Thanks to Coronadofwb, Selyne, Celestial Maiden Sukira, Evil Long Penname Having Individual End, and Cyllwen.
Chapter 8: Challenge
I don't own DP, though I would like to own the Ghost Writer, because he's awesome (and strangely attractive). I don't own Dune, Ghost World, As You Like It, especially Act 2, Scene 3, or Dealing With Dragons.
"As you know since you're here/," the Ghost Writer began, "Skulker's provided these dear/ Little children for use in our quest/ For life. At his behest/ Our hunter friend, being no fool,/ Desires no coin, merely a tool/ For his armoury. And so we begin/ With this fine specimen/ Of a strapping young lad./ Quite a prize to be had." The Ghost Writer pulled the end of the chains that linked the human captives to each other and Kwan was dragged forward, trying to look brave. The argument over who got him began and Lancer started thinking furiously.
Dune! We are going to be auctioned off. That means that my students are going to be scattered all over the tent. Well, at least the auctioneer is a ghost after my own heart, although he seems to insist on rhyming. Doesn't he know there are other types of poems? Right, so Danny is twelfth in line, meaning he has time to come up with a plan too. And I'm thirteenth, an unlucky number, but probably good here. If Danny fails, I'll still have time to enact a plan of my own. Hopefully.
Kwan had been finally sold to the Fright Knight. Next up was Paulina, who was trying to flirt with the more attractive ghosts in the audience. If Danny Phantom wasn't there, she was dead set on getting the next cutest thing. She didn't look all that pleased when she was bought by Kitty, who looked as if she'd always wanted someone to girltalk with.
As the students were slowly being paired off and Skulker was accumulating some pretty nasty looking weapons that Lancer wished he wouldn't have to go up against, Danny was planning like mad too.
Okay, so Vlad's definitely going to buy me, which means that I'll have a hard time getting free. He's smart enough not to release the bonds. Tucker and Sam are both behind Lancer, so unless Lancer and I can free them while we're fighting, they won't be able to help. Lancer's also behind me, but there's a chance that if I stay silent until someone buys him, he'll get his cuffs opened. I'll need Lancer free to go ghost and open up a portal for the escape. That means there'll need to be enough commotion for him to transform. Or some sort of distraction, maybe.
"And now we have a spotty young man/ With bright or- red hair and not much of a tan."
The Ghost Writer pulled geeky Nathan forward, and the only ghost desperate enough to bid was Klemper, the giant blonde ghost who everyone avoided. He sat Nathan down beside him and put a huge arm around him. Then Poindexter bought Mikey and Johnny 13 bought Dash. Then it was Danny's turn.
"Who have we here?" the Ghost Writer asked, "Danny Fenton?/ I say! Now who has the bent and/ Skill to handle the child?/ I needn't mention, he can be wild."
As Danny had predicted, Vlad bought him without even a challenge. It hit home to Lancer just how feared Plasmius was in the Ghost Zone. Every ghost in this tent would have loved to get their hands on Danny this way, but none of them so much as moved when Vlad put the initial bid forward.
Danny shot Lancer a furtive glance and muttered, "I'll wait for you," as Vlad led him off. Lancer watched as Danny allowed himself to be taken to the far side of the tent and stood passively beside a gloating Vlad.
The chain was pulled once more and Lancer was brutally dragged forward onto his knees beside the podium. The ghostly auctioneer didn't look like a bad guy or even a very powerful ghost. Lancer probably had a chance with him.
The English teacher started speaking dramatically. "O, good old man, how well in thee appears/ The constant service of the antique world,/ When service sweat for duty, not for meed!/ Thou art not for the fashion of these times,/ Where none will sweat but for promotion."
The ghost paused and stared at him. "Shakespeare?"
"I am but a humble teacher, good sir, and desire only to instill in youth a love of poetry. Spare me, please, I beg you." Lancer could tell that he'd gotten the ghost's interest and mentally congratulated himself on his acting.
The Ghost Writer looked over at Skulker. "A story I shall write/ Of a glorious fight/ And you will win it/ At the very last minute." He seemed to be bidding for Lancer himself. Skulker thought a moment, then nodded.
The ghostly poet helped Lancer to his feet and released him. Lancer massaged his wrists, trying to get some feeling back into them. He moved over to the side of the tent, looking submissive and worried as he felt he was expected to. He stood there until Tucker had become the centre of attention, then silently slipped outside and muttered, "Ghost World," as quietly as possible. Transformation complete, Lancer flew to the back of the tent, where Vlad was floating with Danny. Peaking through a tear in the tent, he saw commotion on the stage. Someone had already noticed his absence, and his "owner" was somehow managing to look angry and pleased at the same time.
Lancer quickly entered the rear of the tent and grabbed Danny. Vlad caught his movements and spun around, raising a fist to strike Lancer, but Danny hit him in the chest before the fist made contact. Lancer pulled Danny outside the tent and pressed the button on the cuffs that opened them, allowing Danny to go ghost immediately.
