There's some blood mentions in this chapter, just as an FYI. Enjoy
When Danny stepped back on the bus, Sam and Tucker had almost everyone organized, save for the usual stragglers who couldn't bother to pay attention even in an emergency. The rest of the students were nervously checking their bags and each other. Good. Afraid will keep them alive longer. He cleared his throat, not expecting at 26 faces to turn to him instantly. Like a cult. Ghosts may be intimidating, but having everyone turn to you as one unit was creepy. He cleared his throat again, restraining a shudder. "It's time to go." Danny turned, exciting the bus and leading the stream of students some many paces away. Motioning for Tucker to take the lead, he let his class all dragon on ahead of him, mentally tallying how everyone was doing and what they had. Not an inventory mind you, that was Tucker's job.
Once Danny deemed everyone far enough away, he checked the bus once more for anything they may have missed. Finding nothing, he shot the gas tank a couple times and ran back towards the group. Walker would not find their bus. The size of the explosion caught him off guard, sending him sprawling to the ground. Who knew ectoplasm and diesel would be so explosive? Not him, he realized as a piece of the bus pierced his back, sending him to the ground again. "This better be worth some extra credit," he said, biting back a moan. It didn't feel like the shrapnel was all that big or deep, so he shoved the pain away and headed back towards the diminishing group. Better he than them, anyways.
Catching up to the group was easier than he would have liked, considering they weren't moving at all, gaping at the fiery explosion like total idiots. Not all of them were totally enraptured but the remaining fire, Danny realized as Dash screamed, pointing right at him.
Danny turned, temper flaring, but was distracted by a soft gasp from Sam, "Oh, Danny"
"It's not that bad, Sam," Danny said, "I can barely feel it."
Dash gagged. "You should be feeling that. I once had a hair-thin wire stuck in my leg for half an hour. I couldn't move it for like a week. How can you act like everything's fine when you have a freaking half foot of bus lodged in your back? What the actual hell, Fenturd?"
"How bad is it actually, Sam?" Danny asked.
Sam already had her med-kit out. "Dash is exaggerating." Her lips were pressed in a firm line, separating the kit, she rummaged inside for what she would need. "Only 3 inches, tops. It may be a bit deep, but not the worst."
"Stitches?"
"Sorry."
Danny swore. Sitting down, he reached to take off his shirt only to be stopped by Tucker's hand. Right. Shrapnel. Tucker easing the shirt off of him with practiced care didn't attract as much attention as the scars littering his body. Whoops.
Tucker began rambling about his favorite levels in DOOMED as Sam began her work. Danny had already heard all of this, but he knew the distraction was as much for Tucker as it was for him. Tucker dealt with the broken bones, bruises, and sprains while Sam dealt with the blood. Not that Tucker wouldn't deal with the blood if he didn't have to, but the blood was what usually elevated his fear of hospitals. Better left to Sam. Broken bones and bruises usually don't mean death.
Danny let himself fall into Tucker's vivid theories of each ghost's potential as characters in DOOMED. He barely noticed when the shrapnel was removed and only winced a little as the needle was expertly used in sewing the gaping wound closed. He didn't notice his classmates turning their backs on him to preserve their latest meals. What he notice was Sam's proximity to him as she would lean in close to see her work or her hot breath on his neck as she wrapped the bandages around his chest and shoulder, along with the end of Tucker's description of how the Box Ghost would win the game only by annoying it enough. When Tucker handed him the painkillers, he did not complain, swallowing them dry. Their water would not last long enough by the rate in which they were going, so every drop had to be savored and not wasted.
His body ached, and was going to ache for a considerable time, but there was more important things to do than listen to his body. He did let Sam help him up though, no need to preserve any sort of false pride. Danny turned to his class, "We'll need to move pretty fast. Walker already knows we're here and is most likely amassing his guards to capture us for our punishment. With the bus destroyed, he won't be able to pin-point our exact location, but that doesn't mean we can stay around any longer. So we need to be moving along pretty quickly to escape the search his guards will be doing." Danny then threw his shirt back on, and stepped towards the path the class would make.
Dash struggled to close his mouth as Danny took the lead, taking them away from the burning wreckage. He gaped at Kwan, hoping to see his thoughts mirrored in his friend's. Where did weak and puny Fenton go?
Kwan had no answers. All he could really see was the bloody piece of shrapnel lying on the ground where Sam had discarded it. It was bigger than it looked earlier, almost twice the size he thought it would be. This totally proved that Sam wasn't the weird one. It was the whole friend group, and they were weirder than they should be. It took more effort than he would like to admit to tear his gaze away from the blood covered piece of metal. there was no way this day could get any weirder.
Valerie was positive this day of weirdness was just beginning. Driving into the Ghost Zone, weird. Danny Fenton taking charge, not as weird, but still... Small Danny Fenton blowing up a freaking bus? Cool as hell but definitely weird. Danny Fenton walking off after getting a huge piece of shrapnel crudely taken out of his back like it was nothing? No freaking way. It seems like it couldn't possibly get more impossible, yet the sinking feeling in her gut told her it was going to be worse. Tucker's detailed map, Sam's medical knowledge and practical skill, Danny Fenton. The need for her suit wrapped securely around her with each passing second, and that was before the freaking first ghost showed up.
A fiery blue-haired ghost that seemed slightly familiar of one wild night floated by, humming to herself. Valerie's hand twitched towards her backpack. A ghost was right there for the picking. The ghost stopped right next to her, face literally glowing with excitement. "What an amazing coincidence that I found you. I was just about to go out into the human realm to find you, Dipstick," the ghost said, clutching her guitar. "Think you could put Skulker in his place again for me please? His attitude is totally flat."
