Disclaimer: I still don't own Danny Phantom. It's the property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Viacom International and it always will be.

Cupid's Wrath

Chapter 10: Be my Valentine

Clockwork witness the entire event and was mildly surprised to see Ember still spending time with Danny. Despite Cupid's words, Clockwork knew the spell was suppose to be lifted at 6 on the dot, but Ember was still leading Danny to Styx's Cafe for their date He knew this entire thing was a big prank and Cupid only wanted Ms. Mclain to experience love, only to have her heart broken by facing rejection but he knew that the little idiot never took in consideration the possibility that Danny would agree to go on the date or what would happen after.

"He really is a good kid..."Clockwork smiled as he shook his head, looking at his young friend who while feeling awkward, was being a perfect gentleman and even laughing at something Ember said.

Clockwork continued to observe the entire situation between the young half ghost and the confused songstress.

Ember still clung to Danny as they quickly flew through the zone, ignoring the stares and whisperers from the ghosts passing by. Ember didn't understand why she was feeling so awkward right now, just earlier she was excited about this date but right now she didn't know what to say….and she didn't feel the same eagerness from earlier for some reason.

She chalked it off as nervousness.

"Come on, now's not the time to be shy...say something!….'Ember growled internally as she looked at her date who was looking shy.

"Uh...So...How's everything in the human world?...'Ember asked.

"Good...Good...How's everything in the Ghost Zone?..."Danny asked.

"Fine...good..."Ember said. After pausing for a moment, she tried to think of something else to break the ice during the flight. Ember suddenly remembered the white rose he gave her and felt a blush come to her cheeks.

"So, how did you know white roses were my favorite flower?..."Ember asked to the white haired ghost boy.

"I didn't really, I saw them and I thought they looked nice and distinctive…."Danny said looking down, feeling a little self conscious at the moment.

"Distinctive?...We'll I guess we have that in common..."Ember said, earning a chuckle from the ghost boy.

"Great...progress..."Ember thought smirking.

They soon arrived to Styx's Cafe, a two story building floating on one of the large rocks, similar to Pariah's Keep, only it resembled a classy cafe you'd find in any part of the human world.

"I have reservations for two, under Mclain..."Ember said to the maître d, who checked his list and smiled at the ghostly couple.

"Ah yes, Ms. Mclain, we have your table ready..."The ghostly man said as he lead them inside.

Once inside, Danny was even more impressed, the interior was very chic and stylish, and it if weren't for the ghostly waiters and patrons, he would have been sure he was back in the human world. They soon found themselves being seated and given their menu's.

'Wow...Nice place..."Danny said impressed. Usually the places he's visited in the Ghost Zone were...well… "Ghostly" and "Ghastly" to be honest but this place looked pretty human.

"It should be...It's suppose to be one of the best..."Ember said ….."In fact this place is a realm itself, the only way you can get inside this place is if you have a reservation..."Ember told him.

'Seriously?...'Danny asked as she nodded…."What if you want to leave?...'Danny asked hesitantly.

"You can only leave after you pay the bill..."Ember said like it was nothing as she glanced at her menu.

'I guess that's fair...'Danny said uncertainly as he glanced at his menu. He was mildly surprise to see what was being offered, the menu was offering real world gourmet food like steak, spaghetti, pasta, seafood, even caviar!.

He eyed the bread sticks they offered them, and was taken back to see that they were actually pretty good.

"I can't believe it…."Danny muttered bu Ember heard him.

"What?..."She asked.

"Oh...It's nothing...I'm just surprised that there is actually a restaurant floating in the middle of the Ghost Zone and it actually offers real food..."Danny muttered, he recalled his brief time in Walker's prison and how he was served a pile gray goop that he was still sure didn't count as food.

"Well duh, Ghost's eat too Danny...It's just that unlike humans, we don't need to..."Ember told him, earning a confused looked from the half ghost boy.

"Look at it this way, do you sometimes eat even when your not hungry?..."Ember asked and Danny nodded.

"Well it's the same for us but long term, we just eat for pleasure more than anything...'Ember said as the waiters brought them water.

