Oh my goodness, almost thirty chapters! I really never expected it to get this long, I'm so excited. I promise the action will start next chapter! Also, as requested by ShinyMudkipGal something awesome will happen in this chapter. See if you can figure out what said awesome thing is.

Echgrl: Thanks so much!

Sophia the daughter of Nyx: Thanks!

LooneyAces: Whoo, yeah Danny!

Potterheads2016: It will be interesting, that's for sure. There's not need to apologize for a short review, the point is that you took the time to review :)

GirlFish: Very, very bad. I hope that doesn't happen ;P

Princessbinas: Oh, yeah. They aren't the brightest parodies

Phantomfanforever: Thanks!

Nuadize: Thanks again for the corrections

ShinyMudkipGal: Yay for yays!

Mimi1012: The action will start soon, I promise! If he does, not necessarily on purpose

Op Kazuma: They are going to be a lot of trouble, that is guaranteed

Readingandstuff: I only work three days a week (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and this term, while I'm technically a full time student, I only actually have three classes, so I do have a bit of time. I'm also procrastinating. A lot (and I stay up until three in the morning)

Reptil: It was my favourite thing to read on his character page, how he is actually an excellent tactician and on the spot plan maker, as well as a quick learner. So Danny isn't actually canonically stupid, he's just not very school oriented :P

Randomphandom: Thanks, and in terms of the GIW the way I see it, if there are good ghost, there can technically be good ghost hunters too. Just a little blinded from only know one side.

Glraxay starfire Katniss bluer: I'm afraid I don't understand what you're suggesting

AnimeLoverForever03: Oh, they most definitely will

Nesy: I will bring in more about it, but it comes up later. Danny does know that it's there, but it doesn't truly play an important part until the final fight

So I just realized I haven't done this in a while, and I know I'm gonna keep forgetting, so this applies to all past and future chapters. I do not own Danny Phantom! (If I did, it would not be suitable for younger audiences)

Enjoy!


Ember's flaming hair trailed behind her as she flew through the Ghost Zone. She and Dora had contacted every possible ally they could think of, anyone that wouldn't be working with Kraeva. Poindexter, Youngblood, Klemper, Amorpho, Box Ghost, Wulf, Ghost Writer, Lunch Lady, Cujo, Dairy King, Johnny 13, Kitty, and Danny's less successful clones. Most of them had agreed to help, although the Ghost Writer preferred not to get caught in the middle of things. Danny's other clones were also on the fence, having been genetically altered to bear allegiance to Vlad, but also not wanting Kraeva to take over. Everyone that had agreed would be gathered around the Fenton Portal by now, awaiting Danny's instructions. Ember, however, wanted to get one of her more powerful guitars, which meant returning to Skulker's Island. She was also hoping to be able to convince her boyfriend to fight against Kraeva.

"Why won't you by my friend?"

Ember clenched her fists and groaned. Dora had insisted that she not go alone to the island, in case a ghost working for Kraeva attacked her. Klemper had been very quick to volunteer.

"Maybe Skulker will be your friend," Ember ground out, hoping that the over-bearing ghost would bombard her idiot boyfriend with his obsession if they faced each other. As they neared the island, Ember shushed Klemper's gleeful shouts that had started up when she suggested Skulker would be his friend. It would rather well, when she told Klemper that the hunter wouldn't be his friend if he was too loud.

It shut him right up.

Ember made a note to inform Danny of the sweet method or reprieve. Or not, if she felt like annoying the halfa.

They flew over to the large cabin that served as Skulker's home and entered it with caution, Ember instructing Klemper on how to avoid the traps that had been laid to prevent unwanted visitors. She almost, almost, didn't tell him where not to step, but for the upcoming fight they would need all of their allies, so she didn't risk either injuring or enraging the annoying ghost.

Ember had just retrieved her guitar when she heard the loud blast of Skulker's jetpack.

