Time Fixers: Nicktoons of the Future

Episode 9: Dum Luv

Plot: It would seem the impossible has happened: Francesca Baxter reciprocates Darry's feelings and goes on a date with him. While the two become a happy couple, Darry starts spending less and less time with the Nicktoons, even neglecting to go on missions and sparking a jealousy in Kida. Meanwhile, since the two teens are now dating, Francesca's parents want to bond with Darry's parents, much to the latter's dismay.

Part 2

The next afternoon, Darry was standing outside of Casper High, waiting for Francesca to get done with her cheerleading practice. "Well, well, well," Darry turns to see his friends approaching, all looking disappointed at him when Tommy continued in a disapproving tone, "You look like you have plans, even though you already promised to meet up with us after school for some training."

Darry chuckled sheepishly, "Sorry guys, but Frankie really wants to see this movie and I promised I'd take her."

SpongeTron then calmly explained, "Darry, we're happy that you're finally dating the girl of your dreams, but now it seems like you're never around when we need you."

"What?" Darry asked in surprise and disbelief, "That's crazy. You know I'm always willing to help out the Nicktoons. Frankie just wants to spend a little more time with me cuz she now sees what a gnarly and heroic guy I really am."

"But Scottie, I…" Maxwell started saying, but hesitated to finish.

However, Darry didn't hear him and assured his friends, "But don't worry, guys. I promise the next time you call for help, I'll come right away. And tonight after my date with Frankie, we can sleep over at SpongeTron's."

Tammy looked at him skeptically, "Do you promise?"

Before he can respond, Francesca called out from afar, "Darry! Come on or we're gonna be late."

"I'm coming!" Darry called out and says to his friends, "See you later." He waves goodbye and walks toward to Francesca. Maxwell sighed and looked solemn as he watched the two teens walk away.

"Even if Darry is happy, how is this gonna look for the Nicktoons if our leader is totally distracted?" Tommy asked.

"Don't worry." Tammy assured. "He promised."

But Maxwell sadly mentioned. "No, he didn't."

SpongeTron then noticed his expression. "You seem more distracted than Darry."

"Yeah," Tommy agreed. "I thought you'd be happy that Darry was off somewhere else."

"I am perfectly gratified- I mean, happy." Maxwell defended.

Tammy had an optimistic smile as she said, "Don't worry. Darry can't spend all week with her. How busy can they both be?"

Later that day, Darry and Francesca were sitting in the movie theater, waiting for the movie to start. Darry put his arm around his girlfriend until he heard his Recaller ring in his pocket. He took it out and Francesca shot him a glare as she pointed to the screen that showed a message to the theater goers, "Please silence your cell phones." Darry nervously grinned and obeyed as he turned off the Recaller.

Unknown to him, the Nicktoons were tied up and hung upside down, slowly lowering into a vat of sizzling hot grease as Plankton watches in sadistic glee.

Later that night, the Nicktoons were lying around SpongeTron's room, looking very bored and irritated as they waited for Darry to arrive for a sleepover like he promised. But as Tommy tried calling him on his cellphone, he still didn't answer and he growled in frustration that their friend once again no-showed.

Meanwhile, Darry was in ghost form flying around through the night sky with Francesca. When they landed on top of a tall skyscraper, Francesca took out her phone and snapped a selfie of her and Darry together.

The next day, Darry and Francesca were walking home from school together until they spotted Technus taking over a nearby computer store. Darry was about to call the rest of the Nicktoons team for help until Francesca pushed his Recaller down and shook her head. Darry was confused at first until Francesca smiled at him, hinting that she believes he could handle it fine on his own. Darry smiled in understanding and signaled her to wait before turning into ghost form and flying off to fight Technus, and Francesca watched him longingly.

Tommy, Tammy, SpongeTron, and Max got back from the mall when SpongeTron glances at a TV store where every television shows Darry Phantom fighting Technus. He and the three kids watch as Darry fights a villain without their help and the bystanders cheer in applause.

The night after, Darry and Francesca were on a date at the pier and Darry was in front of a booth where he threw a baseball at the stack of milk bottles, knocking them all down. Francesca smiled as Darry wins her a large teddy bear.

Out in the parking lot was a hovercar with Danny Fenton, waiting to pick up the kids. He was not alone however; Dash Baxter was next to him in the passenger seat, laughing as he showed Danny a picture on his phone of Darry and Francesca on a roller coaster that was sent to him by his daughter. Danny said nothing and rolled his eyes.

The day after, Tammy knocks on the front door of Fenton Works and Danny opens it to see her and the Nicktoons asking for Darry. Danny turns to the living room where Darry and Francesca are cuddling together and reading magazines. Danny looks at Tammy and shakes his head, signaling that Darry is busy at the moment. SpongeTron looks sad while Tommy and Maxwell both look angry.

After Danny closes the door, Darry looks over and asks, "Who was that?"

"No one, mi amore." Francesca answered sweetly as she turns his head back towards her.

Danny walks back to the kitchen and he notices Sam making herbal tea. "Well, it's been about two weeks since Darry and Francesca became a couple. How does that make you feel?"

"Well, I am making soothing herbal tea to keep me relaxed before the time comes when we have to see her parents again." Sam answered, clearly not at ease.

"It is nice to know that Darry was able to forgive us for ruining the dinner party," Danny mentioned in relief.

Suddenly, Danny's phone vibrated and he looked at it with a groan. "Great...another text message from Dash." he said in displeasure.

"Why is Dash texting you?" Sam asked curiously.

"He says that if our kids are gonna date, we might as well have 'bonding time'," Danny explained, using air quotes, "Dash wants me to join him in a football game for some 'bro' time."

"And you're okay with this?"

"It can't be that bad. If my dad and Vlad can turn from enemies to best friends, maybe it can be the same for Dash and me," Danny admitted.

"Whatever. As long as I don't have to hang with Mrs. Baxter and you didn't give them my contact, I should be just fine," Sam said, sipping her tea.

Danny's eyes widen and he chuckled sheepishly, "Yeeeah... about that..."

Suddenly, Sam's cellphone rings and she answers, "Sam Fenton speaking..." she continued to sip her tea until she choked, hearing the familiar voice on her phone, "Paulina?!"

"Sam, hi!" Paullina answered in the car with Dash driving. "I'm with Dash, driving to your place so he and Danny can have some bonding time. That's when I thought...if they're gonna spend time together, why not you and I?"

Sam looked shocked and stammered, "Uh...Gee, that sounds great, but I'm kinda..."

"Great!" Paulina said in excitement. "Be over in 5. Bye."

Afterwards, Sam slammed her phone on the table and glared at Danny. Danny chuckled nervously and offered, "If you want, you can hang out with Dash, and I can hang out with Paulina."

Sam leaned back with her arms crossed and glared. "I don't think so."

Meanwhile, Darry looked at his Recaller and wondered, "You know, I've just realized I haven't heard from my friends lately or gone on Nicktoon missions. I feel kinda bad about bailing on the sleepover I promised we'd have."

Francesca sighed in annoyance. "Why do you have to worry about them so much?"

Darry chuckled and answered, "Well, they are my team and my friends. I wouldn't be who I am today without them."

"Come on, Darry." Francesca replied in a teasing voice. "I know that ain't true."

Darry pondered over this when he recalled, "Well, I did become Darry Phantom before I met them..."

"Exactly," Francesca said, leaning closer and gently wagging a finger at him, "Besides, that's four out of five members present. I'm pretty sure they can handle all those missions without you."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Darry agreed, "Besides, when would they need someone with ghost powers at this moment?"

"Man, I really wish we had someone with ghost powers at this moment..." Tommy complained as he and his teammates are fighting another opponent. It was a small round ghost with sharp claws that was laughing madly as it flew around with Tammy chasing after it. It phased through a wall, causing Tammy to smack in the wall.

It seemed like another lost battle until the wall the ghost disappeared into suddenly glows pink and the ghost is forced back through it. The Nicktoons turn to see it was none other than Kida, who was using magic from her staff to make the ghost vulnerable. Yuki came next as she holds up the Fenton Thermos and sucks the round ghost inside.

"Wow guys," SpongeTron gratefully said, "Thanks for the save."

"It's funny." Yuki said with an amused smile, "We're starting to look like better Nicktoons than you guys."

Tommy sighed in frustration. "We're just short one key member. Your brother is skipping out on us just so he can go make-out with his girlfriend." Hearing this, Kida growled through her teeth and bit on her staff.

"I really hate to break the news, but..." SpongeTron suggested, "We need them to break up."

"On it!" Tammy smiled, "First, we're gonna need a baseball bat, duct tape, rope, and an inflatable-"

"OOORR...we could just let them be and stick to our four-member team," Maxwell retorted and quickly asked, "Okay, whoever wants to be the new leader, raise your hand!"

Tommy was about to raise his head until Tammy and SpongeTron glare him down. Tammy marched over to Maxwell and sternly asked, "Okay, what's going on, Max?"

Maxwell huffed, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I mean, ever since Darry started dating that girl, you've been acting strange," Tammy stated, "And it's nothing like Kida's jealous rage over there..."

