Chapter 12: Celebration

After spending about 20 minutes of flight, Danny soon found the path he needed to return home. His body was about 75 percent healed but he still had some important business to take care of. As soon as he went through, he landed on his feet, groaning as he morphed back to human form.

I so should have gotten a cash prize or something. He thought as he stretched his back.

"DANNY!" The voice of Star was heard shouting in relief.

He saw Star, no longer wearing her suit, running to him in her dress with arms out.

"Star!" Danny said as he was so excited, he ran to her.

The couple quickly embraced tightly and were relieved to finally be reunited with each other.

"I was so worried…" Star said as she hugged him tighter.

That was a mistake, since the ghost boy then winced as he felt pain in his sides.

"Ouch..." He hissed in pain and his girlfriend gasped.

"Oh, are you okay?" Star asked as she let him go, looking concerned he was still holding tightly to where it hurt.

"I'm fine...I'm mostly healed but my muscles are still sore..." He said.

"Really? I knew you had a healing factor but after what happened, I thought for sure that I was gonna have to be your nurse for at least a week. I even already had some ideas for the outfit..." Star said.

"As hot and exciting as the idea of you dressing as a nurse...I'm afraid it won't be necessary this time. Spike and his cronies healed me...well, mostly healed me..." Danny said, smiling despite the pain he felt.

"For real?" Star asked.

"Yeah, for real..." Danny answered as he nodded.

"So...what happened with Spike and his pets? Do we have to worry about any rematch in the near future?..."Star asked.

"No worries, they aren't planning to...not anytime soon at least..."He said, while his lady looked confused.

Meanwhile, in the Ghost Zone

The ghosts who either participated in the match or watched it were currently back in the Ghost Zone. The ones who competed were also looking a little worse for wear right now.

"Ouch..." Johnny hissed as his girlfriend tried to treat his wounds with some rubbing alcohol.

"Oh, hold still, Johnny honey. This will only take a second." Kitty said in a gentle voice as she tried to heal the injuries that he got from fighting Danny.

She placed some more rubbing alcohol on his wounds and Johnny hissed.

"Kitty, easy on the arm, I need it!" Johnny whined.

The other ghost with them was annoyed, crossing her arms.

"Hold still and maybe you'll keep it." Ember snarked.

Kitty ignored that as Johnny sent her a dirty look.

"Who invited you?" He asked.

"She helped me get this stuff. Now hold still." Kitty said as she kept treating his scratches and injuries.

Ember witnessed Johnny once again yelping and hissing and rolled her eyes.

"What a baby..." She said before rolling her eyes and looking away. "He's whining about some scratches and bruises...that's nothing compared to what Baby-Pop got against the champ. I still can't believe that he lost..." Ember grumbled.

"Aww… sad your boyfriend isn't the champ?" Johnny asks mockingly.

The ghostly rocker responds by grabbing his injured arm and twisting it in a painful way, making the biker yell in pain.

"He's not my boyfriend, he's my enemy and if you make that crack again, Kitty will have to reattach that arm." She threatened.

"Right…" Johnny went, tears of pain falling.

Ember sent him a disgusted look and released him, while Kitty sent an annoyed look at her friend before tending to her man again.

Eh, in hindsight, it's probably for the best that he lost. Not only would it make him beating me in my goal even easier, but he'll probably never get a moment's rest from all the challengers who'd either try to steal the belt or other ghost gals cozying up to him for the power. Plus, that stupid thing would look too tacky on him… She thought, thinking that this is for the best.

Meanwhile

Danny walked with Star to her house, as he was too sore to carry her. Along the way, he had told her what happened to him and why he ended up fighting after all.

"Let me get this straight...you got pretty much kidnapped into participating in that tournament, risked nearly missing my Dad's party, had to fight off a bunch of your regular enemies in the ring, me and the others got captured and almost thought we were going to be those zoo rejects slaves for the rest of our lives AND I was forced to sit by and watch you get beaten into nearly being a full ghost in front of the entire town...JUST SO THAT OVERGROWN HAIRBALL COULD STOP BEING BORED?!" She shouted, looking well past upset right now.

"Pretty much..." Danny said.

"Unbelievable!" She went.

"Might wanna lower your volume a bit..." Danny suggested, causing Star to cover her mouth as they were now in her neighborhood.

"So, it's over?" Star asked.

"Looks like it." Danny said as Star smiled.

"Goody, and it looks like we still have time to get to my dad's party." Star said, before she gasped.

"What?" Danny asks.

"I just remembered. The present. You still have it in there, right?" She asks.

"No worries, I got it. Spike and the others gave it back. Turns out even ghosts like that show." He said.

Star let out a breath in relief.

"At least they didn't ruin that..." She said.

Danny and Star soon arrived at her house.

Once there, she unlocked the door, the two stepping inside.

"Star?!" Johnathan called out.

"Dad, I'm home!" She said.

Mr. Strong then came rushing out through the door.

"Oh Star!" He said as he hugged her. "I was getting worried!"

Star hugged back.

"Yeah, Dad. Sorry but..." She paused, unsure what to say.

"No, I told you to stay put. I'm just glad you and Danny were nowhere near all that chaos..."He said, eyes shut as he smiled in relief.

Both Danny and Star shared nervous looks.

"Yeah… nowhere near it…" They said in unison with uncomfortable smiles.

Johnathan let go of his daughter.

"Happy Birthday, Mr. Strong..." Danny said politely, looking his best to hide his sore body.

"Thank you, Danny. I'm just happy you and Star are okay. That sure was one heck of a match..."Johnathan said.

"Try living it..." Danny muttered under his breath.

"Huh?" Johnathan asked, having not fully heard him.

"I said… tried watching it… but most of it I kind of zoned out since I was more interested in getting Star home." Danny lied.

As Johnathan nodded, two of his guests peeked out the door.

"Come on everyone, that crazy match is over...and we're still here. Let's continue with the party..." William suggested.

"After all, it is still your birthday Johnathan, we should enjoy it..." Solene said.

"That's right..." Johnathan said before motioning the two to enter. "Come in…"

Minutes later

Despite the insane boxing match that they all witnessed, the party continued and soon it was time to give presents to the birthday boy.

The first one was from Star.

"Happy Birthday, Dad." Star said gleefully as she handed it to him.

"Oh, thank you..." Johnathan said as he unwrapped it.

Once done, he smiled when he saw that it was a watch he really wanted after his last one broke.

"Knew you wanted it when you saw it. Why else do you think I've been helping with chores lately?" Star asks.

"Aw, thanks Princess. This is just what I needed..."Johnathan said as he hugged her.

"Aw, this is too precious. Smile you two." Georgia said as she took out her camera and took a picture of the happy father and daughter.

The next ones were presents from Johnathan's parents, which arrived by the mail.

Johnathan opened them and saw a homemade jacket, the kind he used to wear when he was younger. He also saw the birthday card, written in his mother's handwriting.

"Hi, Son. We both love you and happy birthday. I had to write this since your father fell asleep after coming home from our last trip. Love, Mom..." Johnathan said.

"Nana and Pop-Pop really cared when they sent it..." Star said with a giggle.

"They sure do." Johnathan said with a small smile.

The next one was from Solene, who handed it to him herself.

"Happy Birthday, Darling..." She said as she presented the gift to her boyfriend.

It was a vintage vinyl record of Billington's Island music, and clearly pricey looking too. The sight of it made him smile.

"Thanks Solene, I love it..." Johnathan said as she and his girlfriend shared a quick kiss.

Star tried to look away.

Still gross, but at least he's happy… She thought as her father continued to open his presents.

"I love it, thanks hon..."Johnathan said.

"Don't mention it..." Solene said before leaning to his ear. "This is just part one...your other gift will come later.

"What kind?" He asked.

"You'll see..." She whispered in a flirty way, quiet enough that everyone else couldn't hear.

Johnathan's eyes widened as he grinned.

"Best birthday yet..." He said, grinning while his daughter was in the dark.

Soon, it was Danny's turn.

"Happy Birthday, Mr. Strong." Danny said shyly, as he presented the gift to him.

Johnathan began to unwrap it and once he saw what it was, he gasped.

"Is this really what I think it is?" He asked.

"Yes it is..." Danny said sheepishly as the man saw the gift.

It was a Billington's Island commemorative lunchbox.

"It looks just like the one I had when I was younger…" Jonathan said.

"Yeah, I know how much you love the show and the guy at the store said that it's a collectible..." Danny said.

Johnathan smiled.

"Thank you, Danny. This will go great in my collection. I've actually been looking for this one for a long time..." He said in a grateful tone as he pat on the back.

The ghost boy forced a smile, trying to hide the pain as the man didn't realize that he hit a sore spot.

Still hurting… He thought, hating that he isn't 100% healed yet.

Mr. Strong, however, was oblivious and happy right now.

"Alright, everyone, time for cake and ice cream..." Georgia said as everyone else seemed to agree.

"Thank you, Georgia." Johnathan said, looking happy as he admired his gifts.

Meanwhile

The rest of Team Phantom, after being caught by their parents, ended up with the most predictable of punishments for teenagers. They were grounded.

Sam, who was now in her room, was using the computer to contact the others.

"Hello?" Jazz answered.

"You too?" Sam asks.

"Definitely. I told you we shouldn't have tried stealing the belt." Jazz stated.

"This stinks! I got grounded forever and even worse, my parents are making me wear dresses..." Sam said, though she was exaggerating the length of time.

Jazz, who was also in her room, seemed nonchalant about it.

"Two weeks for me, but I decided to use this time constructively by doing some cardio and maybe even taking digital art as a hobby to-"

"2 WEEKS?! Why did you get off easier than I did?!" Sam yelled at her, finding it unfair.

"By virtue of not being consistently unruly." Jazz snarked under her breath.

"I heard that!" Sam snapped.

"Hello...can you guys...hear me?" Tucker's voice was heard but came out staticky.

"Tucker?" Jazz asked.

"Tuck?" Sam asked.

After a few seconds, Tucker's face appeared onscreen.

"This reeks! Not only is my mom taking away my Wi-Fi privileges and restricting me to a 2 hours a day period for a week, she's also making me eat...ugh...vegetables and other healthy junk as punishment..." He whined.

"Uh...your mom sounds like she's doing you a favor in the last one..."Jazz said.

"Yeah, you can't just live off meat and sugars. Gotta agree with the parents on this one…" Sam said.

"Hypocrite..." Tucker grumbled in a whining tone.

"I heard that!" Sam snapped.

Back in Amity Park

Johnathan's party continued and while everyone else was having fun, two decided to take a break.

Danny and Star, wanting some privacy, stepped out as her father kept dancing with Solene.

They were now alone in Star's room and unlike what most teenagers would do in this situation, the two just sighed in exhaustion.

"What a day..." Danny said, feeling pooped and still sore.

"You said it..." Star said, exhausted.

"Really? You got into a boxing match with a monster 3 times your size and knocked you out with the air pressure of his swing alone?" Danny asks.

"... okay, fair point. But I know how to help you feel better." Star said.

Before Danny could react, the blonde girl placed a kiss on his lips, catching him off guard for a second.

Once she pulled away, this is what he said.

"Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?" Danny asked.

"Two reasons. One, I wanted to. And two, I haven't forgotten what Ember did...so I'm cleaning your lips of any of her germs until you're all clean..." Star said, before she went back to kissing him on the lips, repeatedly.

Danny blinked, but chucked.

"How long until you think I'm "clean" enough?" He asked in a teasing matter.

"Don't know, but you are nowhere near there yet." Star said before she went back to what she was doing.

Danny grinned as they continued to kiss, loving this.

Got roped into a crazy boxing match and got the tar beaten out of me in front of everyone..Whatevs, worth it just to be with her like this… He thought as they continued to kiss and finally unwind.

New chapter with thanks to Flower princess11.

Jebest4781: Thanks.

CZ24: Gotcha.

Invader Johnny: At lest Jazz takes it in stride.

danifan3000: Not as food crazy or forgetful though.

RonaldM40196867: He is. Maybe. Yup. Ask FP11. Ask her. Dunno.

Luiz4200: Yup.

JFD Legacier Morphicon: She already is doing that.

Leonardo: That would require revealing his secret, which is a no-no.

saberwolf335: Sorry, but this was planned from the start that Danny wouldn't win and that Spike Bison wasn't a bad guy.