THE PHANTOM'S REALM
CHAPTER EIGHT: PHANTOM CITY
"Everyone behold Phantom City!" Fred, Dora's chauffer, cried out of respect, waving his arms over the Capital City.
Phantom City was huge. It was home to over 500,000 lower-powered Ghosts in the Ghost Zone and welcomed all inside, except Vlad for obvious reasons. Phantom City was designed in a similar fashion to how Atlantis was thought to be since Team Phantom was hoping for a Utopia-type city like many assume Atlantis is.
The city itself had three rings, specifically made for a specific purpose.
The outermost ring is where majority of the Ghosts live at with many buildings all different shades of green in color. Phantom City's 28,336,697 residents live the inner side of the outer ring that was filled with apartments and condos between 150 and 200 feet high, the middle of the outer ring was also filled with apartments and condos but were between 50 and 150 feet high and the outskirts of the ring are filled with homes below 50 feet high so the outer ring was the biggest ring in the entire city.
The middle ring holds a number of tourist attractions, cool places to hang out, hotels, recreation centers, a handful of parks and a shopping mall all of which help to make the city a lot more interesting place to live or visit, the buildings here were all between 300 and 250 feet tall, higher than the outer ring. Also in the middle ring there is entertainment like an amusement park and a movie theater open to anyone.
The inner ring was designed for Government facilities like the Grand Conference Hall where the Ghost Council and Danny meet to discuss and solve problems and keep peace and the Observants High Council Tribunal Headquarters which acts as the Ghost Zone equivalent of Supreme Court along with customized places to stay for members of the Council to stay when in Phantom City.
And finally the grand jewel of the city, The Phantom Palace, was in the center of the entire city. The Palace is obsidian black in color with snow white trimming on almost everything. It had many places that you would typically find in a royal palace such as a grand entrance hall, a ballroom, a royal library and a throne room. The doorway to the whole Palace was obsidian black with the DP logo on it in snow white and it was completely indestructible and only opens to Danny and his allies to prevent anyone unwanted from getting in as an added effect.
The main room (living quarters) had kitchen a dining hall, bathroom, living room, complete with a 120 in HD 3D Ecto-Plasma screen TV, not to mention Danny, Danielle, Jazz, Sam & Tucker each have their own rooms plus five additional guestrooms for any of Danny's many allies incase they stay over.
Right off from the living quarters is the Team Phantom Operational Command Center which is a set of rooms that allows Team Phantom to be a lot more organized and efficient the most important room in the Operational Command Center is Team Phantom's very own Ops Center where it gives Tucker access to a supercomputer with Internet access and allows Tucker and Jazz to act as the team's mission control.
The Palaces other rooms include the Training Facility, Weapons Vault, Lab and finally the Ghost Portal Room, the most useful room in the house (besides the bathrooms of course). The Ghost Portal Room is between the living room and the Ops Center and the Ghost Portal itself is actually a machine that is able to create a temporary portal from that room to any location on Earth chosen. The machine is also in synced up with the brain waves of the members of Team Phantom so that they can telepathically call up a Ghost Portal from anywhere on Earth to take them back to the Ghost Portal Room but it can not work in reverse.
"Whoa." Mr. Lancer's class, minus the Trio, said as they looked out with wonder upon the city.
"Yeah, yeah. Are you helping us to the Palace too or do I just walk them there?" Danny muttered to Dora, who smiled.
"You'd have to be crazy if you believe I would just make you walk to the Palace with humans around. Have you noticed the amount of respect you get from anyone around here? Your secret wouldn't last three blocks." Dora mocked, playfully shouldering Danny who chuckled. `
In no time the carriage was moving again and nobodies minds waited a moment before kicking into overdrive.
Jack was looking out at the city in awe, amazement and pride. He didn't need to be told that Phantom City was the city Danny had founded, most likely after he became King. He saw so much around; Ghosts walking around the area, ghost children playing on the sidewalks, ghosts socializing. They were just as, if not more advanced, than humans! How could he not have seen it sooner? The signs were practically hitting him over the head yelling at him to figure it out! The ghosts that haunted Amity spoke English, not every ghost they saw was causing trouble, he'd seen some ghosts, like Phantom, show emotions and feelings, on the way here barely any ghosts had given them a second glance-over let alone any malicious attitude and now they even looked like people going through daily routines! He just hoped Danny could forgive him for being so blind before. Just because that's what he'd been told in college, along with Maddie and Vlad, didn't mean it was true.
