I've had an absolutely amazing response to the story so far, and especially on the last chapter. Wow. Thanks to everyone who read it, and most importantly to Snickerer, Pieling, ShiroAndFubuki, jalison, Cyllwen, YumeTakato, ghostgirl14027, and Coronadofwb. Everyone else, if you want to see your name up here, review!

Chapter 6: Alliance

I don't own Danny Phantom.

"Good morning, citizens of Amity Park! This is Tiffany Snow for Amity News. Another ghost attack was prevented last night by ghost boy and recently turned hero Danny Phantom and Will Spirit, a new ghost on the scene in Amity Park. The ghost had attacked City Hall and it is believed it was attempting to possess the mayor. Town ghost hunters Jack and Maddie Fenton arrived on the scene just as the battle finished." The camera zoomed in on the still photograph at the top right of the screen.

"Shivering spectres, Maddie, we missed them again." A large man in an orange jumpsuit let his ectogun drop to his side, while his blue-hooded wife turned the camera and smiled.

"Don't worry, people of Amity Park, we will catch the ghost that did this. And Phantom, if you're out there, we want to talk to you."

The screen flickered back to the news anchor. "And now, exclusive footage of the battle and the rescue of our beloved mayor!"

The television cut to an aerial view of the town square. People were standing well back from the city hall, but clearly enjoying the fight taking place overhead.

William Lancer grunted and switched off the set. No point watching any further when he'd been there fighting, after all. He stood up from his recliner and stretched, then winced. He'd forgotten about the gash in his side from when the ghost had thrown a shuriken and he hadn't dodged in time. Ah, well, it was probably time for fresh bandages anyway.

Lancer walked into his bathroom and caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror of the medicine cabinet as he opened it. He was pale and haggard, with dark circles under his eyes. He knew he wasn't getting nearly as much sleep as he should have been. How Danny managed it, he would never know.

It had now been three months since he had gotten his ghost powers and started working with Danny to save their city from being overrun by ghosts. Hardly a day went by when there wasn't an attack to prevent, and he and Danny often fought side-by-side. Of course, Sam and Tucker were usually in the thick of things as well, though he tried not to get them involved more than necessary. Watching Danny lose his social life was bad enough, let alone two other teens...

After the first session with Danny, Sam and Tucker had joined his training sessions and Lancer had improved immensely, especially when he remembered to stop thinking about the limitations his human body would have.

They had discovered several other powers in those sessions. The speeds he could reach while flying paralleled his other paranormal abilities, in that they were far above normal, almost to the extreme. He could possess people, though preferred not to because it made him uncomfortable morally. He had also developed the ability to create portals to the Ghost Zone (and back the human world), and could produce a form of ghost breath that slowed down any being or object it touched for five minutes. That last power had proved useful countless times over the last few months, as he had battled Ember, Technus, Skulker, Walker, Plasmius, the Lunch Lady, the Box Ghost, Desiree, and many others who didn't appear often or seem to have names.

All the fighting, training, and sleepless nights had had positive effects on Lancer too. He was more confident and resourceful, of course, and his ghost half had lost almost all its extra weight. His belly was beginning to diminish in his human self as well, because he'd been getting more exercise and eating less because he kept missing meals to fight ghosts. He was even developing a little muscle tone. Lancer was feeling healthier and happier overall too, even though he was constantly wounded. No, being a halfa really wasn't that bad. It was a life, anyway.

Lancer was grateful to Danny for his support and help, but had felt that simply tutoring the boy in English and history was not enough. As a result, two months ago he had slowly begun working in his position as teacher and vice principal of Casper High to improve Phantom's reputation. Several weeks ago, people had finally begun to understand that Danny was working to protect them rather than harm them. Of course, Spirit had then acquired the reputation of "sidekick," but that was only to be expected.

Since Danny's reputation had become one of "superhero," his parents had stopped hunting him, and were now trying to get near enough to him to apologize and form an alliance. Danny always left before they could talk to him. He was understandably still nervous and shy around them, doubting that they'd be so kind and understanding if they discovered that Phantom was their son. Lancer believed that telling the Fentons wouldn't have any major negative consequences for Danny. Will Spirit, on the other hand, tried to stay out of the way for much the same reasons as Phantom did. Lancer needed his job, and the discovery of his halfa status would prevent him from keeping it, regardless of his reputation.

Lancer stopped his reflections to cut the final piece of adhesive tape holding the gauze to his side. He changed from his pajamas into the clothes he wore to school, and had just begun preparing breakfast when his ghost sense went off.

"Beware! I am the Box Ghost!"

