Something Strange

-V-

"Get out of here!"

"Bring the ghost boy back!"

I grit my teeth trying to block out the noise so I could focus on the fight. "You're good Liquorice, but you ain't the Dipstick." said the ghost I was fighting, Ember McLain. As she strummed a destructive cord on her electric guitar causing an electric shock wave to race towards me.

I hit the booster controls. The jets underneath the sled flared, shooting me up like a rocket out of the way of the attack. Once out of the way I shot forward at her weaving in between the various blasts she was aiming at me.

The only advice that Scribe had given me on her was to get her guitar away from her and to keep my helmet on at all times. Apparently, she was known for hypnotizing people with her songs. I had long since promised to burn all of the memorabilia of the rock star's that currently decorated my room. A glowing fist-like blast shot from the musical instrument and hit me off course, knocking me clean off my hoverboard. My sled went on auto pilot once my feet left it's surface, maneuvering underneath me at the perfect angle before we either hit a brick wall or the hard asphalt below. While my suit protected me from a lot, the suit and I weren't indestructible.

Turning my attention back to my opponent I was imminently dodging once again. The problem was getting to her. Ember obviously had experience fighting long distance and no matter what I did I could not weave through her defenses. I knew why. Like she and the crowd kept saying, I was no Phantom. He was a much better flyer then me. I had seen that ghost do a corkscrew turn out of a dive going at least 200 mph without breaking a sweat. No doubt Ember was used to fighting someone of his agility. Odds are I wouldn't be able to make it to her.

I pulled out my blaster to try shooting at her again. It hadn't worked that much last time but I was running out of options. The Rockstar smirked as I shot at her in quick succession hoping one of my shots got through, racing her slamming another cord. All of the blasts fizzled out in her wave. I didn't stop firing, weaving back and forth trying to stay close while trying to get a shot in.

This wasn't working!

Why couldn't I do this?!

What does Phantom have that I don-

"Ahhh!" screamed Ember as a blast hit her in the back of the head. Her moment of distraction cost her as my wave of blasts hit her dead on, smashing her guitar and blasting her off of her feet, sending her flying through the air.

She cartwheeled several times before coming to a dead stop as she smashed into a wall of an apartment building. I didn't wait to question my luck, descending on the ghost like a hawk on its prey showering down blasts. Ember had recovered enough to go on the defense weaving through my blasts. It took me a second to realize she was trying to get close like I had been trying to do to her mere moments ago. An idea came to me.

Smirking I gave a half of a second more time between each blast. Ember took the bait weaving right up into my face. She was flying straight at me now. Eyes blazing just as fiercely as her blue hair, hands clenched with scorching hot ectoplasm ready to burn through me.

Just as she was on me, I shut off the jets on my sled allowing gravity to take hold. I dropped right as she was about to hit me head on. Free falling I pulled out my now favorite piece of equipment, the Fenton Thermos and aimed it at the ghost that was turning to attack again. I saw her eyes widen at her mistake before the blue beam caught her and pulled her into the device.

Tapping the sled the jets activated slowing my decent until I stopped, hovering in mid-air. I stood there breathing heavily for a minute the moment of sudden calm after a brutal fight. There was nothing like it. Then a relization came to me. I looked at the buildings and empty air around me. That shot, the shot that distracted Ember had not been mine. It was green and it came from another angle.

My eyes searched for the specter that I thought I would never miss. But if Phantom was here he was invisible. I sighed. My ghost radar hadn't gone off. I should have known it wasn't going to be him. But part of me had hoped he was. The constant fights at all hours of the day was getting to me. A figure on a neighboring building caught my eye. They turned away the second I faced them.

"Miss Huntress!"

Called a voice.

I jumped looking to see a reporter and news crew standing just within shouting distance. An angry looking crowd not too far away. "What have you done with Phantom?"

A fresh wave of rage washed through me. "I haven't done anything to him. I don't know where he is and they refuse to tell me why he left."

