Yes!! Chapter 2 up! I'll try to add new chapters as soon as I write 'em!
Oh, and I for got the disclaimer for the first chapter so here it is: I don't own Danny Phantom, or he would have many many new episodes!
-Flaming Water
Chapter 2- Why?
Is this real? Or fantasy?
Are you alive? Or dead?
Do you think it was possible
to have given your life, instead?
Danny opened his eyes. He sat up in a panic, then remembered where he was.
Home.
Home? he thought groggily.
Yes, home.
He slid out of bed, stumbling across the room over to his closet. What could he wear? Obviously, he needed new clothes. Was the Amity Park Mall still open? He'd have to find out. He opened the closet anyway. Rows of white and red t-shirts and blue jeans met his eyes.
Did I wear anything else when I was 14? He wondered, exasperated. What was I thinking?
They were all too small, but after rummaging around for a few minutes, he found a large, worn blue shirt and a pair of black jeans he must have been saving for… what?
Oh, well. Make do or do without.
Aren't you forgetting something?
Not you again.
Yes. Me. But seriously. Before getting dressed in the morning you…?
Shower!
Aren't you a smart boy? Pick a prize off the top shelf.
Danny groaned. How long am I going to have to put up with you? Which brings me to my next question. Who -or what- the heck are you?
Shower first, Mr. I-haven't-had-a-bath-in-a-decade. You smell like-
Shut up and let me shower!
Finally!
Danny walked to the bathroom. He searched the cabinets and, finding a towel, turned on the shower and stripped down.
When the water reached a suitable temperature, he stepped in; sighing ad the hot water cascaded down his back. He winced as the water ran over old wounds, some only half healed.
During his travels, he had tried to keep a low profile. But some ghosts just had to test their skills on the famous 'ghost child'. Said ghost child grabbed the soap and scrubbed hard all over his body, though gingerly avoiding his injuries. Danny rinsed, shampooed, and rinsed again. He reluctantly turned off the shower, sticking his free hand out, fumbling for the towel.
Finding it, he stepped out and dried off. Danny messed up his hair with the towel to soak up enough water that it didn't drip. He wrapped the towel around his waist. Looking up, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
I forgot how many scars I had.
Really?
He shot another glance at the mirror and quickly walked back to his room. He really had forgotten some of the many prices he had paid to protect the people of Amity Park. Long, white scars ran down his arms and criss-crossed his chest and back. The ones on his palms and fingers had been particularly hard to hide from his parents after foolishly grabbing Skulker's blade to prevent it from slashing his neck.
Stupid blade.
It wasn't the blade that was stupid.
No duh.
Danny shook his head. Why was he still talking to a voice in his head?
This is crazy.
I'm not just a voice. But you do tend to favor crazy over sane.
Grrr.
He reached his room and pulled on a pair of clean boxers, the blue shirt, and pants. He realized that he didn't have any shoes.
Your dad might have some.
I can't just take my dad's stuff! It's… it's not right.
Why not? He's not using it anymore.
Danny gave in. You're remarkably cruel, you know that? T
he voice giggled. I try my best!
Wandering into his parents' room, Danny found the boots that his dad had always born when they went camping. He tugged them on. Jack Fenton had always hated 'normal' clothes, but Maddie made him leave the jumpsuit behind on family outings.
Dad…
The halfa transformed in a flash of light and invisible, flew to the graveyard. He landed in front of their tombstone and changed back, falling to his hands and knees. Salty tears trickled down his face from tightly shut eyes as he spoke aloud for the first time in nearly a decade.
"Mom… Dad…" he cried. "Sam… Jazz… Tucker… I've missed you guys so much." Sobs wracked his body. "I- I- I wish I could have done something. To save you all."
He knelt there for a long time, pouring his sorrow, his fear, and his rage into the earth, flinging it up to the sky.
--
Danny sniffed. His blue eyes looked up at the last words engraved upon the stone. "Gone but not forgotten," he read aloud, his voice cracking.
Why?
They forgave you long ago.
How do you know?
Trust me. I know.
Danny nodded, and stood. Going ghost, he flew back home.
--
Danny sat down at the kitchen table, his tears long since dried. He was ready to face the world.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
He had found money in the kitchen drawer, and he needed food and clothes. He stood up and was about to open the front door when-
Someone's at the door.
What?
Are you mentally deaf? I said that someone's at the door. They're about to knock.
Human or ghost?
Would a ghost bother knocking?
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Danny tensed, then took a deep breath and opened the door. And stared, speechless.
"Um, hi. I was walking last night and I saw that the lights were on. I came by this morning to see who-"
"Valerie?"
So how did I do? Hit that little button that says go and review! Please and thank you!
-Flaming Water