Danny groaned. "Have you actually tried talking to him instead of going to me every time you or Kitty have a fight. You do realize I have other things to do."
The blood drained from Valerie's face. Danny was going to die.
"But you're so good at it, Babypop," the ghost said.
"Now Ember-" Danny said.
"-There's no way Danny Fen-tonail could beat up Skulker, much less the Box Ghost. Do you see how puny he is?" Dash shouted, pointing at said small human.
The ghost's, no. Ember's hair raged hotter than a kiln -Never trust a ghost, no matter how well they can sing- and towered over Dash. "Danny is the purest human who can rip you in half and not even break a sweat. Now, I have better things to do than listen to an icky boy like you badmouth my favorite punching bag. I think it's about time someone told you to shut up." She strung a chord at him so fast that Valerie didn't even think to activate her suit. Part of her wanted him to be hit, so she didn't feel as bad as she should have when Dash was launched into the rocks by Ember's music, his body crumpling like paper. Danny was halfway to Dash by the time he was hit, and when Dash hit the ground, the ghost was already gone, the damage done. Never trust a ghost. They will always turn.
Mr. Rydan could not take in enough detail. His notebook was already filled with messy sketches and notes but he was nervous of missing a single detail of this amazing place. It would make an amazing setting to throw some certain characters in, yet the people already in here were interesting enough. The trio. His favorite trio. They were acting stranger than they should and for once he was captivated by a class. The classic school jock was sobbing after he had been thrown into the rocks, and the quiet one who definitely had been bullied was comforting him. Even though the one he was helping was definitely the bully. And the creature they had just met! She was exquisite. Young and wild and as strange as the world they had fallen in to. How did gravity work here? There seemed to be pathways above, below, and all around with purple doors hovering lightly in place, not connected to anything. It smelt of copper and iron, just off the taste of blood and the way the sky twisted in and around and about... He was in love. A couple more notes were added as he took in another breath. Yes. This was love.
The sobbing boy had finally quieted himself, holding his ribs gingerly. If life was like a story, then they would be broken. Maybe he'll see character growth in real time! Mr. Ryden took out his pocket camera as he came to the conclusion that his sketches would not satisfy him later. After a few pictures of everything had been captured, he let the camera rest against his chest as the scientist's kid took the lead. The care this strange kid had for everyone. Taking care of his bully's wounds with no complaint-if he wasn't a hero already, then a hero he would be. This kid was too amazing to not take advantage of. His new main character was right here for him to study! Even if they may have been in mortal peril, Mr. Rydan was excited to see how this kid would react to their next obstacle.
Danny could barely contain his outrage. When Dash gets worse, they will have to stop at either Dora's kingdom or the Far Frozen, which no one was dressed for. he had hoped for a quick stop-in for new provisions and stay for a banquet as customary, but with Dash injured already, they would need to stay longer which would give Walker more time to catch up. Their pace was too slow as is. He turned to Tucker, hoping for a sign of how much time they had before they were found by less friendly ghosts. Damn Ember for distracting the group with no offer to help.
This had to stop. Taking a deep breath, Danny mentally let go of everything he could not control. Ember had enough on her plate, and grumbling about it wasn't going to stop Walker. If he came and captured them, then that's what will happen. He just had to deter that from happening as much as possible.
Tucker flashed him an estimated time. Great. The odds were definitely not in their favor. Of course, when have they ever have been? Danny studied the group he was leading. Valerie reasonably agitated, Mr. Lancer and Mr. Ryder a bit worse for wear but thoughtful and a little excited. Sam, gorgeous and fierce as ever, just a little worried, Kwan supporting Dash and the rest-thankfully healthy if not a bit scared. He nodded to Tucker and resumed the march, adjusting plans and predicting other possible mishaps.
Danny had predicted Paulina or Star to complain first, yet this trip seemed to be full of surprises as Nathan begged him to stop. He was out of breath or something? He didn't really hear it. He called for a rest, watching Kwan gently set Dash down before collapsing himself. Pulling Sam and Tucker aside, he said, "We're not going to escape Walker."
"Odds we won't be thrown in prison?" Sam asked, happening a glance at Valerie holding a bottle of water to Nathan's lips.
"100%" Tucker said, "and he'll probably have human proof walls after that last stunt you pulled."
"We should leave the weak behind to chance while we fetch a ride for everyone," Sam said, crossing her arms.
"Sam," Tucker said, staring at her through his glasses, "we cannot leave unarmed civilians to fend for themselves in the Ghost Zone. Even if it's Paulina and Dash."
"But-"
"What would Ida say?"
Sam's shoulders slumped. "She'd understand, but disapprove. Do not kill thy unarmed neighbor."
"Which includes?"
"Everyone here except Valerie and you guys," Sam said.
"Which means?" Tucker could not believe the fierceness of his friend even if he knew the steps to abate it.
"We cannot leave them behind simply because they're too dumb to fend for themselves even if we wouldn't leave them alone for too long."
"Thank you Sam," Danny said, "now onto things we can actually control."
"So what is the plan?" Sam asked.
Danny tried not to look at his class. His responsibility. "We attempt to make it as close to Dora's Kingdom as possible, hope to see some scouts, and pray to Clockwork we make it before Walker catches up."
"And if we don't make it?" Tucker asked, squeezing his PDA in his hands.
Danny stared at his amazing friends. I'll probably sacrifice myself while you all lead them to Dora. Rescue me later. "If we're all captured, then we'll figure it out from there." He turned away from them, ready to rally his classmates to get going again. There is no way he would let them get captured by Walker. Not on his watch.
