Short Story #2: That Fateful Night

INSPIRED BY: All of the Danny Phantom Reveal Fics through diary or journal entries that I've read

Amity Park. Well known as the 'most haunted town in America' and most people of the small town would agree with that statement. However, they didn't need to worry because they had their own superheroes to take care of their 'paranormal' problems. Edward Lancer was no exception to this 'trend' of just letting either the illusive Danny Phantom or the Red Huntress to take care of the town's seemingly increasing paranormal activity. He was just glad that the threat was taken care of and the only major thing they'd have to deal with was property damage, though that was to be expected. However, luckily, the two teen heroes tried to keep the damage to a minimum, especially Phantom.

Edward Lancer was an english teacher you see. He taught at the town's only high school, Casper High. He started teaching there many years ago once he found his passion for teaching and spreading knowledge to the younger generations of the world's greatest authors and poets. Sure, not all of the topic were interesting, but he at least attempted to make the lessons fun. He rather enjoyed his job for the most part. Sure, he'd get irritated rather easily, but he was quick to forgive, and not to mention he loved younger children since it reminded him of himself back in his 'better days'.

There was one part of his day that always made him curious however, a certain student in his first period English class. Mr. Lancer loved the sense of curiosity, always wanting to see the bigger picture, though, he'd try and keep his nose out of the situation and try and figure it out for himself. There was one mystery that he just could not figure out. What happened to Danny Fenton? Mr. Lancer started to become curious of the raven haired teen after an accident that happened in his parents lab at their house almost a year ago now. Before the accident he was a rather bright student, maintaining A's throughout the entire first semester and was always eager to learn. He was also very open and could be a klutz sometimes. Danny was also known throughout the school for his sarcastic puns and witty banter, though, he made sure to not do too much of it in front of authority figures. After the accident however, that eagerness to learn from before suddenly vanished. He started to be late for class or skip entirely. His great grades dropped significantly and he became more isolated from everyone except his best friends, Sam Manson and Tucker Foley. Mr. Lancer didn't forget to note the few times he's seen Danny with Valerie Gray however.

The middle-aged teacher wanted nothing more than to help his student. The question was how. Should he just confront him? Should he ask his friends first and get their opinion? Should he confront the teen's parents? Whenever he started to think about this the same question kept popping up in his head, what exactly happened to one of his most promising students? What happened that would cause such a dramatic and significant change in personality? Finally giving up on thinking about this certain topic for the day, the teacher let out a sigh and put away the scattered papers that were on his desk in a folder. He'd finish grading them later. He glanced at the clock just above the rim of the door to the classroom and it read 6:00. He really should be getting home before it gets too dark.

The walk home was rather uneventful. The slightly overweight teacher was surprised that there wasn't a ghost attack or something going on like there usually is. The teacher just kept walking when he saw something that had a white glow from the corner of his eye. He turned his head and there he saw Phantom sitting at the base of a tree, writing in a journal, not even acknowledging the man's presence. Mr. Lancer could help but wonder what the ghost teen was writing about. Was it about his life when he was alive? What it just a journal about his ghost fights? Does he even remember being alive? Why was he here in the park in the first place? Mr. Lancer quickly was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard a rather loud explosion only feet away from him. He quickly took cover behind a bush and looked up at the sky and there he saw Phantom fighting a rather familiar hunter ghost, "Now I have you whelp! I will finally have your pelt at the foot of my bed!" The ghost laughed as he charged at the ghost teen. Phantom quickly and easily dodged the attack before sending a few of his own. A green glow surrounded Phantoms hands at he sent ecto-blasts at the ghost, knocking him into the tree below with a large thud.

"Geez Skulker, how many times do I have to tell you? I don't want to be one of your weird pelts! It's just plain gross," Phantom mocked as he pulled out his signature thermos before flying to the ground next to the ghost hunter, "you know Skulker? When we first met, I actually thought you were a challenge and a heck of a lot better at hunting me than my parents. Now I think you're even worse than my parents, and that's saying something. Now, buh-bye!" Phantom opened and hit a button on the thermos which made a bright blue light appear that sucked the hunter ghost into the thermos before Phantom closed it rapidly. Phantom then took off into the sunset sky.

Edward Lancer was having a hard time trying to comprehend what had just happened. Sure, ghost attacks were normal and everything, but he had never been so close to one before. He stood up before brushing off the dirt off himself. She slowly walked in front of the bush and looked in the direction Phantom went. He then turned around and looked at the tree that Phantom was sitting under just minutes before. It was a rather large oak tree, and since it was fall the leaves were starting to change color. It was a rather beautiful scene. Mr. Lancer then looked to where Phantom was sitting and saw a little black leather book with Phantoms insignia on it. It didn't take a genius to figure out, that Phantom had left his diary in the middle of the park.