Maddie couldn't form words. She looked around and saw everything going on it- it just looked so normal. She'd always pictured the Ghost Zone as a barren wasteland that extended forever and held no resemblance to the human world what so ever. She was completely and utterly wrong. There were ghosts walking around casually, not bothering to take in the sights. At first she thought it was because they weren't sophisticated enough but then it clicked that they see this everyday. They had homes and lives and everything here, in Phantom City. Phantom City. It hit her like a ton of bricks that this city was, not only a civilized city in the Ghost Zone, it was founded by the single most confusing Ghost ever; Phantom. Wow, that Ghost is just secrets piled on top of secrets isn't he?
Lancer was baffled. If they were underwater, there wasn't living, or after-living, things here and everything was blue instead of green he would swear they were in the Lost City of Atlantis. It was designed basically the same. It was separated in rings, different rings held separate facilities, there was a Palace-type thing in the center and it looked like something out of a fiction novel. (AU; more like FanFiction! Get it because-… anybody? No? Okay.) And one didn't have to be a genius to realize that Phantom had done this. Surely he had to be incredibly intelligent to, not only design and build an entire city, but to style it after the Infamous Lost City, the Utopia that was Atlantis? Lancer would have to talk Phantom into sitting in on his class one day; that way someone would be interested in his class.
Paulina was gushing with excitement! This was a Capital city, filled with Royalty and upper class people. The city itself was designed for rich people like her! And Phantom surely build this city and since he was King, not only would she get to live here she would live here as a Queen when she and Phantom got married! She'd have a whole Zone of people to boss around and to compliment her and follow her commands. She'd also be the wife of the strongest, coolest, bravest, hottest most heroic person ever!
Mikey was taking in the sights and he mentally crossed 'Help re-discover Atlantis' off his bucket list. Sure it wasn't really Atlantis but it was probably the closest he'd ever get to see it so Close Enough. He also crossed 'Go to New York City' off the list since once again, Close Enough. Besides this city was bigger and most likely more interesting than New York anyway.
Valerie was sitting quietly, her eyes trying to follow all the Ghosts movements. Just because she had admitted to herself that she was wrong about Phantom didn't mean she was just going to start trusting any Ghost that said they were good. She'd decide that herself. And maybe if Phantom forgave her for hunting him, she'd layoff the Ghosts he says aren't evil either. She had to hand it to the Ghost Boy; he'd done a great job in building a city. This place had to be twice the size of New York, which was the biggest city she'd been to until now. Maybe since he built it he'd be here and then she could sneak away from Danny and his freaks and the class to apologize? She'd have to wait and see how this plays out.
"So Danny, how's it feel to be home?" Tucker whispered jokingly as he leaned up a bit, careful not to let anyone else hear the conversation.
"It feels awesome. Or at least it would if my secret's weren't in serious danger of being exposed." Danny replied back. Dora chuckled a bit at Sir Phantom's misfortune and his best friends rolled their eyes.
"I wonder if Jazz is here yet." Danny mused, still keeping the conversation quiet. Tucker and Sam raised eyebrows and seeing this, Danny explained further. "You both know that she's my Royal Advisor, right? As in she's made aware of everything going on weather the Council want her to be or not. If the Council was serious enough to make me come here, now, then they'd have called her too right?" He ventured a guess.
Tucker was stumped. He hadn't even thought of Jazz being here but now that Danny said it, it made sense that the Council would want her here too, especially if Vlad was involved like Danny told them it was.
When it involved Vlad, Danny didn't take any chances. He wasn't 'wanted' or anything, due to the fact that he'd most likely buy his way around it anyway, but now everyone knew Vlad was not to be trusted. Danny would take extreme precautions, especially if he thought Danielle was in danger, to keep Vlad away from Phantom City.
"Daniel? May I ask a question?" Came a voice behind the talking Trio and Dora.
They all turned to see everyone staring at Steve, the one who spoke, with questioning looks.
Danny hesitated for a moment, unsure of giving too much information away. Also there was something about the way he asked that put him on edge, but nodded regardless.
"Why are the Ghosts here so peaceful?" Steve asked. Danny thought he saw a twinkle of something in the boys' eyes but it was gone right away.
"How should I know? I've never really thought about it and I've only been here a handful of times." Danny lied through his teeth.
He knew exactly why the Ghosts were so peaceful. Since most of the Ghosts in the city were of lower-leveled Ghosts they didn't tend to fight, trying to prove their power, since it was pointless. Next was because they all recognized Danny, as the most powerful in the city anyway so there was no use of it. Finally it was because Tucker doesn't condone it anymore, except for fun (which most Ghosts do love to fight for fun), since some Ghost hit his PDA with an Ecto-blast, frying it's servers and to make matters worse, his barrette when he knelt down to check on his PDA.