Kida huffed and scowled, "At least I didn't laugh when I saw how cute he looked." she then looked at a photo she took from the Fentons and it was of Darry at two-years-old sleeping with a stuffed grey owl.

SpongeTron then asked Maxwell, "Is there something you're not telling us, Max?"

"Umm..." Maxwell stammered nervously, "It's about Scottie's girlfriend, and what she thinks when she's around Scottie."

Kida smiled in interest, "Ooh, dirt." she grabbed Maxwell's shoulders, "What is it, Max? Tell me, tell me."

They all huddle around Maxwell and he whispers something to them. Afterwards, they all scream in shock, "WHAT?!"

Back at Fenton Works, Sam frowned angrily as she sat next to Paulina on the couch and she excitedly asked, "So what's it like being married to Danny Phantom? He's gotten so handsome, and you get to be married to someone famous like him and raise his kids."

Sam rolled her eyes and sarcastically replied, "Oh yeah...It's really glamorous."

But Paulina cheerfully added, "And to think that one day, we could all be in-laws."

Sam choked on her tea until she responded, "Don't you think it's a bit early to be thinking about that?" she then held her throat, "And a bit hard on my gag reflex?"

"Oh, come on, Sammy," Paulina waved off. "You and Danny were high school sweethearts and ended up together. Dash and I were too and we ended up together as well. Small world, isn't it?"

"Too small." Sam bitterly muttered until she asked, "Did you just call me 'Sammy'?"

Paulina then added, "And just look at both our kids. You can tell they have perfect chemistry together."

Sam rolled her eyes, and heard the doorbell ring. She stood up and sarcastically said, "Well, not that this conversation isn't interesting, but I better get that."

She went to the front door and opened it. Suddenly, Kida rushed in and grabbed her legs. "Mrs. Fenton, where's Darry?" she asked in panic, "We gotta find him and quick!"

"He's out with Francesca...as usual," Sam answered, "What's the problem?"

"It's about her!" Kida yelled out, "She's-" but Yuki jumped in and covered Kida's mouth.

"It's nothing, Mom!" Yuki chuckled, "Kida's just being paranoid as usual."

Kida muffled something angrily as Yuki dragged her away. "Come on, Kida. Let's go help the others." After the girls left, a confused Sam just shut the door.

At the mall, Francesca and Darry were inside one of the stores and Francesca picked up some black eye liner. "You should try wearing some of this in your superhero form, Darry." she suggested.

"Uh, I don't know, Fran," Darry said uncertain, "I don't think make-up is for me."

"Oh, come on, Dar." Francesca insisted. "A little bit of this stuff will make you look dark and mysterious. And everyone digs superheroes with serious brooding attitudes."

"Gee, I'm not really the brooding type and I haven't worn this stuff since the time I got split into a dark brooding Goth."

Francesca smiled and replied, "Don't worry. With my help, you can be the best brooding loner superhero in the world." then she leaned close to him, "And I'll be dating the best brooding loner superhero in the world."

Suddenly, a nightstick was waved between them and they see the SpongeTron that split them apart. "I'm sorry, but your human affection is not allowed in this store. I must ask you to leave this store, sir." he began to shove Darry toward the exit.

"Hey, what's the deal?" Darry asked as he was pushed out of the store and Francesca stared, perplexed.

Once Darry was out of the store, he slapped the weapon away. "Will you cut that out?" he demanded. "What SpongeTron-Unit are you anyway?"

The security SpongeTron tapped his watch and a glow appeared, transforming him into SpongeTron-Unit 001, and was joined by Tammy and Tommy. "You guys?!" Darry asked in shock until he became angered, "What are you doing? Can't you see I'm hanging with my girlfriend?"

"That's your problem!" Tammy shouted in anger.

Tommy added, "You're spending so much time with your girlfriend that you've completely forgotten about us!"

"Oh, come on, that's not true." Darry scoffed. "I totally remember you."

SpongeTron became sad as he explained, "All you ever do is spend time with Francesca, and all she's been doing is keeping you from going on missions with us."

"I've still been going on missions. Just...by myself like the brooding loner superhero that I am."

Tommy glared and asked him, "Do you even know what she's thinking?"

"Like maybe there's some ulterior motive as to why she's dating you." Tammy finished.

"What are you talking about?" Darry asked, "I'll have you know that I have been in love with her since junior high and after all these years, we're finally dating."

"Is that what you think this is?" Yuki retorted, "Love?"

"Yeah. I mean Francesca is nothing like the girls I've dated before, mainly cuz they turned me down before I got the chance to know them," Darry admitted, "And all my patience and hard work has paid off. I'm finally with Francesca Baxter and our two weeks...they've been the happiest of my life."

