Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the characters. Danny Phantom is the sole property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Paramount global.
Growing Pains
Chapter 4: A Whole New Danny
Tucker and Sam were silent and stunned as they looked at the ghost man before them.
The man was also very tall and muscular, with a black suit that featured white streaks down his arms and a pair of white rings that wrapped around each biceps. His belt also had a utility belt that featured pouches. His gloves each had three black buttons of some kind on, making it look simple yet advance looking.
He also bore a resemblance to ANOTHER white haired, jumpsuit clad ghostly male whom they knew personally. There was only one explanation.
"Danny?..." Sam asked, looking at him in disbelief.
"Well, it's not a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle!..." Danny said with sarcasm that they recognized.
That did it, that was the last bit of confirmation they needed to finally understand that their best friend and the man before them are one and the same.
"Danny...it really is you?!..."Tucker exclaimed, lifting his glasses up as if they were affecting his vision.
Danny sighed with an eye roll.
"Glad to see that you both paid attention..."He said, before changing back to his human form.
Both Sam and Tucker quickly glanced at each other before once again looking at Danny.
There was a mixture of reaction from Danny's friends over his sudden..."transformation". They looked at him in shock and disbelief, and in one of their cases...awe.
"Danny? You're... older..." Sam said, not sure what else to say.
"Yeah... long story... you see...I think this is Helena's doing..."He said as he gave them the short answer to his current predicament.
As Danny explained, Sam drowned it out. As she examined his chin, his broad shoulders, his muscular arms and the signs of abs under his shirt, she barely listened to what he was saying.
Sam stared wide-eyed and almost on the brink of tears as she let out a lustful sigh, as the ghostly man finished his explanation.
"... and that's what happened..." He said, looking upset.
He then noticed that his friends were silent, and one of them was looking at him funny.
"Uh... Sam?..."He asked, but she was still silent.
"Sam?..."He asked, as he waved a hand across her face.
The goth girl seemed to finally snap out of her trance, and became embarrassed. Trying her best to keep her emotions in check and not break her Gothic persona, she tried to come up with a plausible response.
"Oh...uh...sorry...it's just...you look...so...different..."Sam said, blushing and barely able to make eye contact with him right now.
Danny was confused, but Sam wasn't the only one acting peculiar right now. Tucker looked at Danny from head to tow.
For some reason, he frowned. Even he admitted to himself that his male best friend was pretty good looking right now, much to his jealousy.
"Dude! Come on... I'm having a hard enough time meeting girls as it is..." He went with envy.
"What are you two talking about?..."He asked, still being his classic clueless self.
Yeah, apparently that didn't change despite his new age. So, his friends decided to spell it out for him.
"Dude, you're an adult now and have more muscles than Dash does. I mean this is a totally platonic, stating the facts kind of way...but I wouldn't be surprise if someone mistakes you for a model right now..."Tucker said, stating the facts.
Danny blinked and looked at himself in the mirror again and noticed that his scratches from his staving accident were all healed up already. He also looked closer and noticed that while he did look older, that wasn't the only changes made since yesterday.
"I guess I...am a bit bigger now..."He said as he took a moment to feel out his newly developed body.
"A bit?! You're totally ripped right now and could probably pass as one of those guys on those magazines that Paulina always tries to read when Lancer isn't looking!..."Tucker said, barely hiding his envy right now.
At the same time, Sam kept trying not to gawk at her best friend.
"I hate to say it, but he's right. I mean...you look like an adult and a really good looking one too..."Sam said as she barely could stop from outright ogling him.
She realized what she said, and the strange look Danny sent her. She blushed and tried to save face.
"A-And I mean that...in a totally platonic, stating the facts kind of way..."She lied, hoping that he'd be clueless enough to buy it.
Jazz saw this and rolled her eyes while her brother bought that excuse. However, he looked at his reflection once more.
He may look older on the outside, but on the inside, he is still the same as he has always been.
Clueless!
"It's weird...I feel and think the same way on the inside. This is so weird..."He said as he unintentionally flexed his new biceps, which made Sam blush even more.
"Oh!~..."Sam let out, before slapping her to snap her out of it.
"Uh, what was that for?..."Danny asked, sending her a raised brow.
"To...make sure that I haven't lost my mind..."Sam said as she rubbed the fleshly red mark on her cheek.
Danny sent her a confused look, while Jazz and Tucker sighed in exasperation. Before the new man could ask what she meant, he suddenly recalled ANOTHER important fact right now.
"Wait...today's Friday, right?..."Danny asked, getting a bad feeling about something.
"Uh...yeah..."Tucker said, while Sam kept rubbing her cheek.
The newly formed adult panicked.
"Oh man! School! I totally forgot about school! I can't go looking like this!..."Danny said as he gestures to himself.
"Not a problem. Just call in sick..."Tucker suggested.
"My parents aren't home, and even if Jazz tells them for me... if the school calls my parents right now to confirm, then they'll totally get suspicious and head right back home before we know it..."Danny said, not liking any of this.
"Dude...in case you haven't noticed, your voice changed too. You kinda sound like a completely different person. They'll have no idea who you really are. You might even be able to trick them into thinking you're your own dad if you disguise it a bit..."He said.
"You think?..."Danny asked, unsure of the idea.
"It's worth a shot..."Jazz said since they had limited options here.
Realizing that he didn't have any choice and time was running out, Danny knew what he had to do now.
A few moments later
Danny took a deep breath and then grabbed the phone and called the school, hoping that this works.
"Hello, Casper High. Who may I ask is calling?..."A nasally woman's voice was heard, and Danny knew that it was the school's secretary, Mrs. Muntz.
Danny gulped but decided to roll the dice on this plan.
"Yes. Hello. This is Jack Fenton..."Danny said, trying to give the best impression of his father that he can.
Thankfully, his new deep voice made that easier and with a little disguising, it was almost enough of a match. However, he wasn't out of the woods just yet.
"I've just called to let you know that Danny can't come to school today. He has a cold and won't be able to make it..."Danny lied, hoping that she'd buy it.
Thankfully, Mrs. Muntz didn't sound suspicious at all.
"I see. Well, that's a shame. I hope that Danny feels better soon, Mr. Fenton..."Mrs. Muntz said.
The ghost boy tried hard not to let out a sigh of relief yet.
"Oh, no worries. He just needs some rest and stuff like that. I'm sure that he'll be better by Monday. That is all, thank you and have a nice day..."Danny lied once again, ending the call the way he assumed his Dad would've done.
Once done, he hung up the phone and let out a sigh.
"There...bought me some time..."He muttered, glad to have that out of the way.
"At least you made a decent Jack Fenton impersonator..."Tucker said in a light manner.
Danny was not amused.
"This isn't funny, Tucker. This is serious! Look at me!..."Danny shouted as he gestured to himself.
"With pleasure..."Sam whispered in a lustful way, only to realize what she said and covered her mouth.
Danny didn't notice, as he was too busy complaining about his sudden adulthood.
"I just lost 10 years of my life and who know if there's even chance for me to get them back. I had to shave for the first time and it's NOT as fun as I thought it be!..."He said, recalling those cuts that have thankfully healed now.
He continued to complain and complain.
"None of my clothes fit me and I had to go to the attic and use some of my DAD'S clothes from when he was in high school and they STILL don't fit right!..."He complained, tightening his belt some more out of paranoia of his pants falling down.
"Even worse, I can't go to school like this and even you guys didn't recognize me at first glance. If mom and dad see me like this, they might mistake me for an intruder like Jazz did and make a citizen arrest when they get back home!..."He said, looking more nervous and upset as he vented all of this.
"Danny, calm down. You're unraveling..."Sam said, worried about the emotional state he is in while also eying his shoulders.
"I can't calm down. Mom and Dad will be back this afternoon and I'm suddenly old enough to shave everyday.. I can't let them see me like this!..."Danny said, pointing at his face.
Just then, the phone rang and Jazz saw who it was on caller ID.
"Oh man, it's Mom!..."Jazz said.
Danny gasped as he stood straight.
"Pretend I'm not here..."Danny said as his sister answered the phone.
"H-Hi Mom. How's the hunt at Lake Eerie?..."Jazz asked, trying to sound normal.
"Everything's fine, Sweetie. Your father and I have good news and bad news..."Maddie said.
"Oh, really?..."Jazz asked.
"The good news is that we think that we were able to identify the creature haunting this lake..."Maddie explained. "The bad news is that we are gonna have to stay here a few more days in order to properly investigate and capture that putrid pile of ectoplasm..."She explained.
"So...you're gonna be gone for a few more days?..."Jazz asked, trying hard not to sound excited.
"Yes, so you're gonna have to be in charge a little longer. I hope that it's not going to be an issue for you..."Maddie said.
"Oh, don't worry. It's fine. No issue at all. Just...do whatever it is that you two have to do..."Jazz said as she pretended to sound like nothing was wrong.
"How's Danny?..."Maddie asked.
The new man panicked at the mention of his name.
"Oh, uh...Danny just left to wait for the bus. So he's already off to school now. I was about to leave too just now..."Jazz lied, shedding a single drop of sweat from her brow.
"Oh, well, I shouldn't keep you. But is he alright?..."The mother asked.
"He's in excellent health and so am I..."Jazz said, not technically lying about that part.
"That's wonderful. Anyway, you're father and I will be back by tomorrow night at the latest. Bye sweetheart, and give your brother a hug for me when you next see him..."Maddie said, oblivious to what was truly happening at her home.
"Oh, okay Mom. Bye!..."Jazz said before hanging up.
Once done, she let out a sigh of relief.
"That was close..."She said, glad that was over.
Her brother, however, was still processing this new development, and for once, was not displeased.
"Well, we've got until tomorrow night to undo this. For once, I'm glad that our parents are so obsessed with ghosts..."Danny said, happy for that unexpected stroke of luck.
"Let's just hope that whatever they are hunting isn't capable of pressing charges..."Jazz muttered, knowing how their "hunts" usual turn out.
"At least we have some more time to fix this whole mess..."Danny said, still looking stressed.
"Speaking of time...we gotta head to school. It'll only seem more strange if we all call in sick on the exact same day anyway..."Sam said, knowing that they can't risk skipping.
"Fair point..."Danny said as Jazz prepared to leave.
"We'll meet with you after school and help you track down that Helena lady and make her change you back..."Jazz said, as she packed her school supplies and got ready to head out.
Her brother, however, was still unsure about something else.
"What am I suppose to do until then? How am I supposed to pass the time?..."Danny asked, wanting to find Helena already.
"Do what you usually do when your alone..."Jazz suggested.
"What I usually do is either hang out with you three or search for ghosts on patrol..."Danny pointed out. "I gotta find Helena fast..."He said, being impatient.
Jazz rolled her eyes.
"Just wait for us before you face off against that Helena. For all we know, she'd might actually turn you into an old man this time if you're not careful..."Jazz said, not wanting him to get hurt.
"That could take forever and she might find a guy and disappear forever before you guys get back..."Danny stated.
"Danny, if she's causing trouble. We'll know it when it happens, just like we always do..."Jazz said, since they always encounter any ghost that causes trouble anyway.
"But-..."Danny tried, but his sister cut him off.
"You can keep an eye out for her, but let us know what happens so that we can help..."Jazz said, not wanting him to get hurt.
"In the mean time...since you have until tomorrow night before your folks come back...you might as well make the most of it..."Tucker said.
"I'm sorry. What?..."Danny asked, not sure if he completely understood what Tucker was saying.
"Dude, just yesterday you said that you were tired of being treated like a kid. Now you get the chance to actually experience what the other side is like ..."Tucker said, looking intrigued as he said this.
"What are you suggesting?..."Danny asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm saying, milk it while you can. You can see R-Rated movies now, drive, drink the really good kinds of coffee and even go to that "Adults Only" place now...and you can get us in there after school as well..."Tucker said, making it clear that he wants to hear all about it and possibly join in.