Mr. Lancer was conflicted. Should he leave it and that way if the hero realized he forgot it he could find it right where he left it? Or did he take the book and try to find Phantom and return it? Though, the second one would be harder to do, at least he could keep it safe from anyone else. Making up his mind, he slowly walked over to the book and picked it up. Yes, he'd keep it safe until he could find Phantom and return it to him. The hard part is trying not to read it. Everyone in Amity Park knew of the ghost boy, and they wanted to know everything there was to know and here was Edward Lancer, an english teacher at Casper High with a book that could have all the answers everyone wanted. Everything anyone could possibly want to know about Phantom's private life would be inside of that book. Mr. Lancer would have to make sure that he kept it away from anyone else until he could find the young hero and return it so it didn't get into the wrong hands. Yes, he was doing the right thing. Right?

When he got home later that evening, all the teacher could think about was what could be inside of the book. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't at least a little bit curious. It took everything he had not to open it. He had to keep telling himself that it was Phantom's diary and he probably didn't want anyone knowing of his private life, and Mr. Lancer respected that and that's why he didn't open it, he respected the teen hero and his privacy. However, Mr. Lancer knew he'd crack eventually, and all he's doing now is preventing that from happening long enough for him to return the diary to its rightful owner.

However, when he tried to sleep later that same evening, he couldn't. He had put the diary on his nightstand so he wouldn't forget it in the morning when he went to work. It haunted him. All of Phantoms secrets could be in that book and there it was right next to him and he wanted to know what they were. The sense of curiosity was almost if not more than what he felt for Mr. Fenton. He looked at the clock on his nightstand, 2:15 it read, and the middle-aged man couldn't help but sigh and yawn. He already knew he wouldn't get a lot of sleep thanks to the book. He might as well be productive with his time and just take a peak. It wouldn't hurt right? He'd just tell Phantom the truth when he returned it to him that he couldn't help but be curious and read an entry or two. Yeah, that sounds like a good plan. He sat up in his bed and turned on his light. He looked at the little black book and sighed, there was no coming back from whatever he learned in this book. He slowly extended his hand and grabbed it and opened the cover where he found a letter written in very legible and neat cursive.

(AN: Italics in bold means it's in the diary entry and non italics and non bold means it's Mr. Lancers reactions)

Dear Danny,

Happy birthday little brother! I know you have a lot on your mind and you don't think that you have anyone to talk to that'll understand you. I know you won't talk to me, being your older sister and all, and yes I know I over analyze things a lot. I talked to Sam and Tucker while you were out fighting Skulker last night. They said that they thought that you were being secretive as well. All three of us think that if you at least write down what you're thinking, then you'll be less stressed, that's why I got this for you. I know that you know that we just want what's best for you. At least give it a try. Happy birthday~

Love,

Jazz

P.S I know you think I'm going to steal this at some point. However, I'm going to give you my big sister guarantee that I won't unless I feel it's necessary like if you got captured or worse. These are your personal thoughts. I won't interfere unless you want me to. Don't worry, I won't go against my word.

Mr. Lancer looked wide-eyed at the letter. He only knew one Jazz in the entirety of Amity Park, and that was the daughter of Jack and Maddie Fenton. Then, it dawned on him. He was holding the diary of Danny Fenton, not Danny Phantom. Then, the questions started to roll in right on cue. Why did Phantom have Mr. Fenton's diary in the first place? More importantly, how did Phantom get a hold of such a thing? What was Mr. Fenton so stressed about? Why was he so secretive to his own friends and sister?

Edward Lancer couldn't take the curiosity anymore. He had to read and find out what happened to Daniel Fenton, sleep or no sleep. He knew he'd be extremely tired after pulling an all nighter like this, but hey, that's why God invented coffee wasn't it? Without a second more of hesitation, he flipped the page.

Dear Journal,

Well I told Jazz that I would try this whole journal thing out so that's what I'm doing. I wonder if she is right and that this will help me with just getting things off my shoulders that I don't really want people to know. I guess I should start off by saying that I'm unsure of myself. I really am. Ever since the accident and I got my powers, my life's done a complete 180. I'm unsure if this change in my life was a good thing. I was the one who started all of the ghost attacks in Amity. If I didn't let Sam ignite my very small amount of curiosity that day, I wouldn't be where I am. My dreams of becoming an astronaut are crushed thanks to the fact that I don't ever have time to do my school work anymore!

The only two perks are that I get to help people and that I'm finally recognized as a superhero by the entire town only after I saved their butts a million times over first though. Only when the entire town is in danger at once do they recognize me as something more than just 'an evil manifestation of ectoplasmic energy and post human conscious' to quote my mom. I saved their butts so much before that. Most people still hate me because of what happened with the mayor, but little did they know I WAS BEING FRAMED BY WALKER! Same thing with the jewelry store robberies, I WAS BEING CONTROLLED BY THAT GHOST ENVYING FREAK FREAKSHOW! Not that anyone besides Sam, Tuck, or Jazz would understand. Well, gotta go, ghost sense just went off.

