Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of the characters. Danny Phantom is the sole property of Butch Hartman, Nickelodeon and Paramount global.
Empowered
Chapter 7: Disaster at the Flea Market! Part II
Danny hid inside a nearby porta-potty and soon changed into his ghost form.
He then phased out of the blue box and flew towards whatever ghost was causing trouble today. He wanted to deal with it fast, so he can continue his date with his Starlight. A date that's had more than enough interruptions.
"Okay, if it's Ember, or even Kitty... I'm gonna wish I wasn't a chick magnet, since two girls I've kissed are here. Star is more than enough, I don't need any more..." Danny muttered as he heard an animalistic sound.
Turning his head, he saw hovering above a building was a ghostly weasel, one clearly too big to be mistaken for a normal one as it was at least 6 ft in length and about the same size of a grizzly bear.
However, while people ran away in terror from the sight of the ghost...it wasn't attacking yet.
"This is different..."Danny thought, as he decided to deal with him quick.
However, the ghost didn't attack yet and just seemed confused for some reason. He looked around and raised an eyebrow.
"How'd I get here?!..." The ghostly weasel questioned, looking lost here.
Danny stopped his sudden attempt to get rid of the ghost as he heard that. He appeared before him and lowered his guard.
"Uh...what's going on?..."Danny asked, getting the ghost's attention.
The ghostly weasel saw him and seemed to recognize him for some reason.
"Hey...you're that ghost kid. Phantom, right?..."The ghost weasel asked, knowing him due to reputation.
"Yeah, uh...that's me..."Danny said, wondering what this is about.
"Then can you tell me why I'm here?..."The weasel asked, still looking lost here.
The ghost boy raised a brow at that.
"Wait... you didn't come here to pick a fight?..."Danny asked, while the ghost shook his head.
"No! I was on my way home after getting a banana sundae when a portal suddenly appeared and I ended up here..." The weasel went.
"For real?..."Danny asked, and the ghost nodded.
Seeing that he wasn't being hostile, the ghost boy decided to see if he could end this peacefully.
"Oh... uh... in that case...I can send you back to the Ghost Zone by putting you in this Thermos and then ejecting you back in like a few hours, if that's okay?..."Danny offered, feeling weird about this.
He has never offered to getting trapped in the thermos to a ghost before. Thankfully, the ghost weasel seemed okay with that.
"Yeah... sure. I'd appreciate that..." The weasel went, offering himself up. "But can you make you that I get back to the Ghost Zone before 6? I don't wanna miss the mixer at Styx's cafe tonight..."He said, while the ghost boy raised a brow at that, before nodding.
"Uh...sure. No problem..."Danny said, as he pulled out his thermos and quickly sucked the ghost up.
"Thanks..."The weasel said, once being inside.
Danny smiled at that, relieved that it went well.
"Wow, do I wish more ghosts were like that..."He said, clasping the device shut.
Once done, he decided to go rