I do not own Danny Phantom.

Ghostly Motives

Light, Fire and Ice floated through the green space of the Ghost Zone. "Shall we split up and find one ghost each to recruit for the master's plan?" Ice asked.

"Indeed. Let us separate and make our master proud," Light agreed. The three corrupted elements split up and flew to separate parts of the Zone.

...

"Blast these infernal rubber connecter devices!" Technus snapped as he struggled to untangle himself from a black extension cord. "I shall be switching to wireless devices when I get out of this mess! For I am Technus, Master of all Technology and Defeater of Tangles!"

"Such a loud and obnoxious ghost. But I suppose you will do."

Technus snapped his head up as a robed ghost floated up to him. "What do you think you are-?"

Nothing else was said as the Master of all Technology was surrounded by darkness and his world went black.

...

"Beware! I am the Box Ghost!" the ghost in coveralls boomed menacingly. The green bat in front of him just stared before hissing and flying away. The Box Ghost blinked in surprise before waving his fist in the air. "That is right! Run in fear before I am forced to call upon the violent Bubble Wrap!"

"Not a very menacing ghost. But I suppose your dark nature will come out under the control of our master."

The Box Ghost backed up nervously as a red-robed ghost floated up to him, hands flashing with black energy. "Beware?"

...

Ember scowled and tried once more to tune her guitar. Not the best way to spend a weeknight, but her boyfriend was sulking and her girlfriends were all busy. So now she was forced to tuning the strings on her guitar until her fingertips went numb.

"You are a rather young and athletic ghost. You should serve our master greatly."

Ember stood straight and narrowed her turquoise eyes as a figure with a light-blue robe came towards her, hands glowing with a weird dark energy. "I have absolutely no idea who you are or what you're talking about, but I don't take to freaks like you kindly."

She reared back and strung the cords on her guitar. Ice shouted out in surprise as she was blasted back by a purple wave. Ember smiled in satisfaction. She went to float away when a rather menacing growl caught her attention.

The green space above her was clouded with black and purple swirling energy. Ember widened her eyes as the ghost slowly floated up and glowered at her. "You do not know what force you are reckoning with."

Ember gripped her guitar between two pale hands and gaped as a huge ball of dark energy came blasting towards her. "Ah crap!"

...

Sam moaned softly and pressed the ice pack to her head. It was melting rather quickly, the cool water running down her forehead and staining her black tank top. Danny and Tucker sat at the end of her bed, worry etched across their faces. "Are you okay?" Danny asked.

She sighed. "For the hundredth time, yes. I am perfectly fine."

Danny removed the ice pack and felt her forehead. The heat had gone down considerably. "You are feeling a bit better."

"You know what I feel like? A milkshake." Sam sat up and chucked the ice pack on her nightstand table. Tucker and Danny exchanged looks. She put a hand on her hip and glared. "What's wrong with me wanting a milkshake?"

"It's kind of a random statement." Tucker smiled. "But I could go for a burger right now. How about you Danny?"

Danny smirked. "Why not?"

Sam grinned. "Sweet. I'll meet you guys there. I just have to convince the 'rents I'm perfectly fine and able to go out. And if that doesn't work, then threats and maybe a bit of blackmail."

Danny and Tucker rolled their eyes and the teen halfa phased them out of the room. Tucker held on tightly to him as they flew across town and made it to the Nasty Burger. "I'm still not used to that," the techgeek muttered.

They entered the fast food place and snagged a booth in the back. Tucker ordered his usual triple-beef deluxe combo meal and Danny ordered a poutine for himself and a salad and a chocolate gummy-bat milkshake for Sam.

The Goth entered the restaurant a few minutes later and slid into the red leather booth. "My parents can be so stubborn sometimes."

"We already ordered for you." Danny smiled at Sam. "I'm glad you're feeling better."

Sam blushed. Tucker rolled his blue-green eyes and snorted. "Good thing it was just Skulker. Can you imagine what could've happened if it were a group of ghosts?"

The trio jumped back as a plasma blast nailed their table. The plastic melted and the three teens were thrown across the room and into the counter.

Danny surveyed the screaming mass of people before glowering at Tucker. He waved his hands and exclaimed, "Sorry! Sorry! I'm a jinx! I admit it!"

The ghost boy rolled his blue eyes in annoyance and leapt over the counter. He crouched down and surrounded himself with two blue rings. Soon he became Danny Phantom. He grabbed his friends by the sleeves and flew them out of the chaotic restaurant.

"What was that?" Sam cried.

Danny frowned and pointed overhead. "It looks Technus is making an appearance...with Ember? And the Box Ghost?"

"That is the weirdest team-up I have ever seen," Sam remarked.

"You two stay here."

"But Danny-"

"We don't need your powers burning up again," Danny snapped and took off. Sam scowled and slumped to the ground.

"Hey, Ember! Since when do you align yourself with these losers?" he called.

A green fist slammed into his torso. Danny gasped for breath and winced. "Not up for banter today, huh? What's the matter? Skulker break up with you?"

Another green fist soared straight for him. He turned intangible and avoided the attack. He zoomed forwards and punched Ember across the jaw. The rocker slammed into the concrete. Danny pinned her to the ground and froze. Her normal turquoise eyes glowed black with malice.

"Must...retrieve...the elements...for Master!" she snarled.

Danny cried out in pain as he was shot into the air by a blast of ecto-plasma. "She's corrupted," he whispered in shock. Then he realized Technus and the Box Ghost were nowhere to be found. "Sam! Tucker!"

He flew back to where he left his friends. They were doing pretty well, fending off the two most obnoxious ghosts with ice and fire attacks. "Guys! They're-"

"Corrupted! I know!" Sam snapped and sent the Box Ghost flying with a fire ball. "Do you have any idea on how to snap them out of it?"

"Not a clue," Danny called back and caught Ember's foot before it made contact with his face. "Ember! You gotta listen to me! I know you're in there somewhere...are you seriously going to allow yourself to be controlled like a puppet?"

There was no change in Ember's facial expression. She kicked him in the stomach with her other foot and knocked him to the ground. "I will have those elements!"

Tucker hastily made more icicle arrows and chucked them at Technus, and sighed with relief as it slowed down his techno system a bit more. "I don't know how much longer I can keep this up!"

Sam flicked burning embers at the Box Ghost and scowled. "I can't believe Darkness sent these guys to do his dirty work!"

"So you'd rather face Darkness?"

"Not now! I'm just saying-" The rest of her statement was cut off as the Box Ghost rammed into her.

"Beware!" he shouted and plunged an intangible hand into her stomach. Sam screamed in pain as his fingers closed over what must have been the orb of fire. Tucker quickly blasted the Box Ghost off of her with an ice wall and Sam clutched her stomach, panting heavily.

"Are you okay?" Tucker asked. Sam glared at him. He shrugged. "Standard question."

"Aaaggghhh!"

Tucker and Sam dove out of the way as Danny crashed to the ground. Ember floated above them and raised her guitar menacingly. "Get ready for termination."

"Ember?"

Danny stood up and brushed the dirt from his costume. He glanced up and widened his glowing green eyes when a confused Skulker floated towards his girlfriend. "Wait!"

"What are you doing here with these pathetic excuses for ghosts?" he questioned. Ember growled and turned around. Skulker's green eyes lit up with shock. "And since when did your eyes turn black?"

Danny frantically waved his hands in the air. "She's not really Ember! I mean, she is, but she's been corrupted!"

Skulker did not get a chance to respond. Ember slammed a note on her guitar and he was sent sailing through the air by a purple wave. Tucker chose this moment to freeze the dial on Ember's guitar. Sam unleashed a fire ball and struck Technus and the Box Ghost in one shot.

"Retreat! Return to the master!" Technus bellowed.

"Wait!" Danny frantically fumbled for the Fenton Thermos and cursed when he realized he had forgotten it.

Sam and Tucker watched as the three ghosts took off in the sky. "What didn't you use your elemental powers Danny?" she asked.

Danny ran a hand through his white hair. "I'm so used to being Danny Phantom when fighting that it feels weird fighting as Fenton."

Sam rolled her violet eyes. "Whatever makes you feel comfortable. We need to-"

She was cut off by a plasma blast. She and Tucker avoided it and the boy scowled. "That's like the second time we've nearly been hit by one of those! What is up?" he cried.

Skulker had Danny by the neck of his costume. "What. Have. You. Done. To. Ember?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

Danny struggled to breathe as the material cut into his neck. "The three of us were granted elemental powers by Clockwork. Darkness has corrupted Light, Ice and Fire and is planning a rebellion. He must have corrupted the Box Ghost, Technus, and Ember to come and retrieve the elements from us."

"I am getting really tired of repeating this story," Sam muttered.

Danny ignored her. "I promise I'll help rescue you're girlfriend. As disgusting and ew-worthy as it is, I know she's important to you. I will get her back."

"I could do it myself if I take the element from you," Skulker growled.

Danny could not help but smile a bit. "But you won't, will you? That's not in the spirit of the hunt, is it?"

Skulker let go and glowered at Danny. "The hunt is postponed until Ember is returned as her normal..." He paused as he tried to think of a fitting word.

"Moody?" Danny supplied.

"Irritating?" Tucker added.

"Demanding?" Sam put in.

Skulker scowled. "Enough! Just return her to her normal state...or else."

Sam watched the armoured ghost fly off angrily. "I kind of feel for the guy. He just lost his girlfriend to the darkness. That must really suck."

"And that's why I'm going to keep my promise. Whether he wants my pelt or not, I'm going to make sure Ember and those other ghosts are freed."

"Even the Box Ghost?" Tucker asked.

Danny smirked. "No one says 'beware' like the Box Ghost."

...

Darkness frowned. "I had not realized these children had become so accustomed to their powers so quickly. Granted, they have a bit more to learn, but still quite impressive."

"We are sorry we failed you Master," Ember mumbled. Technus and the Box Ghost bowed their heads in shame.

"We shall simply have to try again, won't we?" Darkness asked as he peered into the crystal. "These children have only gotten a taste of what is about to come."