"Klemper, hide!" Ember hissed, just now realizing how adversely Skulker would react if he saw the other ghost. Never mind the fact that it would make it much harder for her to convince him to fight with them.

"But he's going to be my friend!" Klemper grinned and clapped his hands together.

"He'll be your friend after, and only if you hide, now!" Ember shoved Klemper towards the closet, and once the door closed she added "and only come out when I say you can."

She threw the strap of her guitar over her shoulder and stood in the middle of the room, waiting for Skulker.

"Who dares to think they can enter the home of the greatest hunter of the Ghost Zone without detection?" Skulker declared as he kicked the door in, rockets popping up from his shoulder. He stopped when he saw Ember.

"Oh. Where have you been?" Skulker asked, weapons retracting.

Ember scoffed, she didn't even get a hello. She crossed her arms and glared at her boyfriend. "I could ask you the same thing."

"I have devised a plan that has assured the ghost boy's pelt soon adorning my walls!" Skulker grinned, gesturing grandly to an empty space above the fireplace.

"Is that all you ever think about?!" Ember shouted.

"What?" Skulker blinked, stepping back. They had fought about the ghost boy before, but never had Ember displayed that much vehemence.

"First of all, having a human pelt on the wall is disgusting, and Danny isn't exactly one of a kind if you think about it! There are two more halfas, so there's no point even going after him!" Ember had, admittedly, forgotten her earlier goal now that her rage against Skulker was building.

"He is the only thing to have evaded my capture, I must have my prize!" Skulker declared.

"So you're siding with the most evil ghost of all time?"

"It is a means to an end," Skulker confirmed.

"He wants to enslave everyone. It was sort of a bad thing when Pariah wanted to do it, it's still a bad thing now!" Ember was getting increasingly frustrated with how absolutely dense her boyfriend was.

"The ghosts will be free to roam the human world, and then I will finally be able to capture and kill the ghost boy."

Ember snapped, she strode forwards, bringing her arm back, and slapped Skulker across the face with a resounding clang. His head, being part of a suit, comically spun around at the force of the impact. Skulker quickly brought up his hands to still the motion, the real him inside the helmet getting dizzy, and he stared down at his girlfriend in disbelief.

"The dipstick is my friend, and there's no way I'm going to let you kill him, or let Kraeva rule the world! If you really love me, you won't kill Danny, and you won't fight for Kraeva, because if you do, then I will personally suck you into the Fenton Thermos and throw you into the banished lands, formal sentence or not!" Ember's hair flared out behind her as she shouted, and all Skulker could think to do was blink at her in disbelief. Before he could say anything else, try to defend himself or his precious Kraeva, Ember spun around.

"Klemper, Skulker doesn't want to be your friend, we're leaving!"

A disappointed groan sounded from the closet, and the overly friendly ghost emerged, looking sadly at Skulker. He followed Ember out of the cabin, and away from the island towards their congregation of allies, leaving the Ghost Zone's most dense ghost hunter alone.


The two days of training passed by quickly, and with minimal incidents. A few people couldn't properly handle their weapons at first, so there were a few minor burns and bruises to go around, but nothing serious. Kraeva also made no moves to action, which made Danny believe he somehow knew about the deal with the GIW, and wanted Danny to train his army, so that he could have a little more of a challenge when the fighting commenced.

But they would give more than a challenge, they would give Kraeva total defeat.

While two days was in no adequate time to make everyone expert fighters, a few quick learners had picked up the self-defence easily, and the others could at least manage their weapons. Danny had also finished devising his plan and was relaying it to Operative O for confirmation before telling the rest of the Ghostketeers.

"And since you have three tanks and nine operatives, you will be divided into three groups, each one with their own tank and two foot soldiers for support. You're currently on the East side of town, so you would start there and make your way towards the ghost shield, eliminating the wider spread targets at the back of Kraeva's forces. I have a basic plan for how things will proceed from there, but it will all depend on how Kraeva's army moves, so it's subject to change."