Lancer rolled his eyes and fired an ectoblast over his shoulder straight at where he imagined the ghost to be. It found its mark, and the Box Ghost phased back through the wall the way he had come. Lancer chuckled. The ghost would have an easier time terrorizing him if he didn't always come from the janitor's closet beside Lancer's apartment.

---

"Danny, dear, you're going to be late for school," Maddie Fenton called as she knocked on her son's bedroom door. Her son rolled over and buried his head in his pillow, trying to catch a few more minutes of sleep.

"If you get up now," his mother continued, "Jazz will drive you and you'll make it on time."

Danny groaned. If Jazz wants to drive me, it's probably something important.

"All right, all right," he mumbled as he hauled himself to the edge of the bed. "I'm up."

Danny pulled on his clothes and headed downstairs. He actually had time for breakfast this morning, a rare thing these days even with Lancer helping out. Several minutes later, he was in his sister's car and on his way to school.

"So, what's up?" he asked casually. He'd better find out what Jazz wanted right from the start. Hope she's not in one of her overprotective phases, he thought slightly moodily.

"Well, I just thought we hadn't talked much in the last little while and that we had some catching up to do." Jazz smiled at her brother, looking perkier than normal.

That's always a bad sign. I hate when she thinks that, thought Danny. "No, Jazz, really," he protested. "You wouldn't be driving me to school if you didn't have something important to say to me."

"I'm really proud of you," Jazz said, beaming over at Danny again. "I think it's great that people are finally recognizing you, well, the Phantom you, for what you do. That must be doing wonders for your self-image."

"Yeah, it's really great." Danny tried not to convey emotion. He still wasn't sure where Jazz was going with this.

"How's your friend? Will Spirit, right?"

Bingo, thought Danny. He stared out the passenger window. "He's great. I'll let him know you're concerned." In his head he's started a mantra: No emotion, no emotion. Keep calm.

"He's a halfa too, isn't he?" Jazz asked abruptly. Danny whipped his head around to face her again.

"What?!" Danny shouted while his inner voice muttered, Bad move, Danny.

"Don't act so surprised," Jazz answered smugly. "He's nearly as elusive as you are."

"Nearly?" The voice was panicking now. Does this mean someone's found out? That Jazz has found out?

"Anyone with half a brain could figure out who he really is."

And thank goodness almost no one in Amity Park has half a brain. Danny looked accusingly at his sister, daring her."Really? Who is he then?"

"Mr. Lancer."

"Mr. Lancer." Danny tried to sound doubtful, hoping to throw his sister off the scent. Jazz sighed in exasperation.

"Yes, Mr. Lancer. Danny Fenton starts being 'tutored' by Lancer a couple days after Lancer has an accident near the Portal. A new ghost appears a couple days later and starts fighting alongside Danny Phantom. Lancer keeps running off and Will Spirit is never in the same room as he is, just like Fenton and Phantom. You really expected me not to see the coincidences?" Jazz glanced at Danny. His body language meant she was right. "At least your grades have gone up. He's not suddenly playing favourites, is he? I'd hate to think you were getting better grades out of pity or something."

"You're beginning to sound like Mom," Danny said angrily.

"Sorry. I'll stop." Jazz was well aware how annoying their mother could be at times, not accepting that her children were growing up.

"He actually is tutoring me though," Danny said, to keep his sister from worrying more, "in return for my training him."

"Me training him," Jazz corrected automatically, keeping her eyes on the road.

"Whatever."

They were a couple blocks from school. Jazz pulled over so that Danny wouldn't have the humiliation of being seen with her. She leaned on her steering wheel to face her brother.

"It's been nice chatting, Danny. Don't tell him, okay? Only if he needs to know?" He's got enough to deal with. He won't need me getting involved.

"Okay." Danny opened the door and stepped out. "See you later, Jazz."

"Be careful, please, Danny?" Jazz asked, leaning towards the passenger seat.

"Aren't I always?"

His scanning eyes found Sam and Tucker. He waved and walked over to them. Jazz leaned over further and closed his door for him. She smiled as she pulled away from the curb. Danny probably couldn't have found a much better ally than the fussy teacher. The man had a good heart, even if it didn't always show, and he was brave in his own way. Jazz had had the opportunity to see a few of his fights too, and had to admit that he was quite good for someone of his background.

---

Well, thought Danny, as he crossed the schoolyard to reach his friends, so Jazz knows. At least I know we can trust her not to blab.

Before he could share the information about Jazz with Sam and Tucker, though, the warning bell rang and everyone pelted into the building.