"They? Who is 'they'?" asked the reporter but I was already too far away to bother with an answer.

Stupid ungrateful town, stupid deserting Phantom, stupid ghosts that can't leave us alone. By the time I remembered the figure on the building it was worthless to try to turn back and find them. They would be long gone by now.

I knew who it was, or at least who they were with. Scribe, the person who talked over my helmet when I was in a tight spot. It seemed like every time I was up against someone, I didn't know how to fight or just couldn't get a hit in. Help would come. Either through his voice in battle, the new piece of equipment that magically ended up in my backpack during school, or physically like in the fight just now. Someone was helping me. And while I was grateful and it was nice to have someone on my side during all of this, it was also so frustrating because I know they don't fully trust me.

The hacker in my helmet refuses to tell me who he is, why Phantom left, how many people were on his 'team' or even why he is helping me. What is the most frustrating is that I now know he and any possible partners are human. The person who shot Ember just now was human. Not only did they not set off my ghost scanner but a ghost would fly off or just go invisible. The school has been under a 24/7 ghost shield since Phantom was declared 'missing.' So no ghost could get into my locker and drop off all of the Fenton tec. that they kept giving me.

No. Phantom's friends, his allies, they were human, possibly even my age since they were getting into my locker. A prang radiated through my chest. I wanted that. Someone my age that understood what it was like to fight ghosts, who actually knew ghosts. That could help me fight back and keep the town safe. Sure, technically they were but it wasn't the same. I wanted someone I could actually talk to. Rant about the problems, the stress. Someone to have my back in school or when my Dad came poking around. I just wanted a friend. Someone I could trust.

My heart sank. But they don't trust me. I hunted their friend and because of that they didn't and probably would never trust me enough for us to meet face-to- face. Ever.

-V-

I triple checked to make sure no one was around before I retracted my armor. The sheets of metal folded in on themselves an impossible amount of times collapsing into little to nothing around me. The second the suit was 'off' I raced out into the halls. I checked the time. Shoot. Art was completely over and Geometry had begun. Miss Wates was a slave driver when it came to attendance. I was going to get another detention for sure.

Just another 'Thank You' from this ungrateful town for risking my life to protect it; I thought bitterly, stealing myself before opening the door as quietly as I could. Miss Wates paused in her writing on the board and everyone turned to look at me.

"Sorry I'm late." I said glumly, not even bothering with an excuse. I waited for the detention.

"That's quite alright Valerie." Came a rather chipper reply. I looked up astonished. "Take a seat and have someone fill you in."

Not wanting to push my luck I walked briskly to my desk. Star immediately handed me her notes to copy before Miss Wates continued on with her lecture. Shortly after we were grouped up into pairs for an assignment. Which was weird. Miss Wates never let us work on homework in class.

Imminently light mummers erupted around the class. Only half of it about the material we were supposed to be learning. The most common topic was what Red Huntress was doing with Phantom. I grit my teeth as Paulina's voice drifted over. "The police should get involved or something." She said sounding irate. "Phantom hasn't been seen for almost two weeks. Who knows what that horrible Huntress is doing to the dashing hero?"

"We will think of something." Dash reassured. "Maybe we can get a protest, or search the town or something. Between all of us I'm sure we can find Huntress and get her to tell us where Phantom is."

"So, did Miss Wates wake up on the right side of the bed this morning or what?" I said desperately trying to distract myself from Paulina and Dash bashing and plotting against me.

"Who?" Star asked looking confused

"Miss Wates, our teacher." I said gesturing at the desk were said teacher was grading papers. Trying to distract myself.

"You mean Mrs. Tyler." Star asked looking back at me a little concerned.

"No, I mean Miss Wates, our Geometry teacher, the one who just gave us an assignment." I said not sure why Star was not catching on.

"That is Mrs. Tyler." Star said firmly looking at me worriedly. "She's always gone by that name."

"Stop playing with me Star." I said seeds of worry seeping into my stomach "Really not in the mood."

