Chapter 2: Breaking News
Danny got up, sore and stiff: Last night's patrol was long and tiring, especially since Jazz still apparently couldn't control the Fenton Thermos correctly. Seven ghosts, he thought to himself, seven ghosts that he had to catch, not once, not twice, but three times; Not to mention dodging all of Jazz' miscalculated attempts of trying to capture them.
Danny walked down stairs where the rest of the family was chipper, even Jazz. Zombie-like, he grabbed the cereal box, poured some into his bowl, and began to eat while watching the news.
"Late night of video games again, Danny," Jack said, disapprovingly.
"No," Danny replied, exhausted, "Just a bad night of sleep."
"Why is that, dear?" Maddie asked, slightly concerned.
Danny shrugged, "No reason." Maddie's face became more concerned at the comment.
"Well, I had a great night of sleep," Jazz piped in, trying to spare her brother from further interrogation. "Plus, I had a cool dream about fighting ghosts-" Immediately, she wished she hadn't said anything as the brightest looks of happiness appeared on their parents' faces.
Completely ignoring personal space, Jack and Maddie badgered Jazz for every single detail and voicing their excitement of her having her first ghost hunting dream.
Feeling sorry and appreciative for the save, Danny pointed at the T.V. screen, and said, "That sounds interesting." It was a report on farm crops. Both Jack and Maddie looked at Danny questioningly. Neither of them heard Jazz mumble under breath, "Why couldn't I've just said about school?" Danny smirked until he heard "... continuing from our story last night, the outbreak at the Amity Park Penitentiary has finally begun to calm down." Everyone looked at the screen, "For those just tuning in, last night, a major riot stirred within the mess hall of the penitentiary, resulting in several prisoners' release and escape. The riot was said to be the work of a female ghost in league with one of the inmates," at this the entire family was completely focused on the screen, "Luckily, all of the prisoners have been rounded up and placed back in the prison, save one." A picture of the fugitive was shown on the screen. Danny and Jazz, who were both taking a drink of their milk, spat violently at seeing the picture, both unnoticed by their parents.
"Isn't that-" Maddie began. "Frederich Isak Showenhower, a.k.a. Freakshow, is currently missing. Authorities ask the public to report immediately if seen, but advise caution for confrontation as he is very dangerous." The report ended and continued on the upcoming exhibit.
Maddie and Jack began to rave as they remembered the madman who tried to brainwash the kids of Amity Park. "As soon as I get my hands on him, I'll make him wish he was back at that prison," Jack said hotly. Maddie quickly agreed, adding that he better stay away from her children this time.
Jazz and Danny quickly looked at one another. Only they, Sam, and Tucker remembered what happened with the Reality Gauntlet, and none of them wanted a repeat of that.
"You don't think he'd come after you again?" Jazz whispered across the table. Danny shook his head, "Nope, he'll definitely come after me. If anything, he probably wants to waste me now more than ever." Jazz' worry was easily visible, Danny smirked, "Hey, all I have to do is boast about my powers, he loses focus, and he'll be back in prison faster than he got out." "But-" "Don't worry, Jazz. It's just Freakshow." He then grabbed his backpack and went off to school.
Danny walked up to the school entrance where he was met with his best friends, Sam and Tucker. Judging by the same worried expression they wore, both of them saw the news as well. Despite this, Danny walked up to them as if it was a normal day, well normal for him. Seeing this, Tucker blurted out, "Dude, didn't you see the news?! Freakshow escaped!" "And?" Danny replied. Sam rolled her eyes, "And he is most likely going come after you again!" "And I'll beat him just as easily as the last time." "But last time, we almost died," Tucker injected. Danny only shrugged, "Relax, he doesn't have the Reality Gauntlet anymore." "But-" Sam tried to continue. "It's fine. It's just Freakshow," Danny restated and continued to class, the two still concerned friends following him.
Mr. Lancer's English class was a little more interesting than usual: they were discussing the mystery novels of Sherlock Holmes. As he finished his lecture, he began a new one, "While Sherlock Holmes is a famous icon all over the English speaking world, his perfect counterpart is famous among the French speaking world. He is the elusive gentleman thief, Arsene Lupin." Mr. Lancer continued to explain the stories of the gentleman thief and most of the class was actually paying attention for a bit. It was pretty cool and something they didn't hear every day. Even kids who never listen were tuned into the lecture. One person in particular that Danny never saw interest in any type of school lesson was Star: she was completely absorbed in the topic, taking in every word eagerly. It was bizarre in the extreme.
About half way through Mr. Lancer's speech, a piercing scream cut him off, scaring the life out of half of the class. Star was staring at her phone, fanning herself excessively, and crying out, "No way! No way!" Everyone just watched her in awe. No one had ever seen Star so worked up about... anything. Even Mr. Lancer was caught off guard by the sudden outburst. Recovering from shock, Mr. Lancer asked sternly, "Is there something you wish to share with us, Star?"
Instead of sheepishly apologizing for the outburst like everyone thought she would, Star's face beamed with unnatural excitement that they've never seen before. "It's only that the coolest guy in the world is here in Amity Park!" "Well, if you would be so kind as to turn your attention back to our lesson-"
"But this is relevant to our lesson!" Star cried excitedly. Everyone stared blankly at her. She sighed dramatically, regaining some of her snobbish personality. "Honestly, do you people all live under a rock? There's a new Arsene Lupin."
"What?!" Lancer exclaimed, "Lupin was a fictional character!"
"Well, there is a real life Lupin, and he's the greatest thief in the world."
Everyone was focusing on Star now: she smiled cockily, thrilled that she knew something that all of them didn't. "He's the ever elusive Phantom Thief Kid or Kaito Kid in his native language. He originally appeared in Paris eighteen years ago, but his most targeted and native country is Japan. He's so amazingly arrogant, yet so incredibly amazing," she sighed in romantic admiration, "If I could just kiss those arrogant lips of his... He's planning to steal the artifacts of the Spectral History Exhibit tomorrow night at 10:34."
"Huh? How do you know that?" Tucker asked.
A mischievous sparkle gleamed in Star's eyes, "Because he sends a notice beforehand."
"Why?"
"Because he's that smart. He wants to make it a challenge for himself."
Everyone quickly questioned the story among themselves. It was crazy to think that there was a real life guy that could actually pull those types of stunts off. The only person capable of such feats had to be a ghost. How else could someone possibly perform such heists?
"Hmph! No matter how smart this thief guy is Danny Phantom will stop him!" Paulina stated proudly.
"As if!" Star glared at her and the entire class gasp. Star never contradicted Paulina ever. She always followed Paulina on everything, no matter what. Now the satellite was going against the orbit.
"Danny Phantom always defeats those low-lives. This thief will be no different," Paulina said harshly.
"This thief isn't like those other guys. He's capable of anything," Star retorted.
Despite his attempts to stop the argument, Mr. Lancer's class continued to the end with the two girls battering fiercely.
Danny for his part was interested in what Star had said. He, too, thought that this phantom guy was a ghost and just causing trouble. He sighed, he already had Freakshow to deal with, but now also had this weird thieving ghost to stop. However, he thought Freakshow was probably the bigger threat. Sure, he said that he could easily take him, but Freakshow was extremely crafty and dangerous. Some petty ghost thief couldn't be that hard to handle.
So, Star actually is a major character in this story. I was going to have Paulina be the fan girl, but she is so obsessed with Danny Phantom that she couldn't be.
Hmm, Danny doesn't think that Phantom Thief Kid isn't a threat… bad idea.
Don't own either shows and please review!