Chapter 1: Where We Start
Third POV
~August 19~

HE SHIVERED, red eyes appearing in the darkness. They glowed, the owner of them- their heart black; bleak. A voice bounced around the never ending darkness, her song sending chills down his spine.

"I've got no strings to hold me down...
To make me fret,
Or make me frown...
I had strings,
but now I'm free..."

THE TEENAGE BOY WOKE UP, gasping for breath as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head. His matted and messy raven black hair covered his blue eyes. His lanky form was covered in strip pajamas, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. His ragged breathing echoing across his small bedroom, his chest heaving up and down with each breath.

A deep male voice rang in his ears: "There are no strings on me..."

Danny Fenton shuddered, throwing the blankets off of his legs. He hugged his knees to his chest, just as his vision was swimming into focus, he slammed them shut, trying to get his breathing in check.

He sighed after a few minutes, swinging his legs over the side of his bed. The floor boards creaked under his feet, as Danny quickly got dressed in his usual blue jeans, old red sneakers, and white t-shirt with red trim and oval.

Groggily, he rubbed the bags under his eyes. How many hours of sleep had he gotten? He yawned, his memory too fuzzy to recounter how much sleep he had gotten, but it was probably under five hours due to ghost fighting.

Danny leaned on his door, sleepiness washing over him, his hand resting on the cold doorknob. He suddenly groaned, banging his head onto the wooden door in despair.

"Danny?" called the voice of his mother.

"N-nope!" he yawned, turning on his heels and flopping onto his head. He buried his face in his pillow as his mother entered the room; wearing her usual teal jumpsuit with her choppy red-hair framing her face.

Maddie shook her head at her almost fifteen year old son. "It's the first day of your sophomore year, honey- aren't you excited?"

Danny groaned, "For disappointed and yelling teachers, homework, responsibility, homework, and work in general?"

She rolled her eyes, "You haven't done anything this summer."

He groaned again, digging his head deeper into his comfortable pillow. "I beg to differ."

"Sitting on the couch, playing video games, and eating Nutella does not count."

"O-o-oka-okay," he yawned. "First off- that was Tucker and Sam."

"And you?"

Ghost fighting, but he only grunted in response. His mother didn't have to know he was the infamous Danny Phantom for several reasons.

"That's what I thought, sweetheart," she said. "Breakfast is ready."

Danny sighed, rolling out of the comfortable sheets of his bed onto the ground with an oomph! The teenager groaned, blinking the sleep away from his eyes, as he stumbled to his feet and to the door. Then to the kitchen, almost tripping over his feet on the way down the staircase.

He slipped into his seat around the circular table, joining his mom, dad, and sister. His father was a large man, dressed in an orange hazmat jumpsuit- who was both a genius, ignorant, and childish. As for Danny's sister, she was a tall seventeen year old, with her long red hair falling on her back. She had turquoise eyes, and often wore sophisticated clothing.

The table was covered in open cereal boxes, orange juice, milk, bacon, eggs, plates and bowls. The small TV that rested on the counter was turned on to the news channel.

Danny groaned, biting into a piece of bacon. "Who watches the news?"

"Shhh!"

He scowled, "Fine- I see how it is," he muttered, pouring a bowl of cereal. Jazz rolled her eyes at her brother, all of their eyes pinned onto the screen.

"Why am I even here?" complained a familiar man into his ear piece, "I'm a weatherman for god's-" he stopped mid-sentence as if he suddenly realized he was live. He straightened up, fixing his tie, and plastering on a fake smile. "This is Lance Thunder! Here live on the Island of Manhattan!"

As soon as he finished his sentence, Lance stepped to the side, revealing what used to be buildings, like skyscrapers, apartments, and offices. A rather large building that loomed over the streets of Manhattan was in rather bad shape, its glass widows all on the side facing the road were shattered. The hundreds and thousands of shards of glass fell on to the road where construction workers blocked tried to discard of them. The road was in worse shape, it was torn right down the middle, one side lifting up like an earthquake had struck. A suspicious substance was dotted all over it.

The camera switched to the helicopter cam, giving a bird's eye view of Manhattan. It didn't matter which direction you looked at, everywhere seemed to yell: DESTRUCTION!; Torn apart buildings, crashed and stopped cars. The busy island suddenly felt abandoned, empty. The air that hung around was heavy, like a bloody war had been fought and this was the after math. Buildings looked like their foundations had been ripped from under them, phone lines were down, and there was what looked like the remains of a crashed helicopter.