"… This is actually a very good plan. Are you prepared to start the first stages?"

"Yes. All I need to do is inform the Ghostketeers of the plan, and organize the citizens."

"You have three hours."

"We'll be ready in one." Danny grinned as he shut off the Fenton Phone in his right ear. He had, rather selfishly, commandeered Ishiyama's office for the call, giving her some rubbish story that it had the best reception for the Fenton Phones. In reality, Danny just liked the big plush chair she had. Reluctantly, he climbed out of the chair and made his way out into the hall. Only the citizens that were a part of the Amity Park forces remained in the school. Everyone else had been urged to find a place to stay in the nearby homes and apartment buildings. A few had, of course, chosen to stay with their family members that were training to fight.

As he was walking through the halls, Danny said hello to a few of the people milling about, and turned on the Fenton Phone in his other ear.

"The GIW have agreed with the plan, so I guess I can tell you guys now. See you in the classroom," Danny spoke quickly. He heard a chorus of "okay's" and "sure's" as the Ghostketeers answered. At the end of the first day of training, Danny had insisted every Ghostketeer put on a Fenton Phone, all set to the same frequency as his and Sam's. It really did make things a lot easier.

When Danny arrived in his normal English classroom, he found that he wasn't the first one there. Morgan, Erin, and Hayden were sitting on the floor at the front of the room.

"Hey, Fenton," Morgan said absently. She appeared to be showing Erin and Hayden some kind of card game.

"Hey, guys," Danny returned her greeting, trying to recognize what game the cards were from. He couldn't tell. They looked to be hand-made, with a different, detailed dragon painted onto each one, while the backs of the cards shared the same intricate design.

"That's not right, it's a game of chance, and strategy," Morgan urged, passing Erin a cluster of five cards.

"I still don't get it, and I've never heard of this game before," Erin shook her head and shoved the cards back at Morgan.

"Of course you haven't, I made it up!" Morgan accepted the cards back, not offended in the slightest, and gingerly returned them to her backpack. "So Fenton, you gonna tell us your secret yet?"

"Maybe," Danny said truthfully, surprising the blue-haired geek.

"Really? Not, like, 'maybe you guys will get to keep your ecto-guns'?" Morgan asked, and Danny grinned. The first day after weapons training, Morgan had insisted she be allowed to keep her blaster. Maddie had said maybe. She should have just snuck hers out like Sam did.

"Maybe, like, 'maybe we'll win this fight today'."

"I don't know if that's any better," Morgan scowled.

"Wow, she's more pessimistic then you are."

Danny turned to see Sam standing in the doorway of the classroom.

"I'm not pessimistic," Danny protested.

"You didn't used to be, but you sort of are now," Sam shrugged and fully entered the room, Tucker and Danielle trialing behind her. Danny grumbled and crossed his arms, gruffly insisting that he was not a pessimist, while everyone else entered the room.

"So, Danny-boy, what's the plan?" Jack asked, smiling at his son, once everyone was gathered.

"Okay, so we have 283 people ourselves in the Amity Park forces, which I've divided into nine teams. Mom, Dad, Jazz, and Sam, you guys will be leading the four main teams, which I have divided into smaller squads and selected leaders for, but there are over sixty-people in each main team, seventy in your case, Mom. Valerie, Jason, and Dash, you guys will be leader smaller teams of five, that will use guerilla tactics on the outer edges of Kraeva's forces. I'll explain a little more on that later. Tucker, you're in charge of intelligence, meaning you'll mainly remain behind the shield, and monitor everything from above. Don't worry, I'll tell you exactly how you'll be doing that later. Kwan and Erin, you're with Maddie, and Star, you're with Jazz. I know neither of you will like this, but Paulina, you'll be on Sam's team. Morgan, you'll be with Jack. Lancer and Hayden are with Tucker. Oh! I almost forget to tell you guys, if help is really needed on the field, you guys doing intelligence will be called out, but that's only if we absolutely need it," Danny explained quickly. "We can divide everyone up once we're done here, I have the numbers for how many people will be on each team and everything like that. Everyone with a gun will be accompanied by someone without one, and I've assigned some of you guys with specific weapons."

