Chapter 7: Lancer

Jake and Abby are having breakfast when their Dad brings in the news.

"Jake, the Amity Park News made a survey about Shadow's human self and 64 percent of the surveyed people believe he's you." Danny announces.

"Well, that's what you get for covering his secret." Abby says. "You could get rid of this complication by telling who he is."

"Whenever he wants his secret not to be a secret anymore he'll tell by himself or authorize someone to tell." Jake replies. "And besides, it's not like it would interfere with my life."

"I wouldn't be so sure of this, Jake." Sam replies. "There's a mob of reporters in front of our house asking about you."

"Don't worry, Jake." Danny says. "I have a plan."

Danny goes outside the house and is swarmed by questions.

"Mr. Phantom, is Shadow your son?" A reporter asks.

"Did you know Jake has ghost powers?" Another reporter asks.

"Why doesn't Jake's ghost half look like a Phantom?" A third reporter asks.

"Are you disappointed because your son's ghost half doesn't look like a Phantom?" A fourth reporter asks.

"First of all." Danny finally replies. "I didn't know Shadow is a half-ghost until it became of public knowledege." He waits until the reports write it down. "Second, I have no clue of his human identity. And third, I'm sure that if my son had ghost powers he would have told me even if everybody else thought his alter-ego was evil. I could understand Jake keeping the secret from Abby but not from me."

Unbeknownst to the reporters, Danny was just distracting them while Abby flew away carrying her brother and using her invisibility powers so they wouldn't be noticed. They arrive at Casper High without any trouble. Unfortunately, most of the students are asking Jake about Shadow.

"Jake, are you the Ghost Boy?" A student asks.

"Are you good or evil?" Another one asks.

"Abby, how do you feel knowing the Ghost Boy you've been chasing was your brother all that time?" A student asks the Ghost Girl.

"Twin Peaks." The principal exclaims. "What's going on here?"

"Principal Lancer, some students are tormenting my brother and me because of the rumors that he's Shadow's human half." Abby explains.

Upon hearing this, Principal Lancer takes some measures. "All right, students, let's forget there's a student here besides Miss Fenton rumored to be a half-ghost. You all have classes to attend." With that in mind, the students leave to follow their paths except for one he holds back. "May I have a word with you, Mr. Fenton?" He asks. "In my office?" Jake nods.

I wonder what Principal Lancer wants with him. Abby thinks. While wondering about that, she sees Tori walking by and decides to talk to her. "Tori, you need to tell me Shadow's human identity so I can bring him down and prove everybody that my brother is not him."

"Abby, I won't reveal his secret." Tori says. "He has his right to privacy."

"Tori, don't tell me you forgot how evil he is just because he's a half-ghost." Abby says. "Remember that Plasmius guy is the first half-ghost ever and he's evil."

"Abby, it was for finding out your Aunt Dani is a half-ghost my Mom started having regrets about hunting her." Tori points out.

"Well, at least force him to appear with Jake so everybody will realize they're not one and the same." Abby says.

"That wouldn't be enough." Tori replies. "Plasmius had once utilized his duplication powers to keep his identity a secret so someone will think Shadow is doing it."

"Tori, I didn't want to do this to you but you are not giving me any choice." Abby says and then prepares to overshadow the young Huntress but something goes wrong and she gets a shock.

"I forgot to tell you, Abby, but even retracted, my ghost hunting suit works as a Specter Deflector." Tori triumphantly says. "But adjusted not to work on half-ghosts while on their human forms."

"We'll see about that, Victoria." Abby says, a little angry.

"DON'T CALL ME VICTORIA!" Tori furiously exclaims.

At Principal Lancer's office.

"Mr. Fenton, I'm going straight to the point." Principal Lancer calmly says and then energically adds. "Are you Shadow?"

"What?" Jake asks. "What makes you think that?"

"Mr. Fenton, do you know how hard it was for your Father to get his powers under control?" The principal asks.

"No." Jake lies. He knows because his Mom told him and he decided to end the conversation before she noticed the connection.

"Well, during his first month he was unable to hold beckers without breaking them." Lancer explains. "It happened so often he was barred from handling breakable stuff inside school grounds. Does it sound familiar?"

"Uh, maybe?" Jake sheepishly answers.

"Perhaps this refreshes your memory, Mr. Fenton." Lancer says as he places some papers over his desk. Jake picks them and notices they're his permanent records. "What do you say about that, Mr. Fenton?"

"It's a coincidence." Jake answers. "My mother once told me about that but she never made any insinuations about me because of that."

"Wow, in that case she's still as clueless as both of your parents used to be in their days." Lancer replies.

"Excuse me?" Jake asks, confused.

"Back then all other students were aware of their feelings for each other even if your parents themselves were not." The principal answers. "But that's not the point. You can either admit you're a half-ghost or I can call your parents to talk about that."

"Principal Lancer, I'm not Shadow." Jake lies hoping to convince him. "You can discuss your crazy theories with them if it pleases you but I won't cooperate."

"Well, you made your choice, Mr. Fenton. You may leave now." Principal Lancer says and Jake leaves, unaware that Principal Lancer was using a silent version of the Fenton Finder, ordered for the school by his predecessor, Principal Ishiyama. He then picks a phone.

Once Jake leaves Principal Lancer's office, his sister asks him. "Jake, what did he want?"

"He was concerned about how these rumors were affecting me." He says, not wanting to tell Abby the reasons Lancer pointed out to believe the rumors to be true. "There's no time for that now. I don't want Mr. Taylor waiting."

Agreeing with that, Abby decides not to stretch the conversation any further.

Thanks to all reviewers who gave me ideas for characters to find out before Danny and Abby. Please review.