I do not own Danny Phantom or Extreme Ghostbusters. Their individual companies own those. This is a sequel to Unclogged Graves.
Danny Phantom stood patiently against the door of the firehouse entrance. Ghostbuster headquarters was quiet as everyone took a seat. While the ghost boy knew he wouldn't be jumped with proton lasers powered by a small nuclear reactor, that still did nothing to settle his nerves.
In Amity Park, every ghost hunter was shot first, introduce many painful experiments later. The only one who even talked to him used a harsh voice. So, when he stepped inside, every nerve in his body went on high alert for his safety.
Seeing the ghostbusters as a human was alright, but this was another level of awkwardness for him. He tried to keep everything professional between them all while making sure he did nothing to put a target on his back.
Egon was with Janine as he reviewed the readings from the PKE meter. Roland disarmed himself as he inspected the proton pack, examining the mechanics and power output.
Eduardo was with Garrett, both gently putting the packs' wands at their side as they watched the ghost boy. While willing to give him a chance, but it was obvious that Danny should not make any sudden moves.
Kylie went to her phone, checking up on Jazz. The elder Fenton sibling covered for her brother's dual identity, saying they were still on their way over. The girl felt bad for leaving the girl like that but had to get back quickly. But after hanging up, she started staring at Danny again, specifically his glowing green eyes that shined like emeralds.
This left Slimer to stay by the ghost boy's side. The slimy ghost gave a friendly wave as he floated next to Danny. The gooey glob tried to start a conversation but couldn't say anything coherently. Nevertheless, his company was appreciated as moral support.
"Mr. Phantom, care to elaborate on the arrival of this...Fright Knight and his connection with Halloween?" Egon started, focusing more on the meter than the ghost boy.
There were so many ways for the ghost boy to interpret that statement, but for now, Danny went with the truth.
"Dude, I have no idea," Danny replied bluntly.
Now Egon and Janine joined in on the staring as the former adjusted his glasses. That was the last thing he wanted to hear.
"What do you mean? Don't ghosts and spirits have some way of communicating with each other?" Kylie asked.
"In the Ghost Zone? Naw." Danny waved his hand at her words. "Even if there was, nobody in the zone cares about anyone but themselves."
Despite just hearing of this, the news didn't surprise any of the Ghostbusters, young or old. From what they had encountered, spirits never seemed to act beyond their goals, intelligent or not. But that did not stop the curiosity of Dr. Egon and Kylie s they listened on with the professor writing on a clipboard.
"At least we can agree it's called the Ghost Zone," Garrett snarked in a whisper.
"They don't get out much, do they?" Eduardo snarked, seemingly ignoring the conversation. One of his ears seemed to perk, denying the facade he had up.
"Not unless there's something they want," Danny added, shrugging in response.
"Sounds like every ghost we ever bust," Garrett commented. Out of everyone there, he felt some respect for the ghost boy. It was more like two fighters after going through the works, but there was something.
"Which means we need to figure out the connection between Samhain, the original spirit of Halloween, and this Fright Knight, who claims to be said spirit," Egon noted. The man was on edge, putting down his notes.
The room nodded in agreement, only to add more to the tension. With no leads, the mystery of the Halloween spirits would hold no end. At least for ninety-nine percent of the room.
"Look, I...may know...someone—" everyone turned to Danny. "—but I'll have to go and check. I'll get back to you if I find anything."
"Alright, but be careful." Egon got up, walking towards the ghost boy. "Whatever is happening, but he thing is clear, the Fright Knight came for you. He may have unfinished business, but for now, you're his target."
"Tell me something new," Phantom snarked with a roll of his eyes. He looked at the professor, who was scratching his chin, before looking at the others. His stare stopped at Kylie.
"What?" Danny stared back at Kylie, whose face didn't express anything but a smile.
"Thank you," the girl said. Those words made the ghost boy blink, stunned silent like a deer in headlights. Almost expecting some turn of events, the Extreme Ghostbusters watched as Danny smiled before waving goodbye and flying off.
It was almost déjà vu, or at least, that's what it felt like. An image of long red hair flowed in his mind for a moment, but that would be pushed down as he caught up with his sister.
And he wasn't the only one curious as Egon, Eduardo, Garrett, and Roland stared at Kylie. The girl had not taken her eyes off the spot the ghost boy phased through.
"His eyes...they shine like emeralds," Kylie commented.
That made the gears in the boys' heads stop. Their stares at the goth girl dropped as they exchanged faces. It was obvious of her interest in the supernatural, but her breath held a certain undertone, and that subtlety made Eduardo question the girl's actions.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Eduardo asked, ignoring the faces his comrades were making.
"You know how eyes are the window to the soul?" Kylie turned to the boy. "His held something beyond—"
"Like how the doc's glasses go missing, but are actually just sitting on top of his head?" Garret ribbed but was ignored.
"No. They held complexity. He looked like a normal teenager, but I saw: bravery, kindness, darkness, and turmoil. It was as if I was looking at a boy thrown into a hurricane, standing his ground against the wind."
To Eduardo, it seemed Kylie was stuck in her love of the paranormal. It almost sounded like a cheesy romance novel butchered by its stale films, making him glance over his shoulder to see his opinion was not isolated.
"Ok, it's official, you need to get out more," Eduardo said dryly.
But he was ignored as the goth girl gave him a look before going upstairs. Eduardo's mood was not helped by the stares he felt from Roland and Garrett.
"You got something to say?" Eduardo turned towards them.
"Hey there, relax Ed." Garrett said with his hands up. Though his grin held more meaning, it seemed the wheelchair-bound boy meant no harm as he strolled over. "Look, we got a ghost who might be a challenge—"
"Considering the proton packs still can't lay a dent on him, that's an understatement," Roland remarked.
"—who MIGHT be a challenge, but like with that whale, we got ourselves some help."
"You mean Lotan?" Roland asked.
Eduardo shrugged, not sure about Phantom. For obvious reason, he kept things close to the vest as the others continued with their grins.
"Whatever," Eduardo said, walking out of the room. He did not get two steps in when he heard Garrett.
"Although if I didn't know any better, I'd say that Kylie might have a thing with shining eyes."
Danny and Jazz returned with the latter explaining her covering the former. The elder sister had kept the boy's actions hidden, not that the ghostbusters seemed to care about questioning them. It was the old lost tourist excuse, but for the most part, it worked.
"OK, so just recap—"
"Jazz, I got it, I got lost in the panic and stuff happened," Danny said with a tilting hand. After everything today, he wasn't in the mood for any more notes, reasonable or not.
The ghost boy's body reeked of his mental exhaustion. Jazz had a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, knowing this was not how he wanted the week to go. From a simple lecture/vacation to ghost fights, life seemed willing to not hold back in making things complicated for Danny.
Walking into the firehouse, the younger brother went straight to his bed for some time alone. Everyone took notice but figured it to be akin to the country mouse visiting the city and letting him be.
Jazz took the time to go through her phone with the news as she lay in the living room with Kylie, Eduardo, and Garrett. Only five minutes into an article, she saw her brother come out and walk to the roof.
"Seems like someone getting used to the Big Apple," Garrett quipped. A state from Jazz did nothing to curb his teasing.
"Don't worry about it," Eduardo said, not taking his eyes off the television. "If anything, I'd say he doing well."
Jazz didn't believe any of the boys' words with a face expressing her thoughts.
"Hey, believe me. If he hasn't gotten his wallet picked or brainwashed by the nearest billboard, he's doing fine," Garrett added.
"Though he should still avoid the subways," Kylie added, looking towards the stairs.
Danny was on the rooftop, looking around to ensure his privacy. While he had no information on the Fright Knight, he had a best friend who did. Opening his phone and hitting one of five of his contacts outside of family, a friendly voice was heard on the other end.
"Hey Danny, I thought we were gonna talk later?" Said the girl's voice.
Sam, one of Danny's only two best friends, was working on her homework in her bedroom. she would call it a den of darkness and despair, but she never would correct her friends.
"Hey, Sam, listen, I need you to do something for me. You still got that book about the Fright Knight?" Danny replied.
"Yeah, you need something?"
"I need you to tell me what you know about the Fright Knight, from that you have."
There was a long pause as the ghost boy listened to Sam shuffling around her room. She went to her bookshelf and took out a copy of The Chronicles of the Fright Knight. Flipping through the pages, the goth held up the phone again.
"Mind telling me what you're looking for?" Sam asked.
"Something about a ghost called Samhain. It seemed to frighten the Fright Knight." Danny thought back to the previous encounter, wondering if there was any detail he was missing. "Apparently, he's the spirit of Halloween and I bet things are gonna get ugly."
"Wow, that's a lot to take in." Sam dropped the book in surprise. With her admiration of all things dark and dreary, she never thought there would be more than one Halloween spirit.
"Well get this, if Samhain is someone the Fright Knight hates more than me, I get the feeling we may have a real fight here."
"And now you've peaked my interest." Sam picked up the book and started flipping through the pages. The book was thick with regales about the character of the Fright Knight, making her task arduous.
"Something tells me this may take a while," Danny remarked after listening to the long minute of paper flapping.
"It'll take some time to find anything about Samhain, but if anything, it's like you said, they're probably fighting over the title of Halloween spirit," Sam remarked.
"Then I'll call you back. Hopefully it his won't turn into something big."
"You do realize you're tempting karma, right?" Sam stopped her studying, her voice overflowing with sarcasm.
The ghost boy smacked his face, realizing the validity of his friend's statement. His stomach twisted into knots like a gymnast, giving off the feeling that he might have made things worse.
"Great, I guess New York really is the city that never sleeps," Danny deadpanned.
"Then you m if he wanna get some sleep. I'll keep looking, but don't expect any miracles."
"Alright. Night, Sam."
"Night Danny."
The phone line died as Danny looked at Manhattan, wondering what the history was between the ghosts. Sighing in defeat, he went to Egon's lab, looking at the man's notes.
Prof. Spengler was busy studying ectoplasmic samples through his microscope with machines hooked up to the device. Different signature wavelengths of protoplasmic energy signatures harmonized with the sounds of potent ethereal compounds being examined. This was like another language to the ghost boy, but that didn't stop him from trying to learn.
"Hey...Dr. Egon?" Danny tapped the man on the shoulder.
Egon replied with an affirmative hum, keeping a focus on the sample.
"So...back at Amity Park, ghosts always seemed to just mind their own business, doing what they want. My parents said it was because it was evil, but what do you think?"
"An obsession."
Danny blinked at Egon's words. "What is?"
"The ghosts." Egon turned to the boy. "Ghosts manifest as a combination of a highly ionized protoplasm mixed with ether. In layman's terms, ectoplasm."
"Ok..." Danny didn't know what to say but continued listening.
"These ghosts, spirits, or apparitions are formed by a singular thought that somehow caused the creation of their ectoplasmic body, which is still theoretical. Because of this, ghosts tend to be mostly simple-minded, aiming for something from their past lives. However, that is only the tip of the iceberg, so to say, as various spirits of nature have been noted, leaving a gap in the study of their being."
"Meaning?..."
"Ghosts come back because of business or something they can't let go of most of the time. But—"
"There's still a gap in the study?" Danny groaned with his words.
"Now you're learning." Egon went back to his microscope. "And here I thought you were disinterested."
"I wouldn't say disinterested." The ghost boy turned around to leave. "More like had enough of it."
"What does that mean?"
Egon received no answer as the boy left the room. Scratching his head, the man stared at the open doorway when Janine came in, looking at the direction Danny was walking.
She held a motherly look when she turned to the ecto-ology professor. They shared sympathies as, for once, the man seemed to ignore his tools for the moment.
Down the roads of Manhattan, people were doing their business as the sunset. The streets soon became dangerous as citizens enjoyed the nightlife, apathetic to such jeopardies.
Save for the few facing them.
"Please, just take my money. Don't hurt me."
In one of the many dark alleys, a young lady had been out, partying with friends at the nightclub. After a few drinks, it was time to go home via a ride service. However, her promiscuous mini dress brought the wrong attention, making her take a few steps away.
It wasn't until someone grabbed her from behind, did she try to scream for help.
"What's wrong?" Said the man who was staring at her on the streets. His eyes were filled with primal lust. "I thought you wanted to have fun?"
The girl wept with waterfalls of tears. Her stomach filled with bile as she struggled against the other man's grip, with her mouth muffled. But to these animals, it only enticed them.
Normally, such tales would go badly, ending up being reported to a special unit in the New York Police Department. But tonight, the darkness held a different story.
From behind, purple flames erupted, showing the figure of the Fright Knight as he walked up. His boots slowly clanked against the ground.
A knife came from me of the men, boy to disappear as the blade of Soup Shredder went through him. The thug glowed brightly before vanishing in a flash of light. The girl was dropped as the other man tried to run, only to find the sword thrown through his stomach.
The Fright Knight called back his blade as it glowed, enveloping his power as his flames grew.
The girl smiled, thanking the ghost, but was promptly replied with a bellowing voice that scared her off. She ran, tripping over herself as she got out her phone.
"Spread the word. Let everyone know if my presence. For on this Hallow's Eve, I will take what is mine."
Flames surrounded the Fright Knight as he left the alley. The night was still young.
Happy Halloween, everyone! I had just remembered about this fic, which got me working on this. I wish I had remembered this earlier in the month, but at least I got one chapter updated. Anyway, next chapter, we get to know more about Danny's time with the Ghostbusters and his ghostly adventures. Also, given that I'm using horror elements, things may get dark. Enjoy!
Special Thanks! to Jay The Average Fanboy for all his help!
Thanks for leaving a review:
Luiz4200: Thanks for letting me know. I did mean that.
danifan3000: You'll see. As for the Halloween Door...liberties will be taken if it is every referenced. I have some issue with the writing.
RonaldM40196867: You'll see. Can't say. This is part of a series in which Danny travels to other locations. The next one will either be a crossover with Grossology or Fugget About It.