Tucker would outlaw violence. Not for safety of the town, not to save time and resources on repairs around the city and not for the safety of the Ghosts but for safety of his technology devices.
Steve shrugged and turned away, making himself comfortable again between Jimmy and the small window. Danny noticed that Steve was a little too calm for someone who had been on edge with Jimmy since the start of this trip.
'Oh well,' Danny thought, 'guess he's getting used to being stuck in here.'
"Why do you think he wanted to know that, Danny?" Sam asked after Danny turned back around.
"Not sure. I guess he just got curious." Danny answered with a shrug.
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"So this is where Danny Phantom lives? Cool." Dash muttered as the carriage came to a stop in front of the Palace that was obsidian black in most places, had snow-white trimming on majority of the stuff around and the 'DP' logo on the entrance doors.
The others nodded, basically having the same thoughts but being in too much awe to speak them. They were stumped and never really thought much about Phantom's li- afterlife other than saving the town from attacking Ghosts. Once everyone was out of the carriage, they took a step towards the Palace only to be stopped by Dora's chauffer.
"Everyone must bow in respect to Sir Phantom before entering his Palace!" He cried as he started to bow down to Danny but Danny interrupted him.
"I don't think there's any need for that." He quietly muttered to the chauffer who seemed to nod in understanding before he shook his head in shame, as if mentally berating himself for his actions. "Don't worry. I know you were just showing respect but not in front of them." Danny continued.
Danny and Dora walked up the stairs first, under the excuse that they were checking if they could stay at the Palace until further notice. After arguing that no, Paulina could NOT go with Danny to meet Phantom, Danny and Dora walked up to the giant door while Tucker and Sam stayed back, careful not to let anyone get too close to their secrets.
Danny and Dora were not checking if they were aloud to stay, seeing how it was Danny's Palace. They went up first because Danny knew that firstly, Jazz and Danielle would be there and were still unaware of the current situation so he had to tell them to lay low. Secondly he knew he only had about five or ten minutes until Ember, Kitty and Johnny teleported into the throne room; fulfilling their promise to drop by.
"Danielle? Jazz? Are you guys here?" Danny called out, his voice echoing. Dora looked around in random directions for the duo.
Danny sighed as he and Dora trudged towards the Royal Library where Jazz spent a lot of time and where Danielle would be just for the fact that Jazz was there to talk with.
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"How come Fenton gets to meet the Ghost Boy and I don't? We're meant for each other!" Paulina whined dramatically, earing a groan from practically everybody.
"Because Danny knows what to do and won't go star-struck on him." Sam told her. She made no attempt to hide the annoyance in her voice directed at the A-nnoying A-Lister.
"Listen, Gothica, if anyone deserves to meet the Ghost Boy it'd be me, the most popular and prettiest girl in school and his soul-mate. Not some freak like Fenton!" Paulina continued, unaffected by Sam's annoyance towards her.
"Paulina, get it through your think skull that Phantom doesn't and won't love you! Ever!" Sam cried, throwing her arms up exasperatedly.
"He does so! He saves me all the time! He even knows my name! What else would you call that?" Paulina shot back, not listening.
"He saves everyone! He's the town hero of course he'd save you! It's what he does! He's saved all of us and knows all our names so how do you explain that?" Tucker tried to explain with Sam nodding in agreement.
Paulina scoffed, not listening to their reasoning. She didn't want to think that it wasn't her who had the Ghost Boy's love.
Tucker and Sam sighed, not willing to waste much more breath on the matter. They knew it was pretty much useless unless it came from Danny Phantom himself that he didn't love her.
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"Danny, what are you doing here if you have your class with you?" Jazz asked after her brother finished explaining his situation to her and Danielle.
"I don't know a meeting was called. My hands are tied since it's not like I can just not show up to the meeting. Especially if it has to do with Vlad." Danny said with a sign.
"So Daddy, when does the meeting start?" Danielle asked, sitting in Danny's lap.
"Sometime tomorrow. I'm guessing noon. You're both coming so dress nicely." Danny ordered. Jazz nodded and Danielle pouted.
"But Daddy! I don't like wearing those dresses!" Dani protested. Jazz rolled her eyes and Danny smiled.
"And you think I like wearing those 'Kingly Robes' and the crown they all try and make me wear around here? Alright so a HAZMAT isn't the perfect Kingly outfit but…" Danny trailed off, earing a chuckle from his daughter and sister. "Look it's just for an hour or so. Jazz and I will try and wrap it up as fast as we can. Right?" Danny continued.