The popular blond shook her head. "I'm not playing Valerie, there isn't a Miss Wates at Casper High and there hasn't been one ever since I have gone here."

I stared at the girl. Star was the closest thing I had to a friend right now and she wasn't the smartest pencil in the drawer, but she wasn't a 'dumb blond' either. She was also a terrible actor and couldn't keep anything to herself which was why I never told her my secret. Looking at her now it was plain to see she honestly had only known Miss Wates as Mrs. Tyler.

"Are you feeling alright Valerie?" Star asked

I paused. What do I say? How do I say it. Was it Star? Was it me?

"I'm fine." I finally muttered.

The world fell into a flurry of thought. One that I only came out of when I heard someone call the teacher. Everyone called Miss Wates, Mrs. Tyler. And she always answered it with a smile. This was wrong. What had happened? What had changed? Was it a ghost? What kind of ghost would change a teacher's name and make them nice?

I have never been more grateful then when the bell rang. I move slowly, stalling best I could as I gathered my things and approached my geometry teacher. "Mrs." I called her attention to me.

"Yes Valerie?" she asked expectantly.

"Does the name 'Wates' mean anything to you?" I needed to know how extensive this was.

She blinked in slight surprise before laughing. "That's my maiden name."

"Your maiden name?" I clarified slowly.

"Yes, as in the name I went by before I got married and took my husband's" she said gesturing at a picture on her desk. Sure enough there on the desk was her with a man her age. He had his hands around her waist as they swung on a swing, the leaves on the trees behind them displaying autumn color.

"Are you alright Miss Gray?" asked Mrs. Tyler.

I gulped slightly. "I'm fine." I choked out. "See you tomorrow."

I raced out of the room as fast as if I was going to catch some ghosts. Miss Wates was not marred. While no one talked about it, everyone knew that her fiancée had died in a tragic car accident a week before the wedding.

-V-

I had kept my eyes peeled the remainder of the day. Mr. Lancer wearing a light green shirt instead of the light blue he always wore. Some kids I knew who didn't have money had their own cars. I was pretty sure the floor tile was different than before. I was starting to think I was going insane. No one else noticed the changes. Everyone insisted they had always been this way. The freakiest thing was when I saw strangers, people in the halls that came up to me and started talking like we had known each other our whole lives.

What do I do? It had to be a ghost. But why? What would a ghost have to gain by changing such insignificant little things? Simply to make me think I was insane? But the ghosts don't know I'm Red Huntress. No one besides Phantom and while I could see him pulling a prank I doubt this was him. Besides he was out of town, his friends had hinted that much.

I kept to myself for the rest of the day. But I started making a list of changes. Things that I knew were wrong. The list only grew bigger as the day ended. That night, after work I transformed into Huntress and flew around counting every change. Everything I knew was wrong.

"Hello? Are you there?" I called in my helmet. I never wanted to talk to the hacker any more then right now. "Hello, Scribe? Anybody? Please, be there. I'm freaking out." I said nervously shuffling back and for the on my board. I was so weared out I did not feel awkward about talking to myself.

"Red?" Came the voice.

"Thank God, Scribe, I need your help."

"What is it?" he asked, there was typing. "I don't see a ghost nearby. What's up?"

"I don't know. But something is wrong. Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy but the world is changing or something."

"Red."

"No, just hear me out. The tile pattern at school changed like six times today. I have counted eight buildings that have obviously been around for a while but I know they weren't here this morning. There are full grown trees in places that were paved over three hours ago. And no one seems to notice any of this."

I went through listing each change. Scribe was silent the entire time. "You think I'm going mad don't you?" I asked somewhat judging.

"I –"

"I knew it, you never did trust me. I'm just the ghost hunter that hurt your friend to you." My frustration, lack of sleep and worry all collided, boiling out of me in an inferno of words.

