Danny stopped his wail and stood there panting for a second, his hair and eyes snapped back to their previous appearance. The guardians slowly looked up, having heard and did the same as the captives to protect themselves from the devastating sound. Danny stumbled and Jack rushed forward and caught Danny before he hit the ground.
"What was that?!" Jack asked loudly, breaking the silence that had fallen.
"My… ghostly wail. Didn't know… I could do that still. Really wears me out," Danny managed weakly. Jack noticed Pitch getting unsteadily to his feet but the other guardians rushed forward and Sandy wrapped him in dream sand whips.
"That… that sounded like a ghostly wail!" Sam commented as she picked herself up, speaking louder than normal due to a ringing in her ears. Tucker looked up and nodded.
"But the only ghost that we knew could do that was…" Tucker began.
"Danny," they whispered in unison. Jack glanced at Danny. Danny was watching his friends closely, his expression once again unreadable. Jamie sat up and rubbed his aching ears.
"It was," Jamie informed them without thinking. Sam and Tucker turned to Jamie.
"No it wasn't. Danny's gone," Tucker snapped quickly.
"And if he did come back, why didn't he show himself to us?" Sam added, sounding hurt.
Jack helped Danny to stand more upright, this was difficult to watch. Jack couldn't imagine how it could be for Danny. No wonder Danny didn't visit home much. Jamie shook his head. Danny turned away from the exchange before gasping at Danielle. She was curled up and shaking. He pushed himself away from Jack and stumbled unsteadily to Danielle's side.
He touched her shoulder nervously and felt her fear. It was almost overwhelming.
"It's alright Dani. It's over," Danny whispered. Danielle shook her head. Danny bit his lip.
"I hope this doesn't back fire," he muttered and phased into Danielle's mind.
He saw Danielle, in her twelve year old human form. She was destabilising and shadow creatures were attacking her.
"Dani!" Danny called to her. Danielle turned to him smiled with relief.
"Danny! You have to help me!" Danielle pleaded. Danny nodded and ran to her side. He touched her shoulder and she instantly stopped melting.
"It's alright Dani. You're stable now and these things… they're just bad dreams. You can face that right?" Danny urged. Danielle smiled and nodded.
"Course I can," Danielle answered and her fear reduced as she turned to them.
"Go away!" she shouted. The shadows froze and Danielle took a bold step forward.
"Leave me alone!" Danielle ordered and the shadows vanished. Danielle smirked and turned to Danny. She frowned.
"Wait, you look different. What happened to you?" Danielle realised. Danny laughed softly and knelt down to Danielle's level.
"It's a long story Dani and one that's not important. You're fine now so I have to go," Danny replied. Danielle frowned and grabbed his hand before he could go.
"Please, come back," she whispered. Danny smiled sadly.
"Sorry Danielle. Not my call," Danny apologised and gently pulled his hand away and disappeared.
Danny phased out of Danielle and took a steadying breath. He hated seeing Danielle frightened and that upset. He coughed softly as tears threatened and he blinked them away. The guardians had taken Pitch out of the room, hopefully dealing with him appropriately. Jack stood to one side leaning on his staff and watching Danny with concern. Danielle sat up and sniffled.
"Danny," she muttered. Sam and Tucker stopped arguing with Jamie, who was trying to explain why Danny couldn't be seen.
"What did you say Dani?" Sam inquired gently. Danielle shook her head.
"Must have been my imagination. I thought I heard Danny's voice," she replied. Jamie watched the halfa, wondering if she had heard Danny. Danielle turned away and gaped at Danny who wasn't facing them, trying to get his emotions under control. Jack remained a respectful distance but noticed the change in Danielle.
"Danny?" Danielle called uncertainly. Danny stiffened. He turned and blinked in shock as Danielle stared at him in disbelief.
"Can you see me?" he asked softly. Danielle nodded, her face morphing into a smile and tears welling in her eyes.
She floated into the air and shot over to Danny, clinging his neck and crying happily into his shoulder.
"You came back!" she exclaimed, overjoyed. Danny quickly phased away and shook his head.
"I'm sorry Dani, but I'm not back," Danny told her firmly. Jamie and Jack watched the scene, shocked by Danny's reaction. Sam and Tucker stared in confusion.
"What do you mean? Of course you are. You're right in front of me!" Danielle argued sternly. Danny shook his head.
"No, I'm not a ghost. Your ghost sense would have gone off. I'm like Pitch. I can only be seen by people ready to face fear. I'm the Spirit of Fear," Danny explained. Danielle shook her head.
"But you're still here! That means you're back Danny," Danielle retorted.
"Dani, who are you talking to?" Tucker asked nervously. Danielle turned to him.
"Danny, he's right in front of me. You can't see him?" Danielle answered.
"They aren't ready to face their fears. Sam and Tucker can't see me. Jamie can though," Danny interjected as Sam and Tucker shook their heads, looking at Danielle with concern. Danielle turned to Danny.
"But they have to see you! This isn't fair," Danielle complained. Danny shrugged.
"It's the way it works," Danny retorted.
"You have to make them see you," Danielle ordered. Danny shook his head.
"I've tried before Dani. Nothing works. Trust me," Danny replied. Jamie glanced at Jack who frowned sympathetically and shrugged. He didn't know how to help Danny either. It was heart breaking to watch.
Danny placed his hands on Danielle's shoulders.
"It's alright Dani. It's okay for them not to see me. All I ask is that you tell my parents. They're searching for me in the Ghost Zone. They need to move on. Tell them that ghosts form directly after death. Lie and say that you found out from Clockwork or someone. Help them to stop holding out hope of seeing me again. I'm gone," Danny requested. Danielle shook her head and began to cry again, this time due to sadness.
"It's not fair. This is all Vlad's fault!" she growled.
"Dani, it's not. It's mine. If I had been more careful or prepared that night I might have had a better plan. If I had paid attention more during that ghost fight, maybe I wouldn't have led my parents right into Vlad's lab. This is my fault," Danny admitted. Danielle looked up sharply.
"It's not your fault Danny! You didn't force Vlad to go to the Guys in White. You didn't deserve to get shot," Danielle retorted quickly and firmly. Jamie gasped. He hadn't known how Danny died.
"Dani, you're starting to worry us," Sam called and got up. She walked up to Danielle, not seeing Danny beside her and tried to get the ghost girl to look at her.
"Dani, there's no one there," Sam began. Danielle shook her head.
"I'm going to get them to see you," she decided and grabbed Sam.
"Dani! Don't!" Danny shouted as Danielle grabbed Tucker and phased them out of the room. Danny ran after them.
"Dani!" Danny yelled and flew after her. Jamie and Jack shared a look and Jack grabbed Jamie and flew after them, using doors instead of the wall.
So… that could have gone better, right? Let me know what you guys think.
In case you're wondering how Danielle was able to face her fear so easily, think about it. She had Danny with her to help her. Unlike Jamie, Danny and Danielle had history.
Anyway, until the next chapter.