The camera switched back to ground level, and Lance shot the camera a weary smile. "As you can all see, the Island of Manhattan is currently in shambles- and the mayor has ordered a temporary evacuation. Nobody is aware of what happened, everyone claims that they suddenly felt droopy and woke up. Scientists are scrambling to find an explanation, with no clear trace of chloroform in the surrounding air. As for anything between Manhattan and the Empire State Building is in trash and if possible, more damage. No piece of technology has caught the events that have occurred. Leaving many to speculate a possible terrorist attack and those closest to Manhattan have also evacuated. This is Lance Thunder- signing off!"

Jazz turned the TV off as he finished, she slowly lowered the remote in her hand, her expression clearly shocked. The intelligent girl's brain whirled furiously, searching for a logical explanation. Jack Fenton for once in his life time was speechless, and Danny just stared at the black TV screen, startled. Though- if he had been paying attention to his mother's reaction, he would've heard her mutter: "Of course they couldn't find any traces of chloroform or footage," but he didn't. He was too busy lost in his thoughts, his heart beating heavily in his chest.

The half-ghost's eyes widened further as a wisp of blue smoke escaped his mouth. His sister turned to him and mouthed: Ghost sense? Danny nodded, muttering unhappily to himself under his breath. But he was grateful on the inside, it was nice to have somebody at home who could cover up your deepest darkest secret.

Jazz jumped up from her seat, "Hey, um, Mom- don't you have to go to the store... Or something?" she strutted out.

Danny face-palmed as Maddie gave her daughter a questioning look. "Sweetheart, we went grocery shopping yesterday- remember?"

"Uh-"

The blue-eyed boy rolled his eyes- time to save the day, again. "Um... Didn't you say you have to get more hardware?"

"No, honey," said the ghost huntress, signing. "We also got that yest-"

"-What about fudge?" interrupted Jazz, laughing nervously, a bead of sweat rolling down her forehead.

"Yeah!" Jack boomed excitedly, bouncing up from his wooden chair, "We're almost out of delicious heaven!" he cried before running out of the front door to the RV.

Maddie sighed, sending her near adult daughter a dirty glare. Jazz just smiled sweetly, while Danny groaned, slumping deeper into his seat, and covering his face with his hand. The older red-head swiftly grabbed her keys from the counter and ran after her husband, who was singing loudly with glee.

"Love you!" Maddie shouted, slamming the front door shut.

Jazz sighed in relief, grinning. The ghost boy got up from his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and gave his sister a dead look. "What?" she asked, blinking.

He rolled his eyes, letting his arms fall to his sides as he uncrossed them. "You know, if I wanted a horrible lie- I would've done it myself."

She scowled, "I saved your sorry butt."

"Just say it."

"Say, what?"

"-Swear; You know you want to."

"I'm not going to swear."

"Why not?"

"Because responsible adults don't swear."

"Adults swear all the time!"

"JUST GET THE GOD DAMN GHOST!"

The young woman gasped, covering her mouth with her hand as she watched her younger brother run up the stairs to his bedroom, laughing. "DANNY FENTON!"

The blue-eyed teenager laughed, slamming his door shut behind him. He leaned against the door for a second, as a draft of cold wind flew into his room. Danny shivered, his eyes flitting to his window which was wide open. He frowned, rushing over to the glass and softly closing it. He could've sworn it was closed...

He tugged the curtains over the window, blocking out the view of Amity Park. The ghost boy got into a fighting stance, "I'm going-!"

He froze mid-battle cry, he swiftly grabbed something off of his bed and he was 99.999999% sure it hadn't been there.

He hovered over his bed for a second, almost abandoning the ghost that was causing mischief somewhere. The plain white box rested in his cold palm, his breath caught in his throat. The box... It made his skin tingle. It smelled weird and familiar somehow- at the same time.. like salt or something... It was small, only slightly larger than an engagement ring box.

Danny ripped the top off, tossing it onto his bed. He laughed, shaking his head at the only content inside: a fortune cookie. The almost-fifteen-year old grinned, cracking open the fortune cookie. He stuffed half of the cookie into his mouth, pulling out the paper from within.

In small black print was one sentence: The darkness cannot be contained much longer.

