DANNY PHANTOM: THIS TIME AROUND
DIAMOND GRYPHON
DATE: 7/10/07
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom. (feels sense of repetitiveness)
Chapter 5
"My name is Sonadora, and I am one of the Ancients." The regal ghost explained as she quickly led the way to her castle. Danny had to fly hard to keep up with her, but she seemed to be perfectly comfortable with the breakneck pace. "We must hurry back to my lair before he finds us."
"He?" Danny asked in confusion, not understanding the emphasis on the word. Who in the ghost zone could make an Ancient feel nervous?
"You don't need to know about him yet, you have other things to worry about." Sonadora led him swiftly into one of the inner rooms. "As long as we stay in my lair, he won't bother us."
"What is going on? I don't understand." Danny was confused and frustrated. He was tired of being dragged around by other ghosts. He wanted some information.
"It doesn't matter." The Ancient brushed away his concerns with a wave of her hand. "All you need to know is this; with Claustro gone, we need another way of sealing the ghosts. A way that will permanently keep them from doing harm. We do not excel in new ideas, we prefer old traditions, but the traditions are being broken and we find ourselves lost."
"We, meaning . . .?"
"Ghosts, in general, Ancients, specifically. There has not been a disturbance in our routine for millennia." Sonadora seemed impatient and started floating over to a large mirror at the end of the room. "Quickly we don't have much time!"
"Time for what?" Danny was still as confused as ever. He wished he had just stayed at home and had never followed Clockwork. Being with Sam would be really nice right about now. She would know what to do with this mess.
"I have the power to enter dreams." She said completely ignoring his question. She proudly showed him her staff that was shaped like a large scepter, complete with gold and jewels. "You must enter the dreams of someone you trust and relay this problem to them. Surely you have allies who are capable of solving such a dilemma?"
"Yes," Danny said cautiously, not sure of her reasoning. "But why can't I just do it? I mean, it's not like I have anything better to do."
Sonadora's eyes flashed with annoyance. "You don't understand. You have to deal with him. These 'killer ghosts' are not the real problem. I only ask that you call on a friend so that you may save your own city. I do it as a favor to you, nothing else."
"Why should I?" Danny was finally starting to get angry. Why should he just let himself play messenger boy to every ghost who asked? "I'm not even a full ghost! I shouldn't have to deal with your problems! I could take care of the ghosts in Amity Park by myself and just leave you to your petty Ancient problems!"
"Fool!" She growled, her hands filling with charged ectoblasts. "You have only seen the tip of the iceberg. By the end of the month, Amity Park will be overwhelmed by ghosts who have no inhibitions about murdering innocents. By the end of the year, every undead creature with a vendetta will be roaming the mortal realm freely, and all because you failed to honor your duty and stop the madman who created this mess!"
Danny cringed under the Ancient's rant. He hadn't even considered the consequences. He hadn't considered that the two problems were that intertwined. He hadn't considered what a vital role he played.
And the whole world might have paid the price for it.
"I'll go."
"Good." Sonadora relaxed, letting the ghostly energy evaporate into the air. She gestured toward the mirror that they were standing beside and it immediately revealed a strange purple void. "You can use this mirror to enter directly into anyone's dreams. Which of your allies do you choose?"
It only took Danny a few seconds to make his choice.
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Sam dreamt she was flying.
In her dream, she soared far above the city of Amity Park. The darkened buildings and quiet streets gave the scene a feeling of tranquility. Bright, twinkling stars made her feel more alive than she ever had before. She embraced the air as she did loops and twirls in the night sky.
Sam was completely at ease. Why shouldn't she be? Everything was right with the world here. Everything was as calm and happy as she was. None of her trouble meant anything in this place. Lazily, she flew a back flip and let out a sight of contentment.
"Sam?"
Calmly, she turned toward the familiar voice, not slowing down her flight. Phantom was behind her, speeding to pull up beside her. Sam noted the anxiousness and worry that etched his face. Why was he upset? Everything was perfect and joyful.
"Sam, I need to tell you something." He looked Sam straight in the eyes with his solemn stare. It unnerved her, and she glanced away quickly.
"Everything's fine, Phantom." She told him, partially trying to convince herself. "So stop looking like the world is going to end."
"It just might, Sam, so I need you to help me." His voice was pleading with her to listen, to lend him a hand. She ignored it.
"No." Sam stated flatly, turning her flight downward as she made a nosedive for the ground. She heard Phantom utter a gasp of fear as she plummeted, at breakneck speeds, closer to the earth. Good, she thought, let him be afraid for once.
At the last second, she quickly ground to a halt, turning upright to land lightly on her feet. Sam had landed in the middle of the park and she quickly went to sit on the edge of the fountain. She dangled her feet into the crystal water as she waited for Phantom to catch up to her.
Sure enough, he showed up a minute later, panting for breath after his downward plummet. He landed shakily on the ground, placing his hands on his knees to steady them.
"Sam," He continued between gasps, "This is serious; I really need your help."
"Okay, you want serious?" Her voice turned from soft to a harsh accusation in the blink of an eye. "I'll give you serious."
Phantom started to get a little afraid as the peaceful park scene shifted to match its creator's mood. The fountain started spouting a liquid that reminded him decidedly of blood and the light gray concrete turned a foreboding obsidian. Even the grass withered to a dull, lifeless brown.
Sam stood in the middle of this darkened landscape like the avenging angel herself, causing Phantom to shiver in apprehension. He didn't know what was going on, or what she intended to do.
"You abandoned us." She hissed, anger and betrayal clear in her voice as she glared down at him like a bug under a microscope. "You abandoned the town when we needed you most. Only just a couple of days ago, ten people were held hostage by a ghost with a machine gun."
"Oh, no." Phantom breathed, paling at both the implications of what she said, and the ferocity with witch she said it. "I didn't mean . . . This wasn't supposed to . . ."
"Why did you leave?" Sam yelled, her anger causing the sky to darken with storm clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance as she made her way towards him. Her scowl caused him to crouch down defensively. "You don't care about this town! You don't care about the people of Amity Park! And most of all, you don't care about me!"
Accompanying her last words, a bolt of lightning shot down and struck the ground just to the right of Phantom, leaving a giant crater. For the first time, Phantom's expression was a mask of fear.
"Please, listen to me." He pleaded, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind and the constant thunder of the unnatural storm.
"NO!" Sam's shout drowned out all the thunder as it resonated throughout the landscape. Phantom winced. "Everything was perfect until you showed up! You ruined everything!"
Phantom tried to say something but his voice was caught up in the storm. Sam's face darkened even more as she saw his futile attempts to prove his innocence. The night had started out so well. Why couldn't he see that he had only made things worse?
"Leave my dream." She hissed, her voice still managing to deafen her listener and drown out the noise of the storm. "Go away; don't come back. I never want to see you again."
With that, Sam turned her back and marched off, leaving the stunned ghost on the ground behind her. She let the winds and thunder subside, causing the park to become eerily silent. She was just about to take off to continue her flight where she left off when she heard Phantom pant one last exhausted statement.
"If you don't help, everyone in Amity Park will die."
I'm sorry about the irregular update schedule, I'm trying to work on that. Also, have you seen my DP/ Stargate SG-1 crossover, Bloodstained Hands? Please read it and tell me what you think. In fact, it would be cool if you told me what you think of this story too, SO REVIEW PLEASE!!!
I'm done now.
-Gryph