Tommy, Tammy, Yuki, SpongeTron, and Maxwell seemed surprised by Darry's words as they turned to each other, wondering what to say. "What a load of yak!" Kida scoffed, "Wanna know the truth? The truth is Francesca-" but Yuki covers her mouth once again.

"Loves you very much!" Yuki quickly adds. "And if you're happy, we're happy."

"Thank you." Darry replied cheerfully. "Now if you'll excuse me, Darry Fenton must get back to his girlfriend."

After he walked away to reunite with Francesca, Kida uncovered her mouth and glared at Yuki and the rest of the Nicktoons, "What'd you do that for? We were supposed to tell him the truth."

"I know." Tammy replied. "But for some reason, I just couldn't."

"I hate to admit it, but..." Yuki confessed, "This IS the happiest Dar has ever been...ever since he became a Nicktoon agent."

"And we don't wanna tell because..." SpongeTron tried to explain.

"…Because you don't wanna ruin his happiness." Maxwell finished, making the others stare at him. But he quickly retracted his statement, "Of course I have my own reasons for not telling the truth."

"So you're all okay with this?" Kida asked, looking angry by everything. "You're okay with Darry dating that wench and not being part of the team?"

"Darry will be fine." Yuki assured. "I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

Back in the store, Francesca was looking at perfume bottles until Darry rejoins her. "Hey Francesca," he greeted coolly, "Sorry about that."

"Oh, it's okay." Francesca responded. "I was worried for a second that you might have gotten arrested...or were hanging with those weird friends of yours."

Darry assured, "Don't worry. They totally support us."

"Great. You're too good for them anyway."

"Well, they said they were fine with-" but then he realized what she had said, "Wait, what do you mean I'm too good for them?"

"Oh, come on, Darry." Francesca explained as she stood right in front of Darry, "You have ghost powers and you're the son of the legendary Danny Phantom. You're a way better hero than anyone else. Why would you need to be part of a team?"

"Because..." Darry tried to answer, "Because they're my friends. We may be on a team, but we're really great together and we can do twice as much good in the world and more."

"They're KIDS, Darry!" Francesca shouted in annoyance, "Teenagers like us don't hang out with kids. Besides, do you really think a powerful superhero would waste his time fighting on a team made up of freaky little kids?"

"They're not freaky little kids." Darry retorted, "They're Nicktoons. And I happen to be one of them, which I kinda lost sight of. Being Darry Phantom and a Nicktoon is who I am."

But Francesca just frowned angrily and responded, "That's sweet and all, Darry, but if you wanna be my boyfriend, you're gonna have to give up all that Nicktoon stuff. It's me or them." Darry glanced at Francesca when he thought about this. Should he give up the girl of his dreams or his friends?

Meanwhile at Fenton Works, Danny is forced to watch football with Dash Baxter. "Come on, come on..." Dash muttered until a whistle blows on TV and Dash cheers while punching Danny's arm, "YES! Did you see that?"

"No, but I felt that." Danny groaned in annoyance.

"And the best part is...we get to spend this much time together as in-laws!" Dash added, holding Danny in a bear hug.

Danny frowned in dread as he muttered, "Yeah...it's great." but then, he sees the front door open and Darry walks in by himself, looking depressed.

Danny pushes Dash off of him and quickly greets his son, "Darry, you're home! How'd your day go, son?"

"It's over, Dad." Darry answered in a sad voice, lowering his head. "Between me and Francesca." Danny and Dash gasp in shock, and Sam and Paulina emerge from the kitchen after hearing this, but Sam grinned in excitement.

After Darry sulked upstairs, Danny rose from the couch and began moving Dash toward the door. "Well, it was nice while it lasted." he said in a casual voice, "Guess you better get home to your daughter, sorry it didn't work out."

"You too." Sam said to Paulina, "Out now."

Once they gestured Mr. and Mrs. Baxter out the door, Danny and Sam double high-five in joy. "Yes!" they both cheer. Sam added, "We're free, not related to Dash or Paulina in anyway."

"It's great, but what about Darry?" Danny asked. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

"He'll be fine." Sam assured. "Darry's a bright boy. He'll bounce back in no time."

The next day, someone repeatedly knocked on the door of Fenton Works and Yuki answered it to see Kida and the Nicktoons. "We came right away." Kida said, sounding out of breath. "Is it true? Did they really break up?"

"I think so." Yuki replied. "He's been hiding up on the roof all morning. He still hasn't said why they broke up."

Like Yuki said, Darry was on top of the roof (technically the Op-Center) as he stared into the sunset with a glum expression. The door slides open as Yuki peeks out. "Hey big bro, how are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess..." Darry responded, "Are you and the others checking up on me?"

