Since a lot of you guys kept mentioning it in the reviews, I've decided to try harder to clean up the paragraphs. I'd like to thank the reviewers for chapter 2: Lovebugsalot, Angelicat2, Mistress Soul, TheBoss3254, and arieasciolla. Thanks for your support! As for the question about them not using a vehicle, I'm going to have there be paths along the emptiness of the Ghost Zone. Kind of like Raven's mind in Nevermore. [Also, I'm using first person POV from here on out]
Disclaimer: Do I look like Butch Hartman to you?!
Danny's POV
My eyes adjusted quickly to the green and purple swirls of the Ghost Zone. Sam, Tucker, and I had been in here countless times. Not that anyone needed to know that. Most people say they have butterflies in their stomach. Well, mine was full of goliath beetles.
"Alright kids, listen up! We are now in the Ghost Zone. In the Ghost Zone, we've got some ground rules that you will not break under any circumstances. First, and most importantly, stay on the path! If you fall off, nothing can save you from the most likely bottomless vortex of this dimension. No one is to speak to any ghosts, and if a ghost is sighted, stand back and let me and Jack handle it." My mom went on and on about rules of the Ghost Zone. Honestly, I tuned it out. I didn't need an explanation of a place I knew like the back of my hand. Heck, I had my map stashed away in my backpack in case of an emergency. I guess it was pretty obvious that I wasn't listening to a word my parents said, because soon enough, I felt Mr. Lancer's firm hand on my shoulder.
"Mr. Fenton! Have you no respect for the lesson?" I could hear Dash and Paulina snickering as my teacher scolded me. I gave my teacher an answer. No, it wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth either.
"No sir, you see, since I live with them and all, I already know the rules of the Ghost Zone." I barely managed to not stutter. I could almost feel the stares of my classmates, and Tucker was snickering lightly. Mr. Lancer raised an eyebrow. I could tell he didn't believe me - well not entirely, anyways, but he let my dad continue the 'speech'.
"Maddie's brought a few ecto-weapons, and we can pass them around later!" Dad went on, but that marked the end of the speech. "Any questions?" He asked. A single hand shot up. "Yes?"
"Will we see the ghost boy on our trip?" Paulina asked sweetly. Figures it was Paulina.
"If we see that ectoplasmic scum, we'll tear him apart molecule by molecule!" Mom butted in. Valerie was grinning slightly to herself, Sam smirked, and Paulina looked as if she'd broken a nail. Which, in Paulinalandia, was about as bad as getting hit by a bus. I wanted to intervene, but I kept my mouth shut. "And if no one else has any questions, we'll be making our way along the path!" Maddie finished.
Sam, Tucker, and I followed my parents, as did the rest of our class. After five or so minutes, I stopped in my tracks. "Did you hear that?" I asked. I was met with murmurs of 'no' and 'hear what?'. Sometimes, the added benefit of enhanced senses was a bit annoying when everyone though you were hearing things. But I wasn't. "Two words: Ectoplasmic blasts." I whispered to Sam and Tucker.
"How far away?" Tucker asked, his turquoise eyes flecked with concern. Even though Tucker was usually happy-go-lucky, when it came to this kind of thing, all three of us got a bit rattled up.
"Well, I'd say about-" I was cut off by Dash.
"Hey, Fen-toenail! Stop whispering and get over here!" It was a whisper shout, a shout quiet enough so only I could hear it. They'd be hearing something else, too, soon enough. I felt the familiar cold in my lungs. The shiver traveled up my back, and escaped with a gasp and a wisp of icy mist. Ghost. Dash noticed. "You cold, Fentina? 'Cause I wanna be the one sending shivers up your spine." Dash grabbed me by my shirt, growling.
"Adventures of Tom Sawyer! Baxter, Manson, Fenton, and Foley!" Stop lagging behind and get over here!" Mr. Lancer yelled. Angrily, Dash put me down, and all four us us ran to the group. But there was still a ghost nearby, I could feel it...but who?
"Beware!" An all-too-familiar voice erupted from nowhere.
"Oh, great." I rolled my eyes. Instinctively, I grabbed my thermos from my backpack.
"I am the Box Ghost, and you will feel my furious cardboard DOOM!" He went on about how he would take over the world with boxes. I'd heard this speech countless times.
"Yeah right, Boxy. Just get in the thermos and spare us from the lecture!" I snuck a punch in, then sucked him into the thermos. That was when I remembered everyone was watching me.
"Danny, where did you learn to fight ghosts? Neither me or your father taught you how to use the thermos." My mom rushed to my side.
"Oh, uhhh..." Crap, think of a lie, think of a lie! "Well, you see, Jazz got all over me about how I wouldn't be prepared for a ghost attack, so I learned how to use the thermos, in case of emergency?" My dad leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"We're having a talk about this later, just so you know." His voice was stern, which was pretty rare for him. I could still see some of the other students looking at me funny.
"Oh come on, it was just the box ghost..." I muttered. Tucker and Sam rushed over to me.
"Look, Danny, I know it was just the box ghost, but you've gotta try to be careful." Sam warned.
"Yeah yeah, it won't happen again..." I trailed off, as I shoved the thermos back into my bag.
"Everyone, first location! Stay wary, a ghost could pop out at any time!" My mother called. I turned around. Please don't let it be too bad, please don't let it be too bad! I turned around, and saw Skulker's island. How lovely.
"Well, this can't get an worse." I tell Sam and Tucker.
"Hey, Dann-o, we're gonna explore the island!" My dad called.
"I stand corrected."