Chapter 18: Climax Rising

Cecelia faked a fever to her father and he let her stay home from school while he went to work. Of course she was not really sick, but she was laden with guilt for having lied to him. Cecelia didn't like to lie, and she wasn't very good at it either. Surprisingly enough, he believed her.

"Suck it up, Cecelia." She told herself. Everything she was about to do was absolutely necessary to her plan.

She ambled around the house gathering his blueprints and plans and other stuff as well as any diagrams, charts and records of anything he had created that would in any way be of harm to a ghost.

The computer files she put on a hard drive and the blueprints and other hand-written items she folded neatly away into one of her old purses. With her suit's intangibility, she reached into her father's safe and took out the blueprints to the Equator and anything else Equator-related.

Cecelia spent the entire day scanning the house top to bottom and collecting everything related to her father's work. She even went so far as to accumulate the small-scale mini models.

Cecelia was surprised at the mass the total quantity accounted for: two purse-fulls.

Then Cecelia flew—intangibly—to the Government Guys in White lab and put both purses in Garth's locker. Cecelia knew it would be the perfect hiding place because Garth was always skipping work.

Maybe now would be a good time to find out where Garth had always gone when he was supposed to be here. Cecelia flew to his house and turned tangible again. She rang the doorbell and he answered.

"Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" She asked with a competitive smile. That was Cecelia for ya.

But Garth was not in the mood. He let her in the house but it didn't seem like he had much to say. Cecelia waited for him to talk, but he didn't.

"Why do you skip work so often?"

"It's because I have to train myself. On December 31st, I'm supposed to challenge the head dragon in Aragon's medieval realm. It's in the ghost zone. You don't wanna go there."

"Oh. Did you make that up?"

"No. You saw me as a dragon." Garth answered her. "So what did you really come over here for?"

"I came to ask you that. I've always wondered. And by the way, if you do happen to go back to work and find two random purses there, they're mine. They're part of my plan. And you might want to remove any valuables from your locker before December third."

Garth knew exactly what Cecelia meant. "I'll drop by and do that." He said casually, as if all the mysteriousness was part of everyday living.

It was after dinner on December second. Dash Baxter was preparing his larger-than-average home for the big party tomorrow. He had great plans for it.

He had told all the guests he invited that, "There's no dress code, but try to look as cool as possible and remember you're coming to celebrate my birthday so you better give me a fantastic gift."

As Dash was playing football with his old man, the phone rang and Dash's mother called him inside. Dash picked up the phone. "Whoa, Danny Phantom? Cool! So I'll see ya at my party tomorrow? That's great!" Dash put the phone down. "Sa-weet! I'm gonna get to meet Danny Phantom! This is going to be the best party in the history of parties that I've thrown."

Dash took a shower and then he called his girlfriend Paulina. "Hey babe, I've got something special planned for the party tomorrow. You're a big fan of Danny Phantom, right?"

"Yes. Who isn't?"

"Well I got him to make a special appearance at my birthday party. I guess Danny knows who's cool around town, huh? Well anyways, I just wanted to let you know because Kwan told me you had a major crush on him."

"Wha? No! And besides, I'm dating you!"

"Whatever. Just look pretty tomorrow so I can make all the other people jealous."

"And you make sure you look hotter than usual so that all the other girls wish they were me!"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

And then Dash hung up the phone. "Aah, Paulina. She sure knows the quickest way to a man's heart."

This is what Garth does earlier in the day on December third.

Thanks to all the team meetings at Danny's house, Garth now had easy access to a ghost portal. It was only on a day like today that that access would come in handy. Today Garth would travel to the dragon realm in his dragon form and talk to Prince Aragon.

Garth changed into dragon form and he flew across town intangible and then he made it to the Fenton house. He went into the basement where the portal was just sitting there with its doors wide open. Garth flew through.

Garth hated being in the eerie green world of ghosts. There were all sorts of strange sounds coming from realms far and near. There were random doorways floating everywhere. And nothing marked the boundaries between realms, so property was always a big issue.

As Garth drifted onward towards the realm of the medieval dragons—he had been told by Danny as far as what to look for—Garth had to watch out for all the ghost traffic floating around in every which way. Garth did not like this place one bit.

Garth looked ahead and he saw a world fashioned from the Dark Ages. "That's gotta be it." he said.

Garth entered the realm and guards let him pass because he was a dragon. "Where is Aragon?" He asked the guards. They pointed to a small golf field where Aragon, in his normal form, was playing golf with his two ladies-in-waiting.

"Aragon I demand to speak with you." Garth made his voice sound all boomy-like.

Aragon just laughed. "Who are you supposed to be?"

"I am Garth Lloyd. And I want you to tell your citizens that on December 31st, I will challenge your successor, Prince Lyon, for the throne."

This made Aragon cackle all the more. And then Aragon transformed into a dragon ghost three times the size of Garth.

But Garth didn't back down. He didn't know where this boldness was coming from, but he liked it. He stared Aragon right in the eye and said, "I'm not afraid of you."

Aragon breathed fire on Garth and Garth fought back with some flames of his own. "You're so weak." Aragon said to Garth. "I'd almost rather take you up on that offer of yours just to watch you fail. And then the rest of my realm would have even more proof of Lyon's superiority." Aragon was so cocky that it made Garth want to beat him up all the more harder.

"I'll beat Lyon, you'll see! I'll crush him! And then you'll have no choice but to crown me the winner! But I assure you, I'll be a much better ruler than Lyon ever could!"

Aragon roared. "Ohhh, don't you say that about my nephew!" Aragon took a deep breath and a raging river of hot fire poured from his mouth and onto Garth.

Garth was lucky that dragon skin was nearly fireproof. Garth merely turned intangible and let the fire surpass him until Aragon had completely run out of breath. Then Garth wrapped his tail around Aragon's neck—sort of like a headlock—thus choking off his breathing so no more fire could come out.

And then for the final blow, Garth punched Aragon as hard as possible and Aragon was so shocked that he fell to the ground.

"Let me go" Aragon managed to say though Garth was still choking him.

"I want a real battle, and if I win, I'll be crowned the ruler of your realm." Garth bargained. Aragon still hesitated to answer. Garth squeezed Aragon's neck tighter.

"Okay, okay, if you win, I'll declare you the new Prince of the medieval realm." Aragon said.

Garth released his strong grasp on Aragon's neck and Aragon stood up tall again.

Garth decided to make his way out of here as quick as possible before Aragon changed his mind. Garth flew speedily through the ghost zone and back to his home.

Garth looked at his clock. "Oh shoot! It's almost time for the big party at Dash's place! I'd better get ready!"

The following account is what happened to everybody else on December third. Cecelia awoke on the cold morning of December third. Today was the day she had not been looking for. Cecelia meditated once again. Her mind was clear as crystal and she could concentrate now. She hoped she was on the right track to making things right. She got ready for school and then walked to it. She didn't talk to anybody all day. Valerie had pretty much been ignoring her.

Of course, Valerie wasn't actually mad at Cecelia. Was she? Cecelia didn't even want to think about losing her best friend on a day like today.

That's why at lunch, Cecelia half-smiled to see her friends Sam, Tucker, and Danny sit down with her at the once empty table. And then Valerie sat down next to Danny. Cecelia lost her smile and her appetite. Every time she looked at Valerie, she was reminded how she had betrayed her own father and her best friend Valerie. What would Valerie think if she knew the truth? Cecelia didn't want to deal with that right now, so she remained quiet.

School dragged on and on and people were grateful when the last bell finally came.

Dash rushed home to make sure everything was ready for the party. He took a shower and shaved. He looked very…Dashing.

Paulina put on a flattering red dress and some flashy makeup.

Danielle straightened her hair and put on a neon shirt.

Tucker actually took off his hat and put on some deodorant.

Sam went for the late-night gothic look and wore a different shade of lipstick. She actually wore some eye makeup as well as putting her hair up like she did once at a freshman dance.

Danny put on a black hoodie that had a special looking Danny Phantom emblem on it. (Which Sam had designed).

And Garth, well, he looked exactly the same.

Meanwhile, Valerie was stuck in detention and that meant she couldn't go to the party with Danny like she had planned. Valerie sat at a desk and face Mr. Lancer. He sat at his desk grading papers.

Valerie was the only student in the room. "How much time do I have left?" she asked bad-temperedly.

"You need to stop being so impatient. You have a half-hour. Mr. Baxter's house is ten minutes away from here so there's no reason you should complain to me about being late to the party."

Valerie groaned.

At the Baxter house, guests were arriving more rapidly than Dash had accounted for. But when Paulina arrived, he forgot all about the other people in the room. Together they danced, and they were the envy of every other couple out there. And then they kissed. The other people clapped.

Somewhere along the way, Danny and Danielle met up with Sam and Tucker who had been walking to the party. It was Danielle's idea for them all to fly. Danny took Sam and Danielle took Tucker and they got to the party much faster than they would have if they had been walking. Danielle stepped into the shadows and changed back into human form while Danny remained as a ghost.

"Do you want to dance, Danielle? You know, to blend in?" Tucker asked awkwardly.

"To blend in?" Danielle smiled slightly, blushing under her makeup.

"Yeah…we'll be just like everyone else!"

Danielle only laughed. She knew what he meant and what he was thinking even if he didn't say it. That's why she liked him: he wasn't that hard to figure out. And he could be so cute when he wasn't trying too hard.

Danielle and Tucker went onto the dance floor mat and danced away though neither of them knew what they were doing. Tucker was a better dancer than her, so he led.

That left Sam and Danny. "Gee, Danny, if Valerie knew your secret, you could have flown her here." Sam said.

Danny ignored her comment. He was watching out the window for Valerie to arrive. "Do you think it would be too strange if I flew over there and walked with her here?"

"Yes." Sam said.

"Well, I don't see Val yet but here comes Garth. You really like him, right?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact I do. That doesn't bother you, does it?" Sam was hoping that Danny still had remains of feelings for her however small.

Danny shrugged his shoulders. "No." He said casually. He looked out the window again. "I'm happy that you're happy."

Sam was disappointed.

But here came Garth, standing tall and slightly more muscular than he was when Sam first met him. "Hi guys." He greeted Sam and Danny. "Danny, are you watching for Valerie?"

"Well, Valerie is my date."

Garth looked at Sam. "I bet you're bored, huh?"

Sam nodded.

"Do you want to go, um, dance…or something?"

"Goths don't really dance." Sam said. "But I suppose I can make an acceptation in this case." She and Garth went onto the dance floor. She seemed to enjoy what they called "dancing" although it was more of a swaying back and forth very slightly.

Somebody tapped Danny on the shoulder. It was Dash. "Wow! Danny Phantom! You're really cool! Could you sign this football for me?" Dash handed Danny an expensive football and a sharpie marker. Danny signed it. "Gee thanks!"

"Is that the only reason you wanted me to come here?" Danny asked.

"Shh! Don't say anything about that because I told people you wanted to come here because I'm so cool. But thanks anyways, Danny Phantom. You rock!" That was all Dash had to say before he disappeared into the crowd again.

Danny looked over at the door and there was Valerie, all bundled up in winter gear because she was shivering.

Danny wanted to give her a big hug and then remembered he was still in ghost form. He went into a bathroom and came out as Danny Fenton. Then he ran over to Valerie and gave her a big warm hug to warm her up. Then she gave him a kiss.

"Hey." She said to him.

"Hey." He said to her. They held hands. And then he remembered the surprise he wanted to show her. "Come with me." He pulled her along.

Valerie giggled like a little child would have laughed on Christmas morning. "Where are you taking me?" She asked pleasantly.

"I know you were just outside," Danny led her through the open front door and they walked out. Danny didn't see anyone else around. He took Valerie's hands in his once again, "I wanted to show you something that's very important to me."

"What is it?"

"What you're about to see you cannot forget, you cannot change, and you cannot deny. It doesn't seem possible, but it's real, and has been for three years. I won't belittle it and say that it won't change our relationship because it will. And you might never look at me the same again, but, here it goes." Blue rings appeared around Danny's waistline and they changed him into the infamous hero that all people recognized. "I'm Danny Fenton, but I'm also Danny Phantom."