Chapter 23:

~~~DANNY'S POV~~~

"Ugh..." I groaned.

My eyes fluttered opened. My head hurt, my back was sore, and my stomach was killing me. I looked down and noticed that my clothes were slightly tattered, even lightly singed in some areas, and I recalled my battle with Rudy. What happened? I slowly stood up and gasped at what I saw. I was on the hill, overlooking a gruesome, post-apocalyptic version of the city. Black storm clouds ominously floated high above. Lightning crashed so loudly that my heart almost jumped into my throat. I gulped when I saw almost half of the city in enormous mounds of debris and ruins.

Who did this?

My question was quickly answered when I gazed upon a huge billboard that made my blood boil.

Vlad.

His ugly face smirked on the board, and below it read "Obey".

So, that crazy old fruit loop did all of this. The million-dollar question is... how?

Realization hit me, along with a severe and sharp pain in my abdomen.

I'm not in my time... I'm in the future! A horrible, ugly, treacherous future! How in the world did I get here?

I tried to recap on what happened after encountering Rudy, but I couldn't remember much. I doubled over and clutched my stomach.

I'm not wearing the medallion, so Rudy must've planted it inside of me. He could have done a better job at it than mindlessly shoving it into my pancreas.

My hand turned intangible and I stuck it into my abdomen. It felt so weird, but I rummaged through. However, I wasn't able to get the medallion.

If I can't get it out, someone else will have to... and I know just who.

I transformed into my ghost half and took off into the air.

I kept flying. A nervous pang spread throughout my body when I looked down and caught glance of a big, slightly damaged sign that read "Timberwoods". I landed in what I thought was the right neighborhood, and when I saw a familiar maroon car, I knew for sure. I hesitantly walked up the steps and knocked on the door.

"Coming." a female voice sang.

When the door opened, a tall woman with brown hair and striking lavender eyes stood there. She was wearing a white shirt, gray blazer and light wash jeans. She looked to be in her late 20's, maybe early 30's.

"Yes, what can I-" the woman began. When she realized who I was, tears formed in her eyes.

"Hi, Saralyn." I said boldly.

"Danny, is it really you?... no, it can't be." she pressed her hand against my cheek. "It is! Please, come in."

The inside of the house was rather quaint. I sat on the couch. Sara sat next to me.

"What's happened to the city?" I asked.

"Vlad. He seized the goddess's power... but we couldn't stop him..." Sara sighed. Before I could press her with further question about this "goddess" and "we" stuff, she looked at me. "Now it's my turn... first off, what on earth are YOU doing HERE?"

"Wait, what do you mean by that? Isn't there a future me here?"

Saralyn was silent. I noticed a tear that glistened in the corner of her eye.

"Vlad started this great ghost war between the human world and the ghost zone. He forced you to enroll, and..."

"Say no more, I understand."

I told Sara about everything that happened during the meet that I had with Rudy in my time.

"You need help getting the medallion out, right?" Sara said.

I nodded. "Do you still have your ghost powers?"

"Of course!"

She made her hand intangible and carefully reached into my stomach. Every little movement that she made me squirm.

"Hold still!" Sara said.

"I can't! It tickles!" I croaked.

"Aha!"

Sara held the medallion out.

"Got it." Sara said, putting it around my neck.

"Phew." I said, gripping my sore torso. "Remind me later to go get my insides checked. I think you scrambled my intestines."

Sara rolled her eyes. A portal opened up, revealing Amity Park in my time.

"It worked!" I jumped up from the couch.

"Danny..." Sara said.

I turned around and she was standing right in front of me. She gave me a hug.

"I know this is kind of weird to hear with me like this, but I love you." she smiled.

I smiled. "Don't worry, I will find you, no matter what."

Sara clasped her hands together, and that was when I noticed the piece of jewelry on her hand. A wedding ring.

"Sara, who's that ring from?" I asked.

Sara looked at the ring. She looked up at me and smiled.

"See you soon, Danny."

She shoved me into the portal.

~SARALYN~

"So... what do you think?" Skyler giggled and twirled.

"You look awesome." I smiled.

We were chatting via webcam, looking at each other's dresses for the dance tonight. Skyler twirled around in her dress, which was bright orange, poofy, and reached down to her ankles. She wore dazzling white heels. Over her dress was a small, white, faux fur jacket.

"You really think so?" Skyler asked.

"Totally! There's no way a guy WOULDN'T ask you to dance."

Skyler giggled again.

"Okay, let's see your dress."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes! I showed you my dress, now you show me yours."

I sighed. "Fine."

I stood up and took a step back. The reply of my dress from Skyler was a jaw drop and widened eyes.

"OMG! That looks SOOO CUTE!"

"Thanks." I blushed.

I was wearing a mid-thigh violet dress with gold-colored lining and one strap on my shoulder. The skirt part flowed and shivered with every move I made. I wore matching gold ballet slippers with ribbons that wrapped up to my shins.

"I'm now super curious of what Flynn is wearing!" Skyler said.

"It won't be as amazing as our dresses, but I think it will suffice." I said, smiling.

There was a knock at my door. Carmen walked in and gasped at my dress.

"Wow, you look like a goddess!" she exclaimed. "It's so pretty!"

"I've been told." I joked. "Are you going to the dance?"

"DUH! I have to!" Carmen cried. "I'm the class president!"

"Oh, of course." I rolled my eyes, examining Carmen's brown dress with a red belt wrapped around her waist. "How could I have forgotten? A day hasn't gone by without you boasting about it."

"Whatever. You ready to go?"

"Yeah." My stomach didn't feel the same way. I slid on a black jacket and we left.

~DANNY~

I stumbled in through the door. Tucker, Sam, and Aaron rushed over to me.

"Danny! Where have you been?!" Sam cried. "You've been gone for 24 hours!"

"I guess it's better than 113,956." I said.

"What?"

"I was a bit busy being trapped in the future. 13 years, to be exact."

"The FUTURE?" Tucker said. "Rudy?"

"Rudy." I said.

"At least you're here. And just in time. We've got a dance to crash." Aaron said. "You know, I think this plan might work out in our favor."

"How?" Tucker asked.

"Hello? You've got yourself a magic nerd and Danny Phantom sitting in this very room!"

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Sam rolled her eyes.

"So, Aaron, you will teleport us to the back of Lincoln High," I said. "And once the coast is clear, I will phase us through the wall and into the gym."

I stood up and stretched my arms.

"Okay, so is everyone familiar with the plan?" I asked.

They all looked at each other and nodded.

"Let's get ready!"

Aaron snapped his fingers, and three tuxedos and a black dress appeared. He snapped his fingers again and the clothes appeared on us. I adjusted my collar and when my eyes fell on Tucker and Sam, I busted out laughing.

"Oops... heh, sorry." Aaron said.

"GET THIS OFF OF ME!" Tucker cried as he pinched the black fabric of the dress.

"Aww, but you look so pretty!" I joked.

"Yeah, Tuck, it goes well with your eyes!" Sam laughed, shaking the loose material of the tux.

Tucker glared at me as Aaron snapped his fingers, this time making sure clothing was on the right bodies.

"Alright, guys!" I said. "Operation: Crash a Dance is a go!"

"Operation: Crash a Dance?" Sam said, crossing her arms.

"It's the only name I could come up with!"

Aaron rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers.