Enjoy the next chapter of Nicktoons: The Final Countdown…

Chapter 7: Old Friend's Arrival

Later that same afternoon, Jimmy was sitting on the living room couch, reading the handwritten instruction manual that shows how to operate the machine, Platform, which has the technology to (literally) change the world to whatever the user desires. Everyone else was discussing the other possibilities that they could use Platform for (after they stopped DarkEvil from using Platform to make the world whatever he wanted it to be).

Danielle sat next to him and asked, "So, Jimmy, have you found out anything else?"

Jimmy's eyes widen a bit as he looks to the side with a slightly embarrassed look until he quickly calms down and answers, "Oh, um…yes, actually. It would seem that even if we wanted to, none of us can use Platform- not even DarkEvil."

"WHAT?" the others all asked in shock.

"Why not?" Timmy asked. "Besides, all that mumbo-jumbo in that book, I'm sure someone who's smart enough will know how to operate it."

"That's not what I'm saying." Jimmy tried to explain. "It would seem that the creator made a digit security code to keep Platform from being operational. So unless it's entered, it cannot be accessed."

"You serious?" Tommy asked in shock. "Why would he wanna do that?"

"My guess is probably for precautionary reasons, which is pretty understandable." Jimmy answered. "But the point is without the code, no one can access it- except for the creator who I'm assuming is the only one who knows the code."

"So now we have to find a guy in blue and the inventor of Platform." Tammy recalled with a disappointed look. "And that's not even half of the list of things we still need to do."

"I have to agree, Jimmy." Sam said to the genius. "How are you all gonna do all that? We still need to find Danny."

"I don't know." Jimmy said as he turned around and slumped in disappointment. "Jack and Maddie are helping with that, but…there's also SpongeBob…and Tak…" he sighed. "We need some type of help."

"Hello?" a familiar voice asked as someone walked through the front door. "Mom? Dad? Dani?"

At this, everyone became silent and turned their attention to see it was Danny Fenton standing at the front of the living room with a confused look on his face. He was now eighteen-years-old with longer spikier hair and noticeably muscular arms; wearing a white shirt underneath a blue denim vest with torn sleeves, dark blue jeans, and red shoes.

Once he saw the group, he suddenly smiled and asked, "I hope I'm not missing a party in my own home."

"Danny!" Sam shouted happily as she ran over and hugged him while he stood stiffly in her arms. She gave him a peck on the cheek and asked, "I can't believe you're back. We were so worried about you."

"I'm sorry." Danny replied with a sheepish smile. "It's kinda a long story."

"I wanna hear it." Darry said as he ran up to him. "I was worried about what happened to you too, Dad."

"Darry?" Danny shouted in shock as he stared at the teen. "You're…you're here?"

"He's not the only one who's here." Timmy added as he walked into Danny's view.

"Timmy?" Danny asked, still in shock as he stared at Timmy. "Is that really you?"

"You better believe it." Timmy said with a smile as he stood next to Jimmy, who smiled as well.

Then Danny suddenly grew a smile. "It's incredible." He walked over to them and placed his hands on their shoulders. "I can't believe how much you two have changed." Then he glanced at the teen genius to see he almost reached his height. "Jimmy, did you get taller?"

"It's possible." Jimmy said deadpanned, having frequently heard that question asked lately.

Danielle walked over to Danny and gave him a hug. "Where were you?" she asked as she let go. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Danny answered calmly. "But that's the thing. When I chased after those SpongeCog robots, one of them caught me off guard and knocked me out. The next thing I knew, I was being held hostage by DarkEvil LaserPants."

They all gasped at this. "No way!" Tommy shouted in shock.

"That's terrible!" SpongeTron cried out.

"Why?" Tammy gasped, covering her mouth.

"What happened next, Dad?" Darry demanded to know. "What did he want with you?"

"He didn't say- as much as I wanted to know." Danny continued explaining. "I did manage break out of where he was keeping me…but it wasn't easy, I'm sure you know."

"Well, it must've been easy considering you don't look the way you did last time." Sam pointed out, noticing he did not look worn out or practically dead like when DarkEvil captured him four years ago and he managed to barely escape with his life.

Danny chuckled embarrassingly. "I was a kid back then, Sam. DarkEvil can't pull the same junk on me twice."

"Well, all things considered, we're glad to have you back with us, Danny." Jimmy said with a smile.

"Good to be back, Jimmy." Danny said with a smile as well. "I never thought I'd see you or Timmy again- or Darry and the future kids anytime soon."