The rear flap of the tent was blown open and a wall of rather angry ghosts began approaching them. Danny gritted his teeth and tensed, preparing for what was likely the most challenging fight he'd ever faced.
"I'll handle these guys, Spirit. Go free the class."
"Danny ..."
"I mean it." Danny glared at Lancer with bright green eyes. "I'm still a better fighter than you are."
Lancer gave in and flew over the tent to the flap he'd first exited from. Once inside, he gasped.
Dealing With Dragons! Someone's already freeing people!
A blue woman in a medieval gown was moving down the line of chained students undoing the cuffs. She looked up and noticed him.
"Get the ones down there," she ordered, pointing to the students who had already been bought. Lancer didn't even take the time to nod before jumping off the stage and starting to undo shackles. The teenagers stared at him in amazement. No one had seen Will Spirit up close before. He always kept himself at a distance during public appearances.
Up on the stage, the girl had finally freed Sam, who rubbed her wrists ruefully and looked at her liberator. "Took you long enough, Dora."
Sam turned to the rest of the group in the tent. "Okay, everyone, grab a weapon from that pile and follow me. You," she said, pointing at Mikey and Nathan, "start collecting cuffs. We've got to help Phantom!"
All that remained now was to fight the ghosts, some of whom had turned around and were heading back into the tent after Lancer. The halfa flew in front of them and blew out his ghost breath. Time seemed to slow down for the ghosts before him. Lancer grabbed a handful of cuffs from Nathan and so did Tucker. The two of them ran among the slow-motion ghosts, putting the cuffs on them as they went. Once they were done, Lancer flew out to where the rest of the class was attacking the ghosts attacking Danny. Tucker busied himself with his PDA, and suddenly the ghost Technus found himself attacking ghosts who weren't Danny.
"Sweet!" Tucker punched the air. "Technus still hasn't gotten rid of that virus we gave him last week!"
"All humans duck and cover. Now!" Sam had caught sight of Danny apparently holding his breath. She elbowed Lancer, who was floating beside her. "Get a portal going. Inside."
A ferocious moan started in the center of the ghosts. Lancer managed to make it a few feet for the Wail hit full force and he felt like he was being ripped apart. Many of the ghosts were already unconscious. Lancer ran inside the already heaving tent and tried to summon a portal big enough for the class as ghostly vegetation and various odds and ends whipped by him, throwing off his concentration. Then the Wail died down and stopped, and Lancer was able to generate a small, one-person portal just as his students ran inside. A glance outside told him that they'd cuffed as many ghosts as possible. Including Vlad. Impressive.
"Quick, everyone, through here, one at a time." Lancer gestured urgently for his class to come over to him. They hesitated, not sure whether they could really trust him despite his reputation.
"He's friends with Phantom, remember!" Sam shouted at them. "It's safe!"
"But what if it isn't?" Dash was eyeing the portal with suspicion. Sam grabbed Paulina and pushed her through the swirl green circle.
"See? Safe!"
Then all the ghosts that Lancer had slowed down sped up again, and the rest of the class tried to squeeze through the portal at once. Lancer shot another blast of ghost breath at the advancing monsters, then reverted to human while his class was preoccupied.
The older halfa realized he hadn't seen Danny since the Wail ended. He looked around and saw Tucker half carrying, half dragging a limp Danny towards the portal as fast as he could. Lancer ran over and slung Danny's arm over his shoulder.
"Hurry. We don't have much time. The portal ..." The portal vanished. "... is going to lose stability soon." Lancer strained himself and managed to get another portal going just long enough for the three of them to get through.
They were on the football field of Casper High. The football team (minus Dash and Kwan, of course) were suited up and staring at them. As the coach was running towards them, Lancer collapsed from exhaustion.
---
Lancer woke up later that night in a hospital bed, feeling stiff and sore, but otherwise all right. After an initial moment of panic, he realized that his secret couldn't have been discovered because there was a distinct lack of tubes and people around him. He thought back to the events of the day, trying to establish them in his mind.
He had saved his class, with his own powers. Danny had been in the supporting role. His dream hadn't come true, and it was because of him, William Lancer!
I'm a hero. In my own right. I'm not hanging off Danny's reputation anymore. I'm a hero.
Not that he'd ever minded being a sidekick, of course, but it was nice to have the spotlight every once and a while.
Of course, Lancer continued in his mind, this also means that I'm going be a lot more in the public eye from now on. I'll have to be on my toes more. Especially since I've probably made a lot more enemies in the last twelve hours. He sighed, just as a nurse came by.
"Oh, good, you're awake. I'll tell your class." She smiled brightly. "I envy you, getting to see Spirit up close like that."
"How long have I been out?" Lancer asked, trying to sound curious instead of slightly panicked.
"Four hours," she answered sympathetically. "Whatever happened in the Ghost Zone must have drained you pretty bad." She smiled again and bustled off. Lancer smiled again, propped himself up on the bed, and waited for his students to arrive.
I'm a hero.
The End