The teacher read and reread the somewhat messily written entry over and over again just to make sure he didn't miss anything. He couldn't believe it. The one theory that he wouldn't have thought was possible, was the answer he's been looking for this whole time. Danny Fenton was Danny Phantom Not to mention all of the strange coincidences with this situation to have it be false. Phantom showed up almost a year ago. Danny Fenton got into a lab accident almost a year ago, not to mention once he returned to school is when he started acting differently. To add on to the coincidences, if you were to put the two boys side by side, you'd see the physical similarities between the two teens. If you were to take Danny Fenton and dye his hair white and give him a tan, a black jumpsuit and green contacts, he'd look exactly like Danny Phantom. Heck, even the names are similar!

The middle-aged man mentally facepalmed as to why he didn't notice the similarities sooner. He recalled had talked to Mr. Fenton before about what he wanted to be when he grew up at the start of the school year and he did mention something about becoming an astronaut and how much he loved the stars. Mr. Lancer couldn't help but remember the sparkle in the raven haired teens eyes when he was telling him about the topic. He took joy in seeing his students so passionate and driven. Though, after that lab accident, it just stopped. That drive and determination just vanished, and now he knew why. It all made sense now. He decided to keep reading to figure out if he could help his student in anyway.

Dear Journal,

Jazz was right. It does feel good to get your problems off your chest. Even if it is in a dairy. I'd have to thank her later.

I've been thinking a lot lately about telling my parents about my powers. Maybe it'd get rid of this stress that's on me all the time. I'm only hesitant because I'm scared. No, terrified about how my parents would react if I told them. I mean ghost-boys and ghost hunters don't mix. I wanted to tell them since the beginning, but when my reputation kept getting worse and worse, the more I realized that I couldn't tell them. I can take their threats if they don't know with ease… but if they did know and they still threatened me… I don't think I'd last a whole two seconds before running off to probably either Sam or Tucks, but they'd probably find me easily there. I hate to think that I'd have to go to him for help, he may be a fruit loop, but he'd be my only chance at not being found. Not that anyone could blame me right? My parents want to rip Phantom apart 'molecule by molecule. The Guys in White want to do the same. I don't know how to handle it all anymore! Ack! Ghost sense again, gotta go!

A gasp escaped Mr. Lancer's mouth as he finished reading. He couldn't help but feel bad for the teen. He couldn't even imagine what he's been through. All the stress that he's under. He couldn't fathom being under that kind of pressure. What worried him most is that he was scared of telling his parents because he was scared of how he'd react, not that he could blame the teen. Mr. Lancer was sure that if we was in Mr. Fenton's position, he would do the same thing. Maybe he would start being less harsh on him? Should he even tell him that he knows his secret? Would the teen hero be alright with his english teacher knowing his biggest secret and let him help or would he just flat out deny any assistance? He turned the page again, eager to read what else the teen had wrote.

Dear Journal,

I'm tired. Both physically and mentally. When a ghost attacks you at 3:00 in the morning only after another ghost interrupted you only a couple hours before, SUCKS! I don't want to wake Sam and Tuck, especially Sam. She's a beast if you wake her up. Literally. I don't have any time to myself anymore.

The life of a teenage halfa is rough lemme tell ya. You have to balance school, on top of chores at home, and fighting ghosts, and to make things even better, maintaining a secret identity so that you don't get put on a dissection table just so people can examine you and deem that all that's different with me is that there's ectoplasm in my DNA. I mean I'm still me… right? What if they're right and I am just a freak of nature that shouldn't exist. Oh man… what if Spectra's right and I am just a creepy little kid with creepy little powers… but I'm not right…?

I don't even want to get into the amount of pain that I'm in every time I finish putting a ghost in the thermos. Most people (including my own parents. Go figure) think that ALL ghosts can't feel pain. Well I can tell you that's all bs man. Total bs. Though most of the intense pains goes away in a few hours and I'm mostly healed by the morning, it still hurts like hell. Now, the pain doesn't amount to that of when I 'died', but it still hurts. Big time. Right now I currently have a sprained wrist and ankle, a couple broken ribs, a bunch of cuts and bruises and a splitting headache and that's just from fighting freaking Skulker and his new weapons. Man I hate it when he gets new weapons.

You see, this is why I want to tell my parents! At least this way I don't have to live in fear all the time of them figuring out my secret and ripping me apart 'molecule by molecule'. Plus, this way, all I'd have to worry at that point is school. Well I'm gonna actually get some sleep before I fully die of sleep deprivation. Heheheh….

The middle-aged english teacher couldn't stop the small tear that was forming in the corner of his eye when he read the entry. A teenager shouldn't have to go through so much and think about so much. Heck, even most adults don't have as much stress as the poor teen did. Then, it dawned on him. Daniel said in his entry that if he told his parents and he was accepted, then that'd take off a lot of the stress that he feels. What if he convinced Mr. Fenton to tell his parents about his powers? If they didn't accept him then he would try and do anything in his power to help. Though the hard part was telling the adolescent that his english teacher knew his secret. Oh boy. Edward Lancer took one more glance at the clock and it read 4:15. He decided to stop reading since he had something of a plan. He fell asleep about a half and hour later thinking about how he'd let Daniel Fenton know he knew his secret. Yes indeed this was certainly a fateful night for Edward Lancer.

PART 2 COMING SOON!