'Really huh?...Danny said before taking a sip.

"Really, if not, I don't think I could survive too long without some form of chocolate..."Ember told him, earning a brief chuckle.

"I didn't know you liked chocolate..."Danny said.

"Who doesn't like chocolate?..."Ember said cheekily.

"Touché..."Danny answered and he suddenly found himself laughing with the ghostly diva.

Soon the waiter came back and took their orders, Ember asked for the chicken linguini and Danny settled for a steak. He was surprised by pleased to see that it was really good but he wasn't focusing on his dinner, instead he was focusing on his companion for this evening who was enjoying her dinner. He was noticing a lot of things about her now that she wasn't trying to rip his head off or take over the world with her music.

Without all that...She seemed kinda...nice.

During the entire dinner, they were mostly talking about likes, dislikes, and Danny was surprised to find some similarities with the ghostly girl. He found that her favorite color was purple, she was a Capricorn and her affinities were both music and fire, which explained her dual powers.

Though the entire time, he was still finding the entire situation surreal. It was Valentine's day and he was having dinner with one of the people he called his enemies in a restaurant in the middle of the Ghost Zone.

"So you were the one who gave Bertrand that super wedgie…."Ember said in between her giggles as Danny told her about one of his latest fights, he honestly didn't know how they got there, but Ember asked about it and he found himself telling her each detail.

"Yeah….He was really getting on my nerves…."Danny said as he recalled his fight with the sadistic duo known as Spectra and Bertrand who were up to their old acts in using teen misery to gain youth.

"Man, Spectra was really angry after you kicked her ass..."Ember said laughing, recalling the tantrum she threw and how hilarious she found the entire situation.

"Your not upset?..."Danny blinked, according Jazz and Sam, she and Spectra were supposedly friends.

"Why would I be upset? It' their own screw up after all..."Ember said nonchalantly.

Danny blinked a bit at that response but chose not to think about it. This has been the longest he's ever been around Ember without fighting her and he was surprised to find himself enjoying himself. For the first time in weeks, he wasn't mopping about his breakup or getting annoyed by a crazy girl after him. He was actually having an enjoyable conversation with Ember and he found more about her that he was learning to like.

"Maybe she's not so bad after all..."Danny thought as he was still looking at her.

Ember caught his staring however.

"What?..."Ember asked, causing Danny to flinch.

"Uh...Um...Nothing...It's just...This is probably the longest we've spent time together...when were not...you know..."Danny said looking down, wondering why he was bringing that up. Thankfully Ember was still smiling and being friendly.

"Yeah...I guess we never really have just sat down and talked before…."Ember said poking at her plate.

"Mostly because you were too busy trying to take over the world and I was too busy stopping you..."Danny thought but bit back his retort, they were actually being civil right now and he was not going to look for a fight with her.

Danny went back to eating, though he kept glancing at the girl across the table, taking in her appearance once more. He never really took the time to appreciate her looks, Ember's blue hair was long and flared up a bit, her green eyes that were usually so full of arrogance actually sparkled a bit when she giggled and he found she had a cute laugh as well.

"Has she's always been like this?..."Danny thought as he was eying her appreciatively, earning a blush from her in the process.

"See something ya like baby pop?..."Ember teased, causing Danny to blush.

"N-No..I mean yes...I mean...uh..uh..."Danny was stuttering right now and Ember giggled once more.

"He really is cute, isn't he?…."Ember thought fondly, though not as extremely as earlier, but she still found herself enjoying his company.

Danny really was a nice guy when you got to know him, sure he was a little shy but she learned some things about him she didn't dislike to be honest. She learned that he was an Aries, he dreamed of becoming an astronaut and his hobbies were flying and bowling.

Soon they were done with dessert and Ember glanced to see it was almost 8. She was surprised that they spent almost two hours just talking.

"Is it really that time already?..."Ember muttered, she didn't know why but she was a little upset that their dinner together was about to come a closed, she wanted to hang out more with him.

