Bunny was waiting for them by the time they got to the North Pole. Danny immediately went to the immense globe covered in little golden lights that were slowly and sporadically blinking out. Sandy and Tooth had left to do their jobs but were promised to be alerted if Danny figured out where Pitch would target next. North, after Danny asked him to back off, uncomfortable with the large man hovering over him, returned to his own job of inventing and creating toys. Bunny and Jack waited for Danny to figure out Pitch's next move by the fire, removing elves that ventured over to the Spirit of Fear.
Danny spent the next two hours floating around the globe, scowling and muttering to himself. Eventually Jack had to ask.
"Any ideas?" he called to Danny. Danny sighed and landed by the console and shook his head.
"No, no idea where he'll hit next. Way I see it, Pitch has three options and I don't know the guy well enough to know which he'll go with. He reminds me of Vlad but he isn't the fruit loop," Danny answered and began to turn the globe from the console, hoping that the movement would help.
"What are his options? We know Pitch better, might be able to help," Bunny replied. Danny glanced at him and smirked.
"Glad to see that you've changed your mind about me," he commented. Bunny scratched his furry cheek and shrugged.
"I've been known to be wrong before. I'll admit I was wrong about you. So what do you think are Pitch's options?" Bunny retorted softly.
Danny turned around and faced them.
"Well, Pitch reminds me of Vlad. I know what Vlad would do in this situation so I can only guess that Pitch would think of these options. His first option, which I highly doubt he'll go with is that he'll keep going with his original plan and just mix things up a little, like change the order he'll hit towns. I mean he's mostly hit Europe and Russia and most of Africa, not much of America. Pitch was able to tell that I helped Diana and maybe Jamie in Burgess. Chances are he'll know I helped Jamie after he sucked him into that nightmare. Also, he'd be a fool to think that fear arrow or whatever would stop me. I'm not really affected by his powers," Danny explained. Jack and Bunny nodded in understanding.
"The other option, following Jamie's recovery, is he'll target him. He wanted Jamie out of the way for a reason. Since I stopped him last time, he might attack Burgess next and so Jamie. But the lights in Burgess aren't even flickering. So he's not hitting there yet," Danny resumed.
"Why aren't we protecting Jamie then?" Jack interjected. Danny smiled grimly.
"Because Pitch might have changed tactics and is now targeting the guardians instead of the kids and it could be a trap," Danny answered. Bunny nodded slowly.
"Makes sense," he muttered. Danny nodded slowly.
"He's still attacking towns but I can't predict where he'll hit. And he's much slower. Might be waiting for Hallowe'en before going for it properly again," Danny added. Jack scowled unhappily.
"And the third option?" he prompted.
"The third option is the one tripping me up. If it was Vlad we were dealing with. It would be this option but Pitch would probably go with option two. That's why I'm uncertain. The third option is attacking Amity Park," Danny replied.
"Amity Park?" Jack repeated, completely confused. Danny nodded.
"My hometown. I still have family there. I haven't visited for a few years now but if Pitch figures out who I used to be, he'll attack there to get to me. No offense, but I'm his biggest threat," Danny continued.
"How is that not offensive?" Bunny inquired heatedly.
"Bunny, I can reverse his powers, I'm more or less immune to his fear and I'm an accomplished fighter. I don't think anyone else can do all of that. Pitch has already tried to get me to back off, twice now. He recognises me as a threat," Danny retorted calmly.
"So why wouldn't Pitch go for that option?" Jack asked, stopping Bunny from starting an argument. Danny nodded.
"Because it's obvious that magical beings don't know much about ghosts. None of you had heard of Danny Phantom. Pitch would need to figure out who I was and what I was to know where and who to attack. So it depends on how smart Pitch is. Vlad knows or rather knew who I was. It was the biggest thing between us, we knew each other's secret and could use it as blackmail or to bargain with. It's the only reason he didn't attack and kill me before he did. But Pitch had never heard of Phantom when I threatened him," Danny explained. Danny shrugged and turned back to the globe. None of them noticing a small creature made of nightmare sand slip out of hiding and run through the air and out of the skylight.
So… any guesses what option Pitch will go for and what that nightmare sand creature could mean…?
sorry it's a bit short, but let me know what you think so far.
Anyway, until the next chapter.