~December 13~

"I'm telling you, guys," bleated Grover Underwood, shifting uncomfortably in front of all the half-bloods in front of the amphitheater. The magical flames crackling and turning a shade of red. "There's something funny about that town. There's no naiads or dryads or auras- or any type of nymph within a mile of the place! And it smells funny, like the Underworld!" the satyr bleated again, "It smells of Nico!"

"I don't think Nico would like that," frowned Percy Jackson, they rolled their eyes. Annabeth Chase slapped him, "Ow, Wise Girl!" he complained.

"Seaweed Brain," she muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. He grinned at her, lacing their fingers together.

"And?" the demigods pressed, staring at the new Lord of the Wild.

"The oddest part is there's a demigod there," Grover bleated. "And they're old, fifteen, and they definitely smell like Big Three material." they glanced to each other at this, muttering incoherently. "How a kid of the Big Three has survived this long, I dunno know. But if he hasn't been attacked by monsters yet, he will soon."

Percy scowled to himself. What happened to the oath of the Big Three, and the promise he made Zeus swear on, for all demigods to be brought to camp by the age of thirteen?

Annabeth spoke up next, "Amity Park," she said the name like the place was foreign. "Why does that sound familiar?"

The Aphrodite cabin squealed and the camp covered their ears, turning towards them.

"Sorry," apologized Drew Tanaka, flashing them a glamorous smile, though it was obvious she wasn't.

"Amity Park is only the hometown of the Danny Phantom!" Lacy squealed.

"Who?" half of them blinked, the others rolled their eyes.

Chiron stroked his beard thoughtfully, "I believe I have heard of him, but I thought he was just a myth."

"A hoax- you mean, Chiron?" Annabeth asked the centaur, he shook his head, and she frowned, furrowing her eyebrows.

Will Solace snapped his fingers, "Isn't it supposedly the Most Haunted Town in America?"

"With their own personal superhero," finished a voice in the shadows.

They all jumped as Nico di Angelo emerged, smirking to himself, with his black stagion sword in his hand. If the blade looked intimidating before, it really did now; the light of the fire bounced off it, making the black metal look even more ominous. He sheathed it, his dark eyes flitting around.

"Is it a hoax?" called one of the Stoll brothers.

"Far from it," he scowled. "The place definitely gives off the same aura as the Underworld does. But it shouldn't be possible for a mortal town to smell so strongly of the dead- but it does. Dad's scowling something about losing a piece of Tartarus and Hades, whatever the Hera that means," he rolled his eyes. "Yes, Danny Phantom is real. Except he's a ghost but he's not like one at the same time. Him and the ghosts that he fights and roams the town have solid forms and more abilities than ghosts in the Underworld. But a lot of rumors are flowing through the ghosts and most of them involve the halfa-whom-defeated-Pariah-Dark."

"What?" they all blinked.

Nico shrugged, "Don't look at me. I have no idea what a halfa is. But Pariah Dark was a tyrant who almost over threw Hades. The first time he was sealed away by seven ancient beings, and the second is supposedly by Phantom."

"Is he powerful?" somebody asked.

Drew scoffed, "He's hot- if that's what you mean! He's our age!"

"Oh... Um... Okay...?" they trailed off.

"But what about the demigod, Grover?" questioned Malcolm.

Grover's nose twitched, "He smells familiar... But I can't say," his goat tail flickered nervously. "I haven't gone within range, I haven't even gotten within the town lines. That's just how powerful his scent is. Amity Park may look peaceful, but it's no place for nature spirits."

Chiron sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. All of the satyrs refused to enter the town lines and from what he was hearing, the place was infested with monsters.

"Who'll go to retrieve the demigod, then?" the centaur sighed, the other demigods glanced to each other, whispering. A hand slowly raised and his siblings snickered at him, as he grinned, bouncing to his feet.

"Wyatt?" Chiron blinked. He nodded, his grin spreading. "Alright, then..." he sighed, "Who do you wanna take?"

Wyatt Granson practically skipped over to the Ares kids, grabbed one by the arm and dragged them to their feet. The girl stumbled, scowling, and glaring at him.

"Granson!" she scolded.

He pouted, "Well?" giving her his best puppy eyes.

Atalanta scowled, "Oh, no.. I am no-"

"-Please?-"

"-No."

Chiron sighed at their bickering, shaking his head. "Will you be taking anyone else, child?" he asked Wyatt.

He shrugged and faced the camp, his eyes sweeping over them. Atalanta face-palmed, muttering something under her breath, "We'll need a child of Hecate to bend the Mist-" she said.

"-I'll take Lou!"

