What's this a chapter before the two week deadline? Well don't get used to it, I just didn't think this would get any better :P we will keep trying to update every 14 days on Saturdays.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As we wrote this story it has become clear that to some the story is coming off in a way that I did NOT want it. I myself do not like bashing fics, I also understand not all negative treatment towards a character is considered bashing. I am also not here to try and change people who create these types of stories. Nor am I here to stop people from reading them as there are those that enjoy them.
The main stories I am referring to are those that have the bashing take place but no real reason for it other than their hatred for the character in canon. The most common I have seen are HP Fanfics where Dumbledore, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and/or Molly getting bashed. These usually involve reason that didn't really have any substantial value in canon. (Dumbledore being super manipulative and Molly forcing love potion down Hermione and Harry's throats ect.)
This goes without saying that Bashing is in most if not all Fandoms on this site. In fact, the Danny Phantom fandom has many cases of Jack and Maddie bashing… and it seems many of you believe this to be another one of those cases… While me and my sister have written this, it was not in the intention of having Jack and Maddie be bashed, it was more to showcase just how much they valued science and their ghost hunting over safety… just watch the show again and you'll see what I mean.
This chapter (spoiler for 2 lines down) is about their court trial, but dont think this is the end of them.
Chapter 3: Witch Hunt
"All rise. The Court of Amity Park is now in session, the Honorable Judge Baxter presiding."
The Courtroom was silent as a tall blonde with a trimmed mustache came out of a side door. He looked around the room before his eyes fell on the side of the Offense. In a wheelchair a thin Danny sat playing with a small bulge on his left shoulder above his chest. His sister stood near him pulling his hands away from his incision scar. When Danny reached towards his nose Jazz placed his hand back down so he wouldn't mess with the tube going up his left nostril.
Judge Baxter looked over to the defense seeing two adults in orange being monitored by officers. The taller man appeared to be sporting black eyes and a busted lip. "Defense council what happened to your clients face?"
A thin woman with a sour look on her face turned to look up at Jack Fenton "Your honor my client was attacked by an inmate at Park Pen." Jack Fenton glared at his Lawyer in reply. The thin woman sucked her teeth at him and his wife held his arm.
Jack still felt hostile over the fact he was taken in to begin with. He and his wife did nothing wrong. Ok yes they had a lab in their basement. Yes they had ignored multiple safety codes. They didn't have security on their lab. But this was all for science and their children. I mean who wants to grow up in a boring home anyway. Maddie knew that, he knew that, he just needed his children to know that. The judge will see and when this all blows over he was suing the shit out of the city for doing this to his family.
"Is he fit to continue with today's proceedings?" Judge Baxter said noticing the rapid changes to Jack Fentons facial expressions and it was mildly disturbing him.
"Yes your honor." The Lawyer said ignoring Jack Fenton. This was a shit case and she knew they were not going to win.
Nodding to the bailiff the judged sat in his seat as the bailiff announces the case, "Your Honor, we will be resuming today's case People v. Fenton."
The judge leaned back in his seat and sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have dealt with several cases here over the course of my tenure but in all of my years working in this small town, I have never had to handle a case of such gross negligence." When the Judge said that Jack smiled this was going to swing in his favor. The negligence on the polices part was grotesque he shouldn't be here the Judge was going to let them leave today and he could finally go home to his lab and get back to his work with his family at his side.
Judge Baxter looked to the defense and sat up in his seat. "The only thing I can assume is that because you both are not born and raised citizens of our fair city you moved here due to some demented... what was it... 'Ghost' obsession." Jacks face fell immediately as he turned to look at his wife and went to stand again only to have the lawyer and his wife pull him down and shut him up.
"It is a wonder something like this did not happen sooner." The Judge stood up and walked from his seat to an evidence table when the bailiff looked concerned the judge waved him off. He picked up a file and started to flip through it before turning to the defense.
"Over the course of these proceedings I have heard many testimonies from doctors. Your poor son now suffers from permanent health maladies. Weakened heart and lungs, persistent seizures. According to his doctors his heart and breathing has stopped multiple times that he has had a pacemaker installed and is on oxygen around the clock." The Judge stated holding up were multiple pictures of Danny looking small in his hospital bed. There were pictures of him dazed after his first Seizure. Pictures of his pacemaker scar. These pictures contrast greatly with images of him days before the incident laughing and strong.
"Your daughter has given us day by day accounts from her own diaries of various scenes of abuse." He signaled to a large pile of diaries in various colors marked with sticky notes labeled The Memoirs.
"We had the local lab test various experiments you have done in your own home with a representative. We have found that various safety regulations have been purposefully bypassed…This gives serious concern about the life and limb of children on the property." Jack growled he hated that someone went into his lab and started tinkering with his experiments and messed with his machines. They were set that way for a reason because experimentation needed risks! The machines had to be pushed to get the right results. That was science.
"The only legal thing in your entire premise is that your building is up to Code. We had the local code authority walk through and found your house is properly wired and all the proper permits are in place even though there are claims you have been fraudulently submitting housing statements... which do present very obvious loopholes in our city housing regulations." He muttered to himself looking at a picture of the Fenton Household with its building sized rader dish and 'Command Center', the green stamp labeled Legal on the corner.
"A former college friend of yours came all the way from Wisconsin and has come in to give sworn testimony of a similar incident where you had almost killed him from your negligence." He said nodding to a tall man in a tuxedo standing at attention in the back.
The judge placed the various files back onto the table and returned to his seat behind the stand. He folded his fingers together and looked to the two Fenton children. Jasmine held her brothers hand and looked at him in concern.
"It is with all this information that I have come to conclude that the Fenton children will become wards to those who are within the means to take care of them." The judge looked down over some notes, "It appears that Jack Fenton you signed that in case you were not able to care for your children that you put them in care of one Vlad Masters your former college friend." The judge coughs a little, "Surprising considering the highly negative testimony he gave about you."
"Yes I trust V-man with my children." He takes a look back at said 'V-man' and almost solemnly states, "Even from myself."
"Jack I thought we agreed that the kids were supposed to go to my sister." Maddie chimed in, not liking the look Vlad had given them earlier when he spoke on the stand.
"If it's between your backwater sister who hates me. The same one that holds Divorce Anniversaries in Spitoon Arkansas in her own outhouse. Or V-Man a well known billionaire and my college buddy whom I trust. I trust him more than your sister." Jack said almost patriotically while glancing down at his wife.
Maddie almost snarled back when her lawyer put a hand on her shoulder, "Are you calling my family backwater now Jack!"
"I am not having our children live in a shack Maddie!" Jack yelled looking down at his wife with fire in his eyes as he stood up.
"My sister is a better option then Vlad Masters! My sister is Family! What can he give them that she can't?"
"Money, a mansion, probably the Packers if they asked."
The Judge growled before he slammed his gavel a few times breaking up the impending argument. "If the two of you are done bickering like children!"
The Fentons looked abashed at having to be scolded.
A moment passes as the courtroom settles down. The judge looks up from his papers getting ready to sign a document before asking for Vlad to step forward.
The billionaire strode forward confidently towards the front of the room his posture echoing nothing but confidence.
"Mr. Masters are you willing to take these two into your care?" Judge Baxter asked Vlad.
Vlad replied with a calm tone, with only a hint of victory in his voice, "Yes your honor I have even prepared to have items from my estate transferred to my new accommodations here."
"Good good." The judge turned to the children "By order of this court the Two Fenton children are entrusted into the care of one Vlad Masters. As Vlad was appointed by the accused they will be checked on regularly by the state until such a time it is deemed they are safe." The Judge banged his gavel and signed a few forms. Then he spoke again.
"As for the Fenton adults The two of you are being charged with a class 3 felony under the Colorado state law. You recklessly endangered the lives of your children on multiple occasions and attempted to wave them off as excuses for science. This most recent time causing serious bodily injury. The two of you will be stripped of your rights as parents and sentenced to 16 years in prison at the state penitentiary with opportunity for parole after 5 years. You both will be charged 600,000 dollars to be placed into two separate accounts for the care of both Jasmine and Daniel Fenton that they may have access to after their 21st birthdays. Any accrued medical costs For Daniel's care will be paid from your estate. Case closed." The Judge banged his gavel as the defense lawyers attempted to calm down the distraught couple.
-DP-
"There you have it folks after months following this story the verdict is in. Jack and Madeline Fenton have both been charged with with Child abuse and sentenced to 16 years. The children have been put into the care of Vlad Masters Wisconsin's most Eligible Bachelor and Billionaire." An Asian woman said from in front of the court house. Various other reporters were giving their own story and she traveled in from Milwaukee to give this story. "Vlad Masters has also stated he will be moving here to Amity Park to care for the two children Jasmine and Daniel Fenton. Daniel age 14 was in a large electrical accident from one of his parents crazy 'Ghost' experiments." the woman paused, holding a hand to her ear "Yes John we have been declined an interview with the children due to their age but the parents have vehemently denied abuse claims calling this a Gross miscarriage of justice. This is Harriet Chin signing off."
