A/N: I know, I know, I totally deserve to be hung at the gallows for not up-dating after so long. Trust me, I've been getting a whole bunch of scenes for my other story in my head I just had to focus on that one. But do not fear, I am back! Now on with the chapter!
Alice made it out of the shower and quickly changed into her regular clothes. She brushed her hair, her teeth, and was soon ready to go to the park. Should she call the Twins? Probably not. It would be best she didn't tell them in case it was just some prank. She sighed and walked down the stairs and into the living room. At the sudden sound of her stomach grumbling, she changed direction from the door to the kitchen. Breakfast sounded like a very good idea.
She walked into the kitchen and caught sight of something. The door to the basement was open. She remembered that her parents always kept that door locked. They weren't allowed down there for any reason no matter how important. Said it was dangerous. She never understood why, but she had always honored her parents' wishes about it. Besides her curiosity, a strange compulsion drove her to go see who was down there.
She looked down into the basement, a light catching her attention at the bottom. It was a greenish glow. She wanted to know what it was and found herself walking down the stairs. The light seemed to draw her in. Compelling her to follow its menacing glow. She had only gone down about four steps when the sound of metal doors closing and the sudden disappearance of the glow sent her into a slight perplexed state. She shook her head.
She wandered down the rest of the stairs, her curiosity now her only drive. Alice couldn't help but watch in awe at the place. It was her basement, she knew, but it seemed like nothing she'd ever imagined. A bunch of metal-topped tables aligned some of the side walls. There were gadgets spread over them along with many random mechanical parts. Her eyes wandered over a few beakers filled with curious liquids. Her eyes wandered still towards the hunched figure that was looking through an old box.
"Dad?" she asked. Danny, suddenly surprised by the voice, banged his head on the table where the box was under and fell backwards, rubbing the spot.
"Ow!" he exclaimed as he fell backwards. He turned to her, shaking his head. "Oh, it's you, what are you doing here?"
"It's my basement too," Alice said, putting a hand on her hip. She walked over to him as he stood up. "What is all this stuff anyway?"
"Fenton Ghost-hunting Equipment," Danny mumbled, dusting off dust particles from his jeans. "Your grandparents, Maddie and Jack Fenton, used to be inventors and ghost-hunters."
"Cool," Alice said, turning to him and away from the portal. "And did they actually capture any ghosts? Which ones? Who? Here in Amity Park?"
"Whoa, slow down there," Danny said. "Since when are you so interested in ghosts?"
Alice ignored the question and walked over to the portal. She located the Genetic Lock and pressed the button, it scanning her finger.
"Alice, no!" Danny said. The portal doors opened. This couldn't be good. The metal doors, sliding open with a small creaking sound, revealed the blank green nothingness of the Ghost Zone. Alice only stared in wonder while Danny wondered if any ghosts would find their way out. He'd struck a truce with them, but there were a few catches along with it.
FLASHBACK:
A twenty-four year-old-Danny Phantom stood in the 'Meeting Grounds' for the ghosts in the Ghost Zone. All around him were ghosts he'd fought many times before and ghosts he'd never even met as well. Skulker, Technus, Clockwork, and an Observant were in the front row. Danny had asked Clockwork to come because he wanted some sort of moral support to be there. Clockwork had brought along the Observant. Skulker and Technus were speaking on the behalf of the ghosts.
The Meeting Grounds, as it was called, was actually just another floating piece of an island that was cleared of all type of ecto-vegetation. There were chairs for the ghosts to sit on and even a podium for someone to speak, meaning Danny himself. He stood staring out at everyone with sharp green eyes. If anyone should try an attack now, they were sure to be caught by the guards Walker had set up around the area. Danny, himself, might be caught if he weren't careful.
"Listen up," he called into the surprisingly modern microphone on the podium's top. "I've gathered all of you here because I'm planning a second truce between me and you guys and the Real World."
Dozens of groans and 'boo's filled the surrounding area.
"Quiet!" Walker shouted. Danny nodded a thank you towards him but he merely turned away.
"I've been fighting you guys day and night for almost ten years now," Danny continued. "I'm getting tired of it. In a few months I'm graduating from college. I want to be able to settle down for once without the fear of knowing one fight may be my last. Sam and I, as you probably know by now because the Box Ghost has such a big mouth, are going out and, well, planning marriage."
In the second row, he could hear the Box Ghost chattering on about it not being his fault the news got out. Other ghosts only chuckled, the main ones being Skulker and Clockwork.
Danny smiled slightly at the sight of Clockwork finding this a little amusing, but went on. "I was hoping we could find a way to keep you guys both satisfied and out of our way," he said. "I want you guys to be satisfied and for there to be some even amounts of benefits, but I don't know much of what to offer."
"How about this, whelp," Skulker said, standing up from his chair. "We stay out of your life while you stay out of our after-life."
"I'm listening to whoever gives me an idea, if there's anymore you want to add..." Danny trailed off. He was giving Skulker a chance to answer.
"I've hunted you for many years, ghost kid, I'm not about to give up," Skulker said. "All of us like causing chaos in the Real World. We won't just let it go."
"That's why I want to settle a truce," Danny said. "I like fighting you guys and beating your butt back into the Ghost Zone, but a guy can only handle so much for so long. I don't want to worry Sam. Is there any kind of agreement we can come up with here?"
"A truce..." Technus repeated. "Both ends equal?"
"Yes, that's the point," Danny said. "Keep everyone happy."
"Ghost-boy, we would gladly oblige to any truce that worked in both our favor and yours but we have nothing to propose," Technus said.
"Perhaps a way for you all to stay in the Ghost Zone but still have a way out when granted the chance," Clockwork asked. It was meant to be a statement, but it was also in a way a question.
"That sounds good," Technus said.
"Yes!" The Box Ghost bellowed. "If the portal door or any other means of escape should present themselves, then we shall be granted a way into the Real World!"
"For once, I think he's on to something," Skulker said.
Danny nodded. "Fine," he said. "If you should ever be granted any means of escape into the Real World, you may come out and take advantage of it. But trust me, unless Wulf turns on me, you won't be coming out."
"We'll be sure to keep a good check on that portal of yours from now on," Skulker said. "The hunt will resume from where it ended. Soon."
"Keep a good eyes out for your portal, Daniel," Clockwork warned.
"I'm not some kid anymore, I know what to do, the precautions I need to take," Danny said. "You guys aren't getting out. I know so."
:END FLASHBACK
Danny watched the green, swirling dimension with great horror. The last time it accidentally opened when he was walking about cleaning the place he'd gotten lucky and no ghost had come out. This time, however, he wasn't so sure the same luck was with them.
"Alice, get away from the portal," he quickly said.
"Portal? To wear?" Alice asked.
"This is not the time for questions, close it now!" Danny said.
"No, I wanna see where it leads," Alice said. She blocked the Genetic Lock. She wanted to see this. She didn't care if she got in trouble. She didn't care if her dad grounded until she was thirty-five, her curiosity was much bigger.
Suddenly, the air grew cold. She could shivers run up and down her spine, causing her to tremble slightly. Danny noticed this. He watched as his own ghost sense suddenly went off, the blue wisp of mist escaping his lips. Oh no.
E/N: Another sucky chapter with a sucky flashback.
Danny: Low self-esteem, what'd I tell you?
me: Danny be quiet. Now everyone's gonna thinkg I'm crazy.
Danny: You are.
me: --growl-- Shut up!
--Danny and I continue to argue until Danny died laughing--
--Airamé Phantom