"But by the way, Mr. Fenton…" SpongeTron began asking nervously. "Did you, by any chance, see my creator there?"

"Oh man, he's right." Timmy suddenly remembered. "Clockwork told us something happened to SpongeBob too. We figured the same thing that happened to you might've happened to him."

"I was wondering where SpongeBob and Tak were just now." Danny said as he thought to himself for a second before replying, "But I'm sorry, guys. I didn't see SpongeBob back there." Danny now had a guilty look. "If I had known he was taken by that maniac too, I would've tried to help him."

"It's okay, Danny." Jimmy said, trying to hide his sadness. "We may have no idea where Tak is, but if there's a possibility that SpongeBob is being held hostage by DarkEvil, at least with you here, we have a chance of finding where he is."

Dani then held Danny's arms and said in a comforting tone, "And we'll find a way to go help him. Plus I'm sure SpongeBob will be okay till then. He had to have gotten stronger these past few years."

Timmy quietly chuckled and muttered, "I'll believe that when I see it." Unfortunately SpongeTron heard him and punched him in the arm as Timmy winced.

"There is one more thing I'd like to ask you, Danny." Jimmy started saying, "Did DarkEvil mention anything about what he was planning by sending his SpongeCog bots to our worlds?"

"Not much, but I did hear him say one thing." Danny answered as he tried to remember. "Something about getting the one thing that'll give him what he wants, but he'll need to get the Target first."

Jimmy smiled as he held the book. "Then it's gotta be this for sure."

Danny gasped in shock once he saw the book he was holding. "What….what is that?"

"This is a handwritten instruction manual for a device called 'Platform' created by an inventor of astounding intellect." Jimmy explained as he held the book into view. "It has to be that target DarkEvil wants."

"Platform?" Danny questioned in confusion as he sat on the couch. "What kind of invention is a platform?"

Seeing how baffled Danny was by the sudden explanation of what they learned during his absence, Jimmy quickly briefed him everything that has happened so far. However, Jimmy's 'quick explanation' turned into a three hour overview on everything that Jimmy felt was important to go into detail about from his confrontation with the SpongeCogs; him finding the book after he, Timmy, and Dani were aided by a mysterious figure in a blue robe; reuniting with the Time Fixers and Clockwork sending them to help find out DarkEvil's plan; and learning everything about Platform's technology to alter the properties of a single world and the power it holds that could lead to disastrous results if used in the wrong hands.

After his long-winded explanation, everyone who already knew the story were lying around the room with dull expressions with Danny being the only one concentrating on everything Jimmy was explaining.

"…and that's pretty much everything we've learned about Platform." Jimmy finished explaining.

Danny was awestruck by what he just heard. "This…this whole thing is amazing. I never imagined that when we got back together…we'd be faced with this kind of problem."

Jimmy stopped gave an exasperated sigh. "Me neither, Danny." He said in a quiet voice.

Danny began to ask, "So did you find out anything else?"

"Not much." Jimmy answered as he flipped a few pages of the book. "As much as I hate to admit it, the technology used in Platform is far too advanced even for me. But I did notice that some of the designs over the protective area of the operating controls have the same failsafe technology I used in my old Neutronic Mech-Suit to protect me from abnormal situations. I'm sure you remember that."

Danny frowned angrily at this as he remembered the dangerous battle suit Jimmy invented four years ago. "Oh yeah," the ghost boy responded in hatred. "How could I not?"

"How could any of us forget?" Timmy added with the same emotion in his voice, but a little less than Danny.

"But like you said before, Jimmy," Tammy reminded. "How could anyone use Platform with that secret code locking it?"

"A code?" Danny questioned, suddenly surprised. "What code? Is it written down in the book?"

Before Jimmy could answer, Tommy yelled, "Oh man, enough! All we've been talking about is the same stuff over and over again! Let's take a five minute break, can't we?"

"But…what about stopping DarkEvil?" Danny asked. "And Platform?"

"It's okay, Danny." Jimmy said with a shrug. "After everything we've learned today, we could use a little breather before deciding what our next move will be."

Danny did not seem content with the idea, but Darry grabbed his arm. "This'll be great, Dad. You can tell me about all your new gnarly adventures you've had."

When Darry dragged his past dad away to spend time with him, the latter just rolled his eyes, even more annoyed with this idea. But Sam just stood there, staring at Danny with a suspicious look on her face. "Why do I get the feeling that something's not right here?" she asked herself.

All right! Danny's finally arrived! Will he be able to help find DarkEvil and rescue SpongeBob?