Vlad Masters shut off the television and turned to look over at the two children. Jasmine had been fussing over her brother and checked up on him every few minutes if he so much as made a noise. Not that he very much blamed the girl her parents very well did kill the boy multiple times if the hospital records were anything to go by. At least when Fentons experiment exploded in his face he got the benefit of ghost powers. The poor Badger on the other hand seemed to just be suffering.
"Alright you two little rapscallions off to bed we have a long day tomorrow." Vlad smiled at the two only to get a concerned look from Jasmine.
"But what about Danny? He needs to be watched."
"Jazz don't talk about me like I'm not here." Danny said glaring at his sister pointing at her only for his arm to go dead on him. Danny could faintly see his finger still pointing at his sister while his arm had fallen like a limp noodle into his lap. Danny quickly put the ghost of his arm back in his body not noticing Vlad Masters raised brow of interest.
"He has a point Jasmine. He just needs a little extra care he's not made of porcelain. Alright Daniel we will be moving upstairs slowly I'll help hold you and the tank and your sister will be your support and guide up the stairs." Vlad helped Danny stand watching with interest the ghostly shade that kept slipping out of the body on occasion.
Vlad was very relaxed as he held Danny's left arm and they took slow careful steps. Danny was sweating and exhausted 15 minutes later when they made it to the top of the stairs. Jasmine fussed over her brother some more when they got him tucked in and she looked scared to even leave the room.
"Jasmine it is alright to leave him alone." Vlad stated as he watched Daniel become more and more irritated with his sisters fussing.
"Please!" Danny glared as he pushed away her hand "I want this nightmare to end already. Just leave me alone Jazz." Danny growled and he closed his eyes.
Jazz looked hesitant as she backed out of the room with a hurt expression. Jazz left to go to her room but Vlad could see how stressed the young girl was as she left to go to her room.
"You musn't be too hard on her little Badger." Vlad said stepping into the teens room taking in the NASA memorabilia and the various displays of teenage rebellion around the room.
"Oh why not?" Danny huffed as he adjusted himself and his oxygen tube.
"Daniel she worries about you. We both do. Jasmine is just feeling a little lost right now. She thinks she needs to grow up faster and take care of you. She also worries if she leaves that you won't still be here when she gets back." Vlad commented as he started to pick up the boys room a bit his OCD kicking in.
"She's being overbearing." Danny sighed as he closed his eyes trying to ignore his strange new guardian puttering around his room
"Wouldn't you be?" Vlad questioned as he paused in his orbit around the room adjusting items.
"I know why she worries. But things are different now. I'm different. I have to learn how to do things on my own." Danny said as he looked at his hands.
"You don't need to do everything on your own Little badger. Help is always given to those who need only ask." Vlad said as he took a seat next to Danny, "Listen. I'm not sure how much you were listening in the courtroom, but your mother and I go back a long time. In college Maddie and I worked on a project together a last little hurrah before focusing on our real studies, a dimensional portal, your… Father, somehow managed to convince us that with a certain set of equations that it could see into the realm of the dead."
He took a moment to glance at Danny to see if he was paying attention, he was, before looking back up remembering, "I decided to throw the last bit of funding I had at it because Maddie was so convinced it could work, while going over the final preparations your oaf of a father turned the machine on prematurely, the radiation gave me some currently unknown disease and I was bed ridden for months…"
He stood up and placed a hand on Danny's shoulder, "But once I was better I focused back on the things that mattered and became who I am today. A multibillion dollar man, and I promise to help you follow in my footsteps no matter what it takes."
"Hey Vlad?"
"Yes Daniel?"
"For a Fruitloop your alright."
"My pleasure little badger." He replied, letting go of Danny, 'Note to self, look up what a Fruitloop means.'
Vlad stepped out of the room and started to head downstairs. Pausing by Jasmine's room he saw her looking out the window in worry.
"Jasmine you should get some rest."
"I'm worried about Danny. He needs me I have to take care of him especially after mom and da…"
"Jasmine that is now my job. Your job is to get some rest so you do not stress yourself into an early grave."
"Bu-"
"Nah nah nah. No daughter of mine will argue with me. You education is important if your going to take care of your family." He said while leading her to her bed. "Now get some rest. Your new Father will take care of everything."
Something about the way he said that sorta creeped Jasmine out but she shrugged, "I guess you're right. Stressing won't do me any good. Good night… Uncle Vlad?" She trailed off, not sure what to call him.