"She seems down...but why? We already had our dinner together...'Danny wondered a bit, though he glanced at the clock to see it was only 8:00pm…."Could it be?...She doesn't want to stop here?..."Danny wondered but found himself smiling a bit.

"Say Ember…."Danny started.

"Yeah..."She said.

"If your up for it...Amity Park is hosting a fireworks show tonight to celebrate Valentine's day...you think after this, you wanna check it out?..."Danny asked and smiled when he saw her face brighten up.

"Is he...He's actually asking to spend more time together...He's actually inviting me to go to the human world and watch fireworks with him...That's so romantic..."Ember thought, feeling a little happy at the idea of watching fireworks.

"Y-Yeah, sounds cool..."Ember said, trying to sound casual, and trying to hide her own excitement.

Soon both ghosts paid the bill and left the establishment, neither were aware that they had an audience the entire time.

"Now where are they going now?...'Danielle muttered as she got out of the decorative bush and watched her brother and his date leave.

She didn't mean to spy but she was worried about her brother and she wanted to check Ember out for herself, while she wanted her brother to enjoy his Valentine's day, it didn't mean she forgot that Ember was a villain.

But she was pleased to see that during the entire dinner they got along well, she couldn't hear what they were saying but she could see that they were really enjoying themselves.

"Hey you! No one is allow near this place without a reservation!…."The maître d shouted, startling Danielle in the process.

"Sorry! I was just leaving..."Dani said quickly and barely manged to avoid the angry servant, she tried to find her brother and his date and make sure nothing "suspicious" ends up happening.

Later the two were back in the human world, sitting on a hill as they enjoyed the beautiful display of fireworks. Danny changed into his human form and made sure to keep away from the crowd of people that came to the park to watch it, choosing to sit on a hill that was far away from the eyes of the people and that was a perfect spot to view that show and Ember was really enjoying the sight.

"Amazing..."Ember said as she watched the beautiful explosions of light and colors.

"Yeah, it is..."Danny said smiling.

He couldn't believe it really. It was Valentine's day and for once he wasn't alone! He was actually spending it with someone who seemed to actually like him and not just his ghost half.

"Ya know Ember...I'm having a nice time..."Danny said honestly, earning a smile from the ghostly girl.

"I am too Danny..."Ember said smiling at him.

"Ember, if you don't mind me asking...Can I ask a few things about yourself?..."Danny asked her, he already asked her the standard "non-dangerous" questions a guy was allowed to ask on a date, but there was something about this situation that was still too strange for its own good.

"Ask away baby pop...'Ember said.

Danny took a deep breath and knew it was either now or never.

"Why?...Why did you attack the city so much?...'Danny asked her, keeping a serious face.

Ember blinked a bit, surprised he was being so forward.

"He still wary of me isn't he?..."Ember blinked a bit, but knew she couldn't exactly blame him. She would be suspicious too if she was in his shoes.

"I….I wanted for everyone to like my music..."Ember said looking down, not liking the look he was giving her.

"By brainwashing the entire world into worshiping you…."Danny said with his arms crossed.

"The way you say it makes it sound wrong..."Ember said with her usual sarcastic wit but Danny wasn't amused.

"Then how could you make it sound good?...'Danny said flatly, only to flinch when he saw the guilty look on her face.

"Maybe she really is trying to turn a new leaf..."Danny wondered a bit.

"Look I'm sorry I..."Danny was cut off when Ember waved her hand.

"It's okay, I get it..."Ember said, she thought back to her first fight with the ghost boy and what she had done...She remembered placing a love spell on him and made him obsessed with that goth girl just so he couldn't bother her anymore.

She was surprised that he managed to break free so fast, since her spell was designed to last a day or two, though she knew the only other thing that could have lifted it was…

"I'm sorry..."Was all that Ember could say as realization finally sunk in.

"Excuse me?..."Danny raised his eyebrow, he did not just hear those words from her.

"You heard me, I said I'm sorry...about what I did the day we first met..."Ember said looking down, Danny was confused until he recalled that she placed that loves spell on him and how the only way to free himself was Sam breaking his heart.

"Oh..."Danny muttered, not knowing what else to say.

"Why did-..."Danny started but Ember stopped him.

"Because...I wanted to be remembered….I was tired of people forgetting about me..."Ember said sadly.

"What do you mean?..."Danny said in a surprised tone.

Ember was shocked she let that slip out so easily….she wanted to tell him to forget about it and go back to watching the fireworks...but she saw the look in his blue eyes.

It wasn't the same accusation from earlier or the wariness she saw a couple of times tonight.

It was almost like….he was concerned for her.

Ember sighed and knew there was no going around this.

"When I was alive...No one liked me..."Ember said somberly, recalling her human life and how painful it was.

Ember didn't know why she was doing this but she couldn't keep it loked up anymore, she never told anyone her old life but she soon found herself pouring details to Phantom who stood there shocked.

She told him all about her past, about how she was an unpopular nobody named "Amberline Mclain" that had no friends, was bullied by the popular kids, especially by Alexandria and her minions who routinely insulted, pranked and sometimes even beat her up.

She also told him how she had to deal with moronic parents who tried to control every aspect of her life. When she wasn't being bullied or controlled by all those around her...she was no one, a nothing, she may as well have been invisible.

She told him every miserable aspect of her life, leading up to date with David that never was and how she ended up dying when her house caught on fire that night. It was pure hell and as much as she was upset that her life was cut short...a part of her was happy she didn't have to deal with that shit anymore.

"I can't believe it...but this explains so much!..."Danny thought in complete shock and anger as Ember finished telling her sad tale. He was confused and shock that she was so willing to share this with him, and felt such anger at all those that treated Ember like that, especially that David guy who practically had a hand in killing her.

Ultimately, he just felt sad for her...and something else. Something he didn't recognize just yet. Maybe it didn't excuse all the bad things she had done in the past...but he now knew why she was so messed up like that.

"I'm sorry Ember…."Was all he could think to say.

"There's nothing that could be done about it...Let's just forget about it...please...'Ember asked him.

"I never should have said anything..."Danny muttered.

"It's alright...You're actually the first person I told this..."Ember said shocking him.

"Really?!...'Danny asked in disbelief.

"Really, not even Kitty knows about "Amberline"..."Ember said looking down.

"What happened to the people you knew...your parents and your classmates?...'Danny asked her.

"I don't know...I never bothered to check on them...anyway, could you please not tell anymore..."Ember said in a semi-pleading tone and Danny felt even worse for putting her on the spot like that.

"I promise I won't say a word, but Ember you should never have gone through that...I wish I had been there….'Danny said seriously, feeling hatred for Ember's old tormentors, especially that "David Parker" guy that was the worst in his opinion.

How could he be so cruel like that?

"It's in the past...It doesn't matter….at least as a ghost, I don't have to deal with that shit anymore...at least as a ghost I have respect..."Ember said, only to be shocked at the change expression on his face going from sad to pure anger in a second.

"IT DOES MATTER! That's not how a person should gain respect! You didn't deserve to be treated like that! You shouldn't have died like that either! If I ever come across that David guy or those idiots...grrr...No one deserves to be treated like that...including you!…."Danny shouted and was growling at this point, feeling so much anger right now.

He thought Dash and Paulina were bad but David and Ember's version of the A-Listers were much worse. At least he had Tucker, Sam and even Jazz to have his back, but Ember had no one….even her own parents were no better than her bullies. It made him sick.

"Danny..."Ember mumbled in shock, she never expected him to react this way.

She couldn't believe how angry he sounded at the idea that someone was mean to her...She felt herself tear up a bit but she stopped, no matter what she refused to cry. She wasted so many tears in human life...Amberline might have been a crybaby but Ember never cried.

No matter what.

Still….to think he cares this much...

"Do you really mean it?..."Ember asked him, feeling a strange feeling overwhelm her.

"Of course I do..."Danny said, truly meaning it..."Also, I don't think you need to force people to like your music..."Danny said honestly to her, shocking her once more.

"What?...You like my songs?!....Ember asked in disbelief as he nodded.

"To be honest yes...You're a good singer...the only thing I can't accept is the brainwashing...Danny said with a chuckled.

Ember couldn't help but smile widely, feeling a great weight she didn't know she had been carrying be lifted from her shoulders. After having those feelings bottled for so long and to hear someone tell her they truly like her singing...it felt...nice...It felt nice to let it all out to someone who actually cared enough to listen and get a compliment from them.

"Thank you..."Ember said before giving him a hug, momentarily shocking the half ghost boy, who soon smiled and returned it.

Unknown to the two, Cupid was watching there interaction and was furious.

"This is not suppose to happen! She's suppose to be heartbroken right now! And why is she still acting like she likes him?!….'Cupid thought in anger in confusion.

He knew his spell was lifted hours ago and he was fully expecting Ember to experience heartbreak at this point, in order to teach her a lesson about disrespecting him and the topic of love.

He didn't expect that her enemy would start liking her back.

"NO! This won't do! I'm Cupid, the spirit of love, and only I decide who becomes couples and who suffers heartbreak!...'He growled and could sense a bond forming between the two.

"Not if I have anything to say about it!…."Cupid said as he knew what must be done.

Back to our favorite ghostly couple. Ember was still hugging him and Danny was still returning it. Ember soon found herself snuggling a bit, which he didn't seem to mind.

"Maybe….Maybe we really can be a thing….Maybe..."Ember was feeling at peace as she was in his arms, enjoying the warmth of his body as he held her close.

She wasn't the only one having these kind of thoughts, Danny was also enjoying the closeness with her, enjoying the strange combination of her cool skin and the warmth from her firey hair.

It was strange but unique at the same time.

"Jut like her….I think….I think I actually might li-...Danny thoughts were cut short when Ember was now looking in his eyes.

"Danny...'Ember whispered, giving him a very warm gaze.

"Ember…."He whispered back.

Ember's hands were on his cheeks, she could feel her heart was vibrating at this point but she didn't care. She wanted this and she could tell he did too.

"Happy Valentine's day..."Both of them said in sync and were only inches from a full lip lock.

Until…

"I think this has gone on long enough...'A male voice broke the two out of their trance, along with Danny's ghost sense activating.

"What th-...The two turned around to see a child-like ghost looking at them smugly.

"Do you mind, we were having a moment!….'Ember growled, hating that her special moment with Danny was being interrupted.

"Actually I do..."The ghost said with his arms crossed and Ember finally recognized him as the ghost she ran into the other day.

"Who are you?..."Danny asked the cherub like ghost.

"I am glad you asked that halfa, I am Cupid, the spirit of love and affection and I am here to say that this has gone on long enough…."He said to the confused teenagers.

"What are you talking about?..."Ember asked in confusion and annoyance.

"Oh yes, your still unaware of it...Well, I'll explain...The love spell I placed on you the other day has been lifted...so goody for you..."Cupid said cruelly and smirked as he saw the horrified look on Ember's face.

"What are you talking about?..."Ember demanded.

"Four days ago, you disrespected me and the topic of love...which is one of the worst insults you could give to the spirit of love, so as punishment, I placed a spell on you to make you fall in love with your worse enemy...'Cupid said nonchalantly as he pointed to a still shocked Danny.

"A...A spell…."Danny muttered in complete shock.

"She's...She's been under a spell this entire time...It….It wasn't real..."Danny thought, feeling very unhappy at the idea.

"N...No It can't be...This...This couldn't all have been a spell!..."Ember said, becoming really upset.

It couldn't be, these last few days with Danny have been wonderful and she really enjoyed their date together...There were just moments away from sharing a kiss!

It couldn't have been the result from some spell from a cruel deity.

"Don't believe me huh?...I suppose I should give a demonstration…."Cupid said as he pulled out his arrow and the two saw him shoot at a bickering man and woman, who suddenly stopped fighting and started making out.