Atalanta turned her head towards her best friend, sending him a dirty look. "Why do I even try?" she mumbled as the Hecate cabin cheered loudly, clapping their hands. One daughter stood up, her face bright red as she smiled politely, walking over to Wyatt. He grinned at her, rubbing the back of his neck, Lou blushed and Atalanta smirked ever so slightly.

"It is decided," announced the wise centaur, spreading his arms out. "Lou, Atalanta, and Wyatt leave tomorrow for Amity Park, Illinois."

"We'll be taking the pegasi if that's alright with you, Chiron." Lou added, he nodded.

"I'd get packing if I were you," he suggested. Chiron turned back to the campers, "Say, goodnight, children. We have a busy day tomorrow."

The half-bloods nodded, abruptly getting up from their seats, and walking off towards their cabins with their siblings.

Lou waved shyly at Atalanta and Wyatt, the son of Apollo waved back and the daughter of Ares simply rolled her eyes, and gave a quick wave. Lou jogged off towards the Hecate cabin as the two best friends walked side-by-side, trailing behind their siblings.

"Can I talk to you guys?" a familiar voice asked. Wyatt jumped, yelping in surprise as Atalanta stiffened, her hand reaching towards an object in her pocket as they both turned to face Nico.

"Hey, Nico," said Atalanta, retracting her hand. The old friends (Well, to be fair, they both weren't sure what to call each other) shared a small nod, and Wyatt glanced between them, blinking confusedly.

"Atalanta," Nico said. "I traveled to Amity... once," he paused. "I was searching for hidden ways into Hades. I came across the town, I couldn't find a portal or a door, and when I asked when the ghosts started to come, all of them said about last year-"

"-Are you sure it's not a hoax, di Angelo?" interrupted Wyatt, Atalanta sent him a warning glare, smacking on the arm. If there was one thing you didn't do, it was challenge the son of Hades. "Gee," he mumbled, rubbing his arm, "I was just asking."

Nico scowled, glaring at the son of Apollo, "Do you doubt me?"

He opened his mouth to say something, except Atalanta swooped in to stop her best friend from getting screwed. "No, he doesn't," she said, her eyes on Wyatt. She turned towards Nico, "He's new at this gig, you know that. This is all still strange for him."

He scoffed, "Him I get," he said. "It's you who I was expecting something out of."

She rolled her eyes, "Nothing surprises me these days."

He nodded, but still scowling in Wyatt's direction, "I spent a long time there. I suspected there was a demigod for a short while. I'm no satyr, but even I can sense the Underworld and death when it lingers around people."

"You think Hades broke the oath?"

He shook his head, "Don't ask, I can just tell that he's not a son of Hades."

She raised an eyebrow, "A boy; If you're so positive that he's a half-blood, then why didn't you bring him here?"

He shrugged, "The same reason I can tell that he's not my brother. Gut feeling."

Wyatt made a humming sound, "You're going on a lot of instinct."

Nico rolled his eyes, grinding his teeth, "Daniel Fenton- that's who you need to find."

The blond blinked, leaning forwards, "I'm sorry- but who?" Atalanta groaned.

"The half-blood."

"How old?"

"Mid-teens."

"How can he go undetected for so long?"

Wyatt shuffled his feet uneasily, "If he lives in a ghost infested town, I don't think he's gone undetected from monsters."

"Maybe not," admitted Nico.

Atalanta balled her hand into a fist, pressing it into the bottom of her palm as she bowed respectfully. "Thank you."

He copied before vanishing into the shadows.

~December 14~

Annabeth gave Percy a quick peck on the check in front of the Poseidon cabin. He smiled at her and waved as she ran off towards the Athena cabin. Percy stepped inside and closed the door behind him. A cloth was placed over his mouth, he tried to scream, but strawberries... Yum, he think he'll just take one quick nap...

A woman's soft laughing could be heard, "I will enjoy ripping your memory of that Athena spawn away, sea scum."

{If I could, I would delete and rewrite a lot of these chapters from Wattpad, but I don't want to majorly change the story. The chapters are much shorter so I'm going to place 2-3 Wattpad chapters in one chappie. As I've said before, I will only be making minor edits. This writing is from about five months ago and I like to thank that I've become much better over time.
The song above was based off of Pinocchio, but it's from Avengers: Age of Ultron. It is foreshadowing for the series main villian- or maybe his theme song? Huh, I don't know.

-Book117Worm
Ellie}