Even with the light of the room on Vlads grin looked somewhat savage, "Give it time my dear, no need to rush, you and Danny will be living here for a long time." He stepped out of the room and flicked off the lights.
Jasmine could swear his eyes were glowing red when the door shut behind him.
-DP-
The swirling green of the portal contrasted with the glowing red of the grey cloaked figure who stood before it.
"Well well well... Jack looks like you succeeded again in opening another portal."
The figure removed his white and red cape and placed it onto the control station. Looking at the machine he inspected it to see where the damn thing went wrong.
"Well this certainly will be a problem." he stated as he watched the machine pulse and a green form started to exit the portal. It was a smokey ecto slime that slowly started to shape into a tentacled creature.
The grey cloaked man raised his hand and a pink light surrounded it before he obliterated the green specter from existence. Turning his red eyes to inspect the room he looked around for anything to turn it off but could not find an off switch. Seeing several wires plugged directly into the wall he started pulling them out till the portal shut down
"Of course the Fool will create a machine and not have an off switch for it." He cursed as he saw the green from the portal dissipate. Getting close to the machine what he saw made him grit his teeth.
"Who in the-" A growl escaped his lips, after gritting his teeth he continued, " Who puts their ON-OFF switch inside the damn machine! It's a wonder the buffoon has two brain cells to rub together." he growled. Stepping away from the machine a bright light encases the man and Vlad Masters stood in his place.
"I'm going to need to modify several machines here and bring the entire lab up to code. Several items will just have to go…" In a far corner he could see several blueprints for various types of Ghost Hunting equipment that he may just take the time to make after he finished modifying the lab to personal preference.
Vlad pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. After 3 hours of examining every piece of machinery and analyzing readings on experiments he deemed looked safe to run he felt immensely frustrated. "It is a wonder this entire building has not exploded or is not radiated with every safety measure being bypassed." he ground his teeth looking at some of the experiments that seemed to be held together with Gum, Glue, Tape, and Prayer.
"Some of these items I should just throw directly into the Ghost zone and have the mad scientist run amok on there is no way to safely dismantle it without ghostly assistance." He gripped as he tapped a pressure gauge seeing the needle flirt with the warning line. "Well there is not helping Jacks obvious incompetence. I'm just going to have to cut the power to the lab and then anything that may explode I will need to phase out of existence and destroy far from here."
Vlad pulled out a photo from his suit pocket and let his fingers caress the photo, "Oh Madeline what were you thinking when you were marrying the bumbling circus monkey. We could have been great. A fantastic marriage, genius children, riches and successful business. Now look at you rotting away in a state penitentiary for neglect and abuse. Where has he lead you astray?" he bemoaned before kissing the picture then putting it away.
"Don't you worry Madeline, I will take care of your children. Once they are happy and healthy I promise I will get you out of prison and get you the best care money can buy. After all.. We belong together and Vlad Masters always gets what he wants. One way…" A bright light flashed from his body and a greenish glow replaced the human with an otherworldly creature with dark hair fangs and the darkest of red eyes. "or another."
AN: Responding time:
Fanfiction: (Mark the Mark)
The Re-reader: Thanks for the second review man. While we haven't seen that movie we will have to look into it.
Everyone else: REVIEW DAMNIT!~
AO3 Reviews:(Artemis_HNR)
FangirlTTG2003: Thank you for your post we are so happy to have your review. Yes we will keep updating and hope you keep returning. My brother and I are hard at work.
Moonwings: Was this what you expected? While we are not bashing the Fentons we are trying to keep this as realistic as possible.
ProwlSIC: .Hmmmmmmm. Does the Skeksis approve?
Patchykins: Yes you got called out! We are so happy for our reviewers and want to make you all feel special. So about the smell…. So this part took a little bit to research but after going through a few firefighter blogs and some blogs of people who have seen/smelled the victims of electrical incidents here is what we have come across. Burning muscle tissue gives off an aroma similar to beef in a frying pan, and body fat smells like a side of fatty pork on the grill. But you probably won't mistake the scent of human at barbecue because of the uniqueness of the human body and diet. Burning skin has a charcoal like smell, while setting hair on fire produces a sulfurous odor. All the iron-rich blood still inside a body can give the smell a coppery, metallic part and cerebrospinal liquid reeks in a musky, sweet aroma. Now toss in an acrid touch of melted and burned plastic and you're pretty close to what a burnt body smells like. Danny is also dressed in a hazmat suit which is made at Splash Grade which is not meant to handle too much stress. It did provide a lot of protection but it was still permeable and could melt.