Ember only stood there semi-petrified as realization sunk it,

"See, it was only my spell that made you swoon over the halfa boy...a spell that is no longer in place..."Cupid said with an evil grin as he watch the dismayed look on Ember's face and could feel her heart breaking and her temper about to flare.

N...No!….'Ember muttered, feeling like a bucket of ice water was just dumped on her.

"It...It wasn't real...'Ember thought before feeling a sense of rage come over her. She was panting and shaking and her hair was rising more and more.

"Oh man!..."Danny thought as he saw the power burst and prepared himself for anything.

"Poor Ember….I'm sorry but love hurts..."Cupid said laughing before disappearing in a whirlwind of hearts, leaving the shocked halfa and the very, very angry ghost girl.

Ember was panting and her attention was directed at Danny who instinctively turned back into his ghost form.

"Now...Now take it easy Ember...I don't wanna fight you...but I will if I have too..."Danny said bravely, ignoring his own pain and confusion at the realization that these last few days were nothing but a sick joke.

"She's gotten stronger...but how?..."Danny thought as he saw the power and rage she was generating.

He was briefly taken back by the raw power Ember was demonstrating, the last time he faced anything similar was when she had the entire world chanting her name...only she was even angrier now.

Ember stomped toward him and was now face to face….before Danny could do anything...he saw the anger on her face was gone now and he could see some tears falling from her eyes.

Ember...was….crying?!

Danny was taken back, only watching as he saw her shedding tears and noticed her hair/flames were getting small the more she cried until she was almost back to her normal level.

"What?..."Danny blinked.

"It wasn't real...None of it was real...I'm such an idiot..."Ember thought bitterly as she felt her tears force their way out of her eyes.

She was crying...and right in front of her enemy...and the boy she thought she had fallen in love with.

But it wasn't real.

"Ember..."Danny asked in a concerned voice, he reached out for her, only for her to jump back and disappeared in a bunch of flames, leaving the half ghost boy all by himself.

Unknown to the dismayed half ghost teen hero, someone had witness the entire event. Up in one of the trees, a human girl spied on her beloved ghostly boy and the singing harlot that took him away, only to witness Cupid appear and break the news to them.

It was Paulina Sanchez who had an intrigued expression on her face

She had been searching all over town for her beloved and finally caught him landing in the park with that bitch ghost girl Ember. She was enraged that he lied about not wanting to celebrate Valentine's day with anyone and then choose to spend it with that ghost hussy.

Before she could do anything, she saw a strange ghost in a diaper appear and claim himself to be Cupid and Paulina enjoyed watching Ember cry her eyes out when she was told that whatever happened between her and Danny wasn't real.

"Serves her right...'Paulina thought smugly.

Her thoughts soon went to Cupid and she recalls his little display with the fight couple and how they were the result of the so-called "love" between her ghost boy and that singing ghost tramp.

"Hmmm...So this whole thing happened because of those arrows, huh?..."Paulina wondered as she thought about the satchel Cupid had and what those arrows could do.

They could make anyone fall in love with anyone, even making the worst of enemies become the most passionate of lovers.

"Interesting..."Was her last thought as she got out of her tree and made her way back home, with many ideas forming in her mind involving her beloved, those arrows and their future together.

Valentines day might be over, but the war known as love has only begun.

-To be continued-

Next time on Cupid's Wrath

Heartbreak!

A/N: Why did I make Danny an Aries?...Because Danny Phantom premiered on April 3rd, 2004! ^_^

Also for those who don't know, I did some minor editing in this chapter.

REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewers:

Zachary Gilmore, Mr. R3M and rebfan90: Thanks.

For the love of Frisk: Thanks, it's actually not that hard to make Sam act like a decent person instead of a jealous bitch that's on par with Paulina in jealousy and obsession.

DP-Observant69: I know and that we'll see more of it soon, I promise.

Invader Johnny: I hope this will suffice.

Wiseguy2415: It's alright, there is no time limit on when you can review any given chapter, I'm just happy with the fact that you like my fic enough to give it a review ;)

memmek10k: That's alright, just review whenever your willing and able to ;)

:) Till next time beautiful people, remember to read and review