"What about you and Danielle?" Jason asked, attempting to recall everything Danny had said.

"I'm getting to that. The GIW will be focused on the suppressing Kraeva's forces on the East side of the shield, while the ghosts will be as far as possible from them on the West. The exact details of plan I tell you later. The citizens not participating in the fighting will be confined to three block radius around Fenton Works. Dani will be supporting the ghosts, and I'll be wherever I'm needed until Kraeva attacks."

"Why only until Kraeva attacks? I thought Phantom was going to fight him alone?"

"You aren't going to help him, are you Fenton?" It was Morgan's turn to ask.

"Danny, are you sure?" Sam grabbed her boyfriend (she was so happy she could say that now) by the shoulders and faced him head on. "That's kind of a big deal."

"I'm sure. I thought it over a lot, and all the Ghostketeers should know," Danny nodded and gently removed Sam's hands from his shoulders. She gave him a skeptical look, then sighed and nodded as well.

"Okay, so, it's probably better if I show you. Jazz, could you make sure no one looks in? And Tuck, could you close the blinds on the windows?" Once the room was secure, Danny checked that his modified Deflector, ironically dubbed the Specter Protector, was turned up at max power to ensure he wouldn't get completely fried by being inside the ghost shield. Then he braced himself for what he was about to do, never actually having done it front of actual people before. Actual living people, that is.

He reached down and grasped his ghost core, pulling at its power. The twinge of pain that came with it was not lost on him, but Danny ignored it. The white rings spread from his waist, and soon enough Danny Phantom stood in front of them. When the transformation was complete, and intense shock travelled through his body, but nothing near what Danny had expected, or previously experienced. As long as he didn't use his powers, he should be able to maintain several moderately pain free minutes within the shield before the Protector's power would be drained.

"… Whoa," Morgan breathed. She stepped forwards and poked Danny's shoulder, making sure he was real, and suddenly felt self-conscious at the fact that she was wearing Danny Phantom sneakers. She hid on foot behind her leg, making Danny glance down, and he grinned.

"You may have made a card game, but I have cool merchandise," Danny bragged for a moment.

"A-are you d-dead?" Hayden asked.

"Not exactly? I mean, I'm more dead than you are, but I'm still technically alive. Just, a lot closer to death than you are. That's not just because of the ghost fighting either," Danny chuckled. This explanation was getting easier and easier.

"So you can still die?" Erin sought for confirmation.

"Well, yeah," Danny shrugged.

"Aren't you s-scared, f-f-fighting all those ghosts?"

Danny paused a moment, pulling his fingers through his hair as he thought. Watching him, the other four Ghostketeers couldn't fathom how they hadn't noticed the similarities before. Although, they supposed, if it weren't for the commanding attitude Danny had been putting on lately, they probably still wouldn't believe it despite seeing it.

"Yes, and no. It's a little like the whole dead and alive thing. Right now, as Phantom, I'm essentially dead, but I still need to breathe a little bit. When I'm Phantom, I also have to be brave. Not because I'm fighting all the time, but because you watch me fight. I'm the hero, right? I'm supposed be brave, I'm supposed to show you how to be brave, so I do. But I also have to show you that it's okay to be scared. So, when I'm Phantom, I'm mostly brave, but I'm a little afraid. When I'm Fenton I'm a lot more afraid, because I can't protect you guys as well as I know I'm able to. I can't 'go ghost' and ectoblast anyone trying to hurt you. But, I can still be a little brave. I can use my experience fighting and do my best to protect you any other way I can," Danny said thoughtfully, stunning everyone. They had never actually considered how he thought about those things. "But, there's one important thing. It's all for you guys. As Phantom I'm not brave for me, I'm brave for you. As Fenton, I'm afraid for you guys. All because I know it's my job to protect you."

Danny smiled, fully satisfied with his explanation, and turned sparking eyes on the Ghostketeers. His Ghostketeers. The ones he would do anything to protect. After all, they were a part of his family now.


Ember refused to let the dipstick see her so soon after crying, so when he came through the ghost portal to see who they had managed to gather, she stayed at the back of the crowd until the red tinge around eyes faded.

"You actually got a lot of people," Danny's voice was laced with disbelief as he stared around at the crowd. "I know for sure that a lot of you even hate me!"

"Ye may be a mangy bilge rat, but we would rather follow you, than that big meanie!" Youngblood growled, his pirate impression slipping near the end of his sentence.

"And you're completely serious?" Danny deadpanned.

"Of course, kid. We may give you a hard time, and you may give us the same, but you'd definitely be a better king than Kraeva," Johnny 13 agreed, his shadow nodding emphatically along with him.

"Wait, you guys know about that?"

"The entire Ghost Zone does, don'tcha know?" Dairy King smiled down at Danny. "One ruler to another, it's dairy fresh seeing a new king."

"I thought that kings didn't fight, they got people to fight for them?"

"Every honest ruler knows they must fight alongside those they wish to rule, if they wish to be loved," Dora sniffed. She obviously disagreed with some of the Dairy King's personal views.

"So who's all here?"

At Danny's question, Dora listed off the names of many ghosts, some of which Danny was sure he had either never met before, or never had a name to call them. All in all, he was impressed with the list, and unsurprised by a few absent names.

"Is Wulf here?" Danny asked, glancing around.

"Not at the moment. He went to rescue a few allies locked away in Walker's prison," Dora explained.

"Oh, okay. I can't be here too long, so I guess I can't wait until he comes back. Could you make sure tell him the plan?"

"Of course, Sir Phantom. You have my word that Wulf will be informed of the plan," Dora gave Danny a slight bow, which he quickly halted by pulling her into a hug.

"Take this Fenton Phone, Dora. I'll communicate with you through here and tell you when it's time to start. You can also call me for help if need be," Danny dropped the device into Dora' palm. "And please, make sure Dani is safe, and that none of our allies stray over to the East side of the shield. I really don't want to deal with the GIW finding out about you guys."

"Yes, Sir Phantom. We will be waiting for your word."

Danny sighed in relief and went back through the Fenton Portal, thankful that his house was no longer filled to the brim with people. For a few blessed moments of ghostdom, Danny had changed into Phantom while in the Ghost Zone. Now, as he was passing through the portal, he returned to his human form, but not quickly enough that he didn't feel a sharp jolt as he touched down inside his parent's lab.

"Okay, so the humans are organizing, the GIW are good with the plan, and the ghosts will be ready to go once I give the word," Danny counted off his fingers. All that was left now was to get into position, then wait for right moment to give the call to action.


Operative H, despite having heard the young Fenton's plan and silently admitting is was well thought out, refused to listen to the instructions of a 15 year-old boy. It was ridiculous, thinking that a mere teenager could lead a group of hastily trained civilians against an army of malevolent ghosts. He wasn't the only operative that though that, either. Operatives N and K, who he had been subsequently teamed with under Alpha Operative O's instructions, shared his sentiment.

Following the Fenton boy would not prove to be a fruitful plan, so they made one of their own. The true way to take out an army was to get into the thick of things, where the most ghosts would be gathered. So, once the action started, Operatives H, K, and N would take their tank to where they believed it would be most needed.

When everything was over, the Fenton boy would be thanking them for their quick thinking, there was no doubt in H's mind about that.


