danny is about to face Pariah Dark on his own. He won't stand a chance, I need to help him."
"Absolutely not, Pariah nearly killed you the last time. And now you're about to go out there and face him again?"
"And who else is going to Aunt Zelda? You and Aunt Hilda have to stay here to tend to the people taking refuge inside the ghost shield and the witch council are still sitting around with his hands on their butts. By the time someone actually DOES something, Danny will already be dead. I'm not going to stand around twiddling my thumbs when I know I have the power to do something. Remember when you first taught me how to use my magic? You told me that what I have is a gift that shouldn't go to waste, and that I need to use my gift in a way that makes me happy. Well nothing makes me happier than stopping evil psychos from hurting the people I care about."
Zelda crosses her arms, "Okay, say that you got a point. And just what exactly is your plan on defeating the king of all ghosts?"
Sabrina was silent for a moment until she mutters, "I…haven't really thought that through."
Zelda sighs, and then smiles, "Well it's a good thing Hilda, Salem and I were able to whip up this bad boy, otherwise you kids would have been screwed."
She then takes out her hand and a scroll appears from out of thin air.
Sabrina's eyes grew wide, "Is that…"
"The one thing that will definitely help bring Pariah down. This is a brand new spell we have conjured up and it's a big one. But I'm sure even you can handle it."
As Sabrina reaches for the scroll, Zelda yanks it back.
"I'll give this to you on one condition," the older witch continues. "You better come home in one piece. If I see so much as a scratch on you when you return, you're grounded. No ifs, ands or buts. And don't even think about using a healing spell to hide your injuries because I WILL know. Do I make myself clear?"
Sabrina gives a wide smile, "Crystal."
The two witches embrace.
Danny brings the Ecto-Skeleton at the top of his house and reverts to his human form. He was about to get inside the suit when a familiar voice stops him.
"Sam and Tucker told me you would be up here."
Danny turns around and sees Sabrina standing there with her arms crossed.
"Sabrina, hey."
"Don't "Sabrina, hey" me. You were about to go out there and fight Pariah Dark by yourself weren't you? Look, I know you feel like you need to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, but you don't have to be the only one to carry that burden."
"Sabrina…" Danny begins to say, but Sabrina interrupts him.
"No, for once listen to what I have to say. I get it okay? You want to protect me, what happened at the hospital scared you. It scared me too. But it made me realize something. It made me realize that there will always be evil people out there trying to ruin everyone's lives, and I want to do something about that. I know there will be risks, but those are risks that I'm willing to take. Besides, you're gonna need magic if you're going to win this fight. In other words, you need me. So please…don't push me away."
After letting his friend voice her frustration towards him, Danny smiles and says, "You're right."
Sabrina continues, "And another thing…wait…what?"
Danny continues, "You're right. I shouldn't keep pushing you away. I shouldn't be trying to control what's best for you. It was selfish of me to do that." The halfa walks towards the half-witch and he takes hold of both of her hands. "It's just that…meeting you was one of the best things that ever happened to me. That night when Spectra got a hold of you…it terrified me. I thought I was going to lose you. Someone who has become VERY important to me. Someone who truly understands me. If something happened to you…I don't know what I would do."
Sabrina takes in everything Danny just said. She then takes her left hand and puts on her friend's left cheek, "Danny, I understand. What you do is dangerous, and I know I would be putting my life on the line if I follow in your footsteps. But let's be honest, my life was already at risk the moment my family and I moved here. I wouldn't be safe even if I tried. But you know what? I'm perfectly fine with that. Because like I said before, I know that any kind of trouble I get into, you will be there for me, just like I will be there for you." She lets go of his face and smiles. "So what do you say? I watch your back you watch mine?"
Now it was Danny's turn to take in Sabrina's words. He then looks at the half-witch and smiles, "Deal."
The two teens are now staring at each other, unsure of what to do next.
Sabrina begins to think about what they are getting themselves into, "Once we go beyond that ghost shield it's going to be either Pariah or us. There's a chance we might not come back. I may never get the chance to tell Danny how I feel. Do I go for it? I mean if there's anything I want to say to him, now would be a good time to…You know what? Screw it. I'm going for it."
And just like that, Sabrina lunges towards Danny and gives him a passionate kiss on the lips. The half ghost was surprised at first, but then his teenage hormones got the best of him and he responds to the kiss. All those pent up feelings the two had for each other since the day they first met have finally reached its boiling point. After a good few seconds the two teens break apart, and they are now looking at each other, completely out of breath.
Sabrina says, "You…have no idea…how long I've been waiting to do that."
Danny, who was too out of breath to even speak, just chuckles and nods in agreement.
"Well it took you kids long enough," says a random new voice.
Danny and Sabrina look up and see Salem perched on top of the Ecto-Skeleton with a sly smirk.