Danny was silent, while his sister looked annoyed right now.
"Are you serious? My brother just fast forward through puberty and you wanna make him take advantage of that?!..."Jazz exclaimed.
Tucker shrugged.
"Hey, I'm just saying that this can be a glass half empty, glass half full thing. We have until tomorrow night to change him back, so one afternoon of adulthood can't cause that much trouble..."Tucker said, not seeing a problem in his own logic.
"Sam, help me talk some sense into him..."Jazz said.
To her surprise, the goth girl said nothing and kept on staring at Danny's new full-grown body. She did, however, hear Tucker's suggestion and to everyone's surprise, this was her response.
"I mean...well...there really isn't any real rush. We got time and...new experiences can only be good for any person..."Sam said as she kept looking at Danny.
Everyone was surprised to hear her side with Tucker. Jazz looked at her in disbelief.
"Seriously?! You're okay with this?!..."Jazz asked, genuinely shocked that Sam is agreeing with Tucker about this.
"Are you for real?..."She asked, exasperated while the goth girl got defensive.
"Look, I get annoyed by being treated as a kid too. And Danny isn't in any immediate danger. I'm just saying, while we look for Helena, he could try and enjoy the freedom and independence that comes easily to any adult while it lasts. Besides, that Helena lady is probably just looking through every newspapers personal ads for all we know at this point. This might be a fun experience for him, and us too..."She said, acting unusually optimistic about this whole thing.
"Unbelievable!..."Jazz muttered, shaking her head in disbelief.
All the while, her brother processed what his friends just suggested.
Now that he wasn't freaking out or fearing an unpleasant encounter with the authority figures in his life, he considered what Tucker suggested.
As he did, he found himself grinning and liking the endless possibilities here.
"Y'know... maybe they have a point? Besides this might turn out okay?..." Danny suggested, as he stroke his chin with interest.
His sister heard this and gawked at him.
"Am I the ONLY one taking this whole thing seriously?..."She asked out loud.
She was ignored as Danny kept coming up with ideas. All while Sam was still drooling over him when he wasn't looking and Tucker made a list of suggestions on where they could go after school.
"I am...aren't I?..."She muttered, sincerely hoping that this won't blow up in any of their faces.
Later
Tucker, Sam and Jazz all left, using Jazz's car to get to school.
This left the new ghost man alone for the time being.
"Time to let the world meet the temporary new me..."He said, deciding to head out as Tucker suggested.
Danny phased through the walls as to avoid being spotted at the door. He landed in a nearby alley way, became visible and changed back to his human form.
"So far... so good. Now lets see if I can find Bridezilla... He thought, as he headed down the street.
He was ready to keep a look out for Helena, as well as any other trouble he encounters.
However, as he walked, he had no idea that various people he was passing were looking at him in awe.
Especially the women.
Oh boy.
-To be continued-
Next time on Growing Pains
A New Man in Amity Park
A/N: Special thanks to NeoMark and Jay The Average Fanboy for helping with this chapter. You guys rock :)
A/N(2): Congratulations for those who chose Silver's Design :)
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
Boris Yeltsin: NeoMark came up with the idea and helped inspire this fic.
RonaldM40196867:
1) I haven't decided yet.
2) I haven't decided yet.
3) Jazz.
Jebest4781: Thank you :)
CZS4, RonaldM40196867 and NeoMark: Congratulations! Silver's suit has been chosen :)
NiteOwl18: Thank you :)
Also, my idea for Adult Danny's voice is somewhat similar to Dark Danny's, but sweeter and more sincere. Nothing sinister about it.
Danifan3000:
1) Thanks for the suggestion. I will consider it.
2) Well, while she may be a shallow sociopath, Colette's interest in Danny is somewhat genuine in a twisted and unhealthy way. Helena doesn't care who she marries so long as they meet her standards.
Invader Johnny: I guess we will have to wait and see what happens.
:) I hope you enjoyed this! Remember to read and review :)