Tommy, Tammy, SpongeTron, Maxwell, and Kida peek from behind Yuki. "How did you know we were here?" Tommy asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I saw you guys down there from up here," Darry answered with a small chuckle.

"We're sorry it didn't work out, Darry," Tammy immediately said, "I can't imagine why she would wanna break up with you."

"Actually, I was the one who broke up with her," Darry admitted.

"What?!" the Nicktoons all reacted in shock at Darry's decision to end things with the girl he's been pining after for years.

"The reason I broke up with her is because I was friends with you guys and she thought hanging out with little kids would ruin my superhero image," Darry explained.

Their eyes widen, realizing that they were the reason Francesca had rejected Darry once again. "Wow, Max." Tommy told the genius in stun, "I guess you were right."

Darry's eyes widen upon hearing this, and he glared at them. "You guys knew?"

"Well, actually, Max knew." SpongeTron explained, causing Maxwell's eyes to widen as he looked away in embarrassment. "He had read Francesca's mind after you two started dating. He just didn't tell us until much later."

Darry turned towards Maxwell, "And you didn't tell me?" he asked in anger.

Kida went to Darry's side and glared at Maxwell, "Yeah! You didn't tell him?"

Tammy rubbed her chin as she realized, "Come to think of it, you never told us why you kept that whole thing to yourself."

"Yeah, I thought you'd get enjoyment out of crushing Darry's soul." Tommy added.

As all eyes were on him, Maxwell's forehead sweats a bit as he struggles to give an explanation, "I-I- yes, I would've, but...but I just couldn't."

Darry was surprised to see that his little tormenter had revealed to have something of a guilty conscience. Maxwell explained further, "Scottie just seemed so...happy now that he finally got the girl that he admires to finally reciprocate his feelings. Then when I heard that she would only keep dating him as long as he leaves the team and stops spending time with us, I...I just couldn't let Scottie lose all his happiness just because of us."

"Aww Maxie! I didn't know you cared about him!" SpongeTron said in adoration, hugging him, much to the psychic's dismay.

"Oh yeah?" Maxwell responded in annoyance as he looked at everyone else. "Why didn't any of you tell him the truth after I told you?"

They all look away and shrug their shoulders, shamefully answering, "The same."

But Kida muttered angrily, "I wanted to tell."

Darry was agape by this. "I don't believe it." he scrunches his face as if about to explode, "This has to be..." then he smiles warmly as his eyes water. "The NICEST thing anyone's ever done for me!" he looks at Maxwell, "Especially coming from you, Max."

"Yeah, don't make a big deal about it." Maxwell groaned, crossing his arms.

"Wait...so you're not mad at us?" Yuki asked. "Or even sad...about the break-up?"

"Actually," Darry answered with a shrug, "After I broke up with Francesca, I feel...okay about it."

"Really?" SpongeTron asked in surprise and concern, "Even though your chances of ever being with Francesca again are zero to none."

Darry responded, "Well, Francesca was great and all...and really hot. But being a Nicktoon and Darry Phantom is who I am and I shouldn't be so concerned right now about finding a girl to date. I have plenty of time for that, but once I meet her, I'll know she's the one for me." But then he whispers to Maxwell, "So do I find the right girl in the future? What's she like? Do I marry her?"

Maxwell just smiles, saying, "What I can tell you is, you'll be able to meet the girl of your dreams one day."

Darry smiled warmly until he asks, "So what's her name?"

"Like I'm gonna tell you," Maxwell laughed as he climbed back inside the Op-Center.

"Oh, come on!" Darry yelled in dismay, "I'm gonna find out eventually, so you might as well tell me now!" he ran after Maxwell, hoping to catch him and get the genius to spoil his future.

"Oh! Oh! Is her name 'Kida'?" Kida asked, "PLEASE tell me it's 'Kida'!" she continued as she tagged along.

As the three ran inside the Op-Center, Maxwell ran past the control area as Darry and Kida chased him downstairs. Once they were gone, Danny turned Sam and himself visible since they were secretly watching the Nicktoons.

"See?" Sam asked, smiling slyly at her husband. "I told you Darry would bounce back."

"I believed you." Danny replied, also smiling. "He is a bright boy after all, and has great friends to help him out."

Sam leaned close to him and suggested, "I have an idea; why don't we go rearrange Darry's baby pictures for next time, just in case."

"That's the best idea you've had all week." Danny agreed as he held Sam's hands and they walked downstairs together.

The End

There's plenty of fish in the sea, and maybe some that will soon be caught. Please leave a review and stick around for the next story, "Nano".