Hayden Marx was not an extraordinary boy, nor did he do extraordinary things. He didn't consider himself exceptionally smart, keeping average grades all his life and knowing just the most basic of street knowledge. He wasn't especially good at anything, but he didn't really suck at things either. Stuck with a slight stutter since he spoke his first word, that no amount of speech therapy could fix, he became and extremely self-conscious and shy boy. If he had to pick one word to describe himself, it was observant, but he would only say it if pressured by his best friend, Erin. Hayden was, in his mind, mediocre.

Like the vast majority of Amity Park citizens, he held a healthy fear of ghosts, and a mild curiosity that kept a few average questions circling in his mind, but never had the bravery needed to actually ask a ghost those questions. He wasn't outgoing like Erin, strong like Jason, spoken-minded like Morgan, or brave, like Danny. That was another thing he shared with most of Amity Park, he called Danny Phantom their town here. Now, he was among the few that had labeled Danny Fenton as that as well. A secret Hayden was honoured to be a part of.

That was one thing Hayden had always wanted. To be a part of something. Before eighth grade, he had been a quiet boy that stuck to himself, wishing to be part of those circles of friends that made plans to hang out at each other's houses, or go to the Nasty Burger after school. But he never had been. It was that year that Erin had found him. She had her own friends that she hung out with, but for some odd reason, one day she had sat down next to Hayden in class, and had done so ever since. Her friends had abandoned her because of this, but Erin didn't care. That was something Hayden never understood, but he was grateful. Of course, he was still a quiet boy, Erin hadn't changed that, but she had made him a part of something. A friendship, his first one. Besides, she could speak and boast enough for the both of them.

It was Erin that had convinced Hayden to join the Ghostketeers when the Fentons first announced the group from the auditorium stage. Well, she had commanded more so than convinced. As everyone was leaving the auditorium, Erin had strictly told Hayden that he would be doing this with her, whether he liked it or not. Hayden wouldn't admit it, but he had sort of liked it. Erin had, once again, made him a part of something. Not only that, but he was learning to defend himself. Hayden was determined that he would no longer run in fear when ghosts attacked. It hadn't worked, of course, because the moment the wraiths invaded, all he did was run and hide. Erin had too, but Hayden knew that the things she said, expressing how crazy the other Ghostketeers were to go out and fight them, and solely been for his sake. He could see the glimmer of excitement in her eyes, but she pretended to be afraid, so that Hayden wouldn't feel guilty and go out with them even though he didn't want to.

He hated that.

He should have been brave enough to go out there, even if Valerie and the others had come running back when they saw exactly how many wraiths there were. He should have been there with them, instead of hearing about it second-hand. Erin should have, too.

Then, Danny had went and revealed himself to them, and it had made Hayden feel worse. When he believed Phantom was just a ghost, his actions had still been considered brave, but with little risk. But now, Hayden knew otherwise. Phantom wasn't just a ghost, he was a kid too. He was, at least partially, alive. Which meant he could still die, or finish dying. But Danny had still risked himself, every single day, to keep the town safe. He had carried his secret for a year, disregarding his own personal well-being for the sake of others. It was at that moment that Hayden had decided, no matter how scared he was, he would fight with the others. He would go out there, and defend his town.

It was with this mind set, not at all a brave one, but one brimmed with fear, that Hayden approached Dany and awkwardly demanded to be put on a team instead of staying back behind the shield with Tucker and Lancer.

Hayden had decided, he would be brave like Phantom, and scared like Fenton.


So everything is set up, the ghosts are acknowledging Danny's kingliness, but you will be surprised later on by what develops from that.

Of course the GIW don't want to listen to a 15 year old kid, they're adults! Which obviously spells a lot of trouble for Danny and his well thought out plan (it really is well thought out, I made charts, and graphs, and picture examples of Danny's plans, I was super thorough)

Okay, action starts next chapter!

Thoughts on the battle to come?

What do you think will happen?

What do you think of poor little Hayden Marx?

'See' you next time!