"Right. You only have to show up and look pretty." Jazz said, ruffling Dani's hair much to her protests.
"Then why do I have to go to the meeting?" Dani asked.
"Because both Jazz and I have to be there so we can't watch you if you aren't there. And there is no way I'm leaving Ember, Kitty and Johnny to take care of you." Danny joked.
"Why can't they watch me? What about Uncle Tuck and Aunt Sam?" Dani continued. Wow, she really doesn't want to dress up.
"Because then who'd watch them?" Danny answered her first question. Jazz chuckled. "And because they will be keeping my class occupied and away from anything that could expose us." He continued.
"Don't worry Danielle, it won't take long. Besides wouldn't you like to know what Vlad's up to?" Jazz said to the little girl.
"Yeah, I guess. But those dresses make me feel like I'm on display or something!" Dani protested still.
"Dani, you're getting dressed up. It's a professional meeting and you're not sitting there in a HAZMAT." Jazz reprimanded.
"Jazz come on, can't she just-" Danny started but Jazz cut him off.
"No! You are both dressing up tomorrow and if you aren't then so help me I'll do it myself." Jazz stated.
The father-daughter duo sighed, knowing it was pointless arguing with an angry Jazz. Nobody ever won against Jazz anyway; she was too book-smart and she knew how to talk to people to get what she wanted.
"Fine. Okay I'm going back outside to bring the class into the Palace and I need you guys to lay low. I don't want anybody but Tuck, Sam and the Council knowing you're here. It would only lead to more questions as to why Jazz Fenton was in Phantom's Palace and what Phantom's daughter was doing with her." Danny said, as he gently removed Danielle from his lap and placed her in Jazz's who immediately hugged her close.
"You got it Danny. We won't draw attention." Jazz promised as Danny stood up to leave the library.
"Daddy, will you be back later?" Dani asked the older halfa.
"Count on it." Danny answered. He stepped over, giving them both a hug and kissing Danielle on the forehead before he took his leave.
"He'll be back right?" Dani asked the redhead. Jazz grinned.
"He always does, doesn't he?" Jazz replied. Dani chuckled a bit before they both turned back to the books on the table.
Dani pushed off her aunt's lap and sat in the chair across from her, picking up her book again, letting Jazz read hers.
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"What's taking Fentonio so long in there? Think he got spooked by the Ghosts?" Dash asked sarcastically. The class, minus the adults, Tucker and Sam, broke out into laughter.
"Yeah maybe they locked him in a closet somewhere." Paulina sneered, earing more laughter.
Tucker and Sam counted to ten, calming themselves down. They had no right to talk about someone who worked so hard to make all their lives better like that. Even though Team Phantom liked to think they were pretty even-tempered, it only took people calling them 'worthless' to get them worked up really quick.
Jack was in utter amazement. So it was only Tucker, Sam and Jazz that knew? He had to hand it to the boy he could sure keep secrets and his cool. Not only did he save everyone on a daily basis and put up with the positivity and negativity on his hero half but also the people he knew dumping on his average half. He had a lot of apologizing to do to his son, starting with threatening to rip him apart 'molecule by molecule', but also about other people's treatment of him. He knew it wasn't fair for Danny to save everyone then put up with people down casting behaviors.
"He'll be back soon. Just be patient." Tucker said through gritted teeth but nobody seemed to notice except Sam and Jack although Lancer picked up on the tension. Being the teacher, he thought it best to intervene.
"Now, now children. I'm sure Mr. Fenton will return shortly so I believe Mr. Foley is correct; we must remain patient." Lancer said in his 'teacher voice' as his class had dubbed.
The children sighed in annoyance but complied and relaxed back where they were sitting on the steps to the Palace, waiting for Danny's okay.
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Danny came through the long hallway after coming down two flights of stairs and finally entered the main room that had the feel of a living room with a TV, couches and all.
He silently walked through the large room and made his way to the doors until a voice stopped him.
"Leaving so soon, Baby-pop?"
Chapter 8 is completed!
So I know this isn't what you expected when I said 'Ember returns' but I felt like a little cliffhanger was in order.
Next chapter is Danny's conversation with Ember, more tension between the class and the trio, the meeting the Council called for and more appearances by Jazz and Danielle. Maybe even a look at Vlad's master plan and Jack's chance to come clean to Danny.
Don't forget to review, guys! Happy Valentines Day! 3 yes, I updated as a Valentine for those like me who spent it watching NETFLIX about romance!