"You-"

"You should probably join my hate club. It is getting bigger every day because everyone thinks I have Phantom stashed away somewhere. "

"We–"

"They are going on and on about how I should be locked up while I am out here risking my life to keep them all safe and I have no idea where he is." I was in full rant mode. I just couldn't take it anymore. "At least Phantom had you guys support him when he was 'Public Ghost Enemy Number One'. All I have is a ditsy, gossip prone friend and a Dad that his trying everything he can to make me STOP HUNTING!"

"I just-" I sighed, slumping losing my steam. "I just want someone to talk to"

There was a long pause on the other end and I wondered if he was still there. Suddenly a new voice came over the line

"We believe you."

"Who is this?" I asked perking up at the girl's voice

"I'm the one who saved your butt from Ember earlier." She waved off a little smug

"No, you didn't I had it perfectly under control." I said without heat.

"Sure you did. But anyway. We believe you about things changing around you."

"You do?" I asked suspicious and somewhat hopeful.

"Yes. Now, you haven't by chance been wearing the Specter Deflector when you noticed these changes have you?"

"Yeah" I said not sure where she was going with this. "I never take it off, especially if I'm not in my suit." I was quickly being converted to a Fentonworks fan. Their stuff was excellent. Especially when smuggling it around school and public places. Most of their equipment was designed to look like everyday objects after all. "Why?"

"It is a personal ghost shield, remember? Blocking all kinds of spectral influence; Hypnotisms, spells, and most ecto-weapons." Came Scribe.

"And whatever is making the changes." I said in realization

"Exactly. Your not crazy, the world is literally changing around you and you are staying the same." The girl said.

I nodded. "Why didn't you warn me about this?"

"We didn't know." Came Scribe again. "We got into the habit of not wearing Specter Deflectors 24/7 because it would hurt Phantom. Of course that doesn't really apply right now." He muttered, worry sipping into his tone.

"But we will start wearing ours constantly too." Came the female again

"Any idea what ghost could do this?" I asked as my eyes fell on a billboard advertising what appeared to be a soda brand I had never heard of.

"A couple. Desiree grant's wishes and has done something like this before." the girl said.

"But these changes are not extreme enough for her and usually there are unicorns, flying cars and horror movie characters coming to life when she is in town." Scribe shot that one out.

"Yeah. It sounds like the Reality Gauntlet but that is destroyed." The girl contemplated then explained. "The Reality Gauntlet allowed its wearer to alter reality itself." There was a huff over the intercom. "There isn't a pattern to the changes that you said. They're just random."

"Could it be an accident?" Scribe suggested

"Are you telling me that a ghost could just change something like this and make everyone believe that it has always been that way by accident?" I asked incredulously.

There was a pause.

"There are some pretty powerful ghosts out there and no one is perfect." Came the girl's reply.

"Yeah," Scribe agreed. "And If there is one thing I have learned from helping Phantom with new abilities its that there is often a crash course with new powers and things get goofed up a lot during it."

"Then what do we do?" I asked worried.

"We will look into it, ask around." came Scribe. "Do some research. You go home and get some homework done and get some sleep. You'll need it for our chemistry test tomorrow."

"Oh shoot I forgot!" I said jumping up activating my board and flying home.

"…and about the other stuff" came the woman's voice. "… hang in there Valerie. I know it's hard but you are a good hunter and you are doing the right thing. It may take some time but you will be recognized and accepted."

Their words brought warmth to my chest. "Thanks. I needed that."

"Any time hero. See you tomorrow." The girl said in farewell.

"Yeah, see you soon." came Scribe.

The line went dead. I felt a little lighter coming home. Reassured and having some idea on what was going on. I buried myself into my homework and tried to ignore how my Dad was cooking 'my favorite meal' that I never heard of before. It wasn't until I was falling asleep that I realized that Scribe had said 'our' chemistry test. So, they were in my grade. Maybe if I kept my eyes open I would be able to figure out who they were.

-)(-

-V- Valerie Gray (Red Huntress) point of view

I do not own 'Danny Phantom'