"If you two are done battling your raging teenage hormones, there's still a Ghost King we need to fight."
The two half-breeds roll their eyes at the cat's remark and Danny walks towards the battle-suit.
"You know, if you're gonna be like that, I could have just left you at home," says Sabrina.
"Yeah? And who's gonna make sure you cast that imprisonment spell correctly? Face it kid, you need me just as much as Danny needs you."
Salem leaps off of the Ecto-Skeleton and lands in Sabrina's arms.
Danny climbs on the suit and opens the glass dome, taking a seat as he does so. He powers up the machine as well as activate the neural receptors. The puts his hands on the yoke, giving him full control over the suit.
Danny turns to Sabrina and notices that she has a troubled look on her face, "What's wrong?"
The half-witch bites her lip, "Well, I know we agreed that you shouldn't be worried about me but…I can't help but worry about you. Are you sure using that suit is a good idea? Your mom stressed how wearing the Ecto-Skeleton can be *gulp* fatal." Sabrina bows her head in doubt but Danny takes control of the suit's right arm and lifts her chin back up.
He smiles, "I'll be fine Sabrina. We have each other's back don't we? Is there some kind of teleportation spell you can cast?"
Sabrina nods.
"Then if things do get a little dicey, I'm counting on you to get us all out of there as soon as possible. Sound fair?"
The platinum blonde couldn't help but smile at Danny's ability to put her at ease, "Okay."
Sam and Tucker appear to see their friends off.
"Perfect timing guys," says Danny. "Tuck, you think you open the ghost shield for a split second so I can get through?"
Tucker salutes, "You got it."
Suddenly a red cloud begins to form in the sky and Pariah Dark's face emerges from within, "HUMANS, HEAR MY DECREE!"
"Well, that's our cue," says Danny.
Sam looks at Danny, "Promise me you'll come back in one piece." Then she looks at Sabrina. "Both of you."
The half-witch looks at her Goth friend for a moment and then gives her a massive hug. Sam, shocked at first, begins to hug Sabrina back.
"We promise," Sabrina says with a smile. She looks over at Danny. "Ready to put a king back to bed?"
Danny gives a look of confidence, "Ready when you are."
He then turns into his ghost form, but something unexpected happens. The Ecto-Skeleton also changes form and the design of the armor begins to match the design of Danny's costume.
Sabrina whistles upon seeing the suit's new look, "And to think it looked cool before. But I can't have you upstage me now can I?" She conjures her wand and, with the flick of the wrist, she changes into her hero costume. Then the half-witch summons her broom and she and Salem hop on board.
With preparations and heartfelt goodbyes out of the way, Danny and Sabrina finally take off. Down below they can hear the students of Casper High cheering them on.
"GO GET EM INVISO-BILL!" Paulina exclaims.
Danny groans and shouts back, "MY NAME IS NOT INVISO-BILL! IT'S PHANTOM, DANNY PHANTOM!"
Sabrina also shouts, "AND YOU CAN CALL ME…THE HOODED ENCHANTRESS!"
Danny turns to the half=witch and says, "The Hooded Enchantress?"
"Yeah, what do you think?" asks Sabrina.
"A bit of a mouthful, but I like it."
Using his pad, Tucker deactivates the ghost portal so Danny can exit safely.
"Well, there they go," the tech geek comments.
Sam doesn't say anything. She just watches her two friends take off. Unknown to Danny and Sabrina, the Goth actually eavesdropped on their earlier conversation…which includes the part where the two of them kissed. There is some sadness in her eyes as she is thinking about that moment.
"Sam?" Tucker cuts in. "Is everything okay?"
Sam looks at Tucker in the corner of her eye and then back into the distance. After a moment, she then smiles. "Yeah," she finally answers. "I'm just hoping the two of them make it back okay."
Tucker puts a hand on his friend's shoulder, "They will, I have faith in them." The tech geek walks inside the house.
As Sam follow suit, she takes one last look in the direction where her friends took off and says to herself, "Well…I guess if Danny was going to end up with someone, I'm glad that he's with you Brina."
So for those of you wondering how Sam would feel about Danny and Sabrina hooking up, there's your confirmation. Since this is supposed to be around the point where she begins to realize her feelings towards our favorite halfa, naturally she would be crushed if he ever chose another girl over her. However, since Sam trusts Sabrina with every fiber of her being, and knows she has a good heart, our Goth princess can rest easy knowing that Danny is in good hands. As long as he's happy (and NOT with Paulina), then she's happy. Bottom line, Sam approves of Danny and Sabrina's blossoming romance...for now anyway.
Alright, now that all the character development out of the way, NOW we can head towards the final battle. Stay tuned for the real conclusion which hopefully will be out soon.
Be sure to leave a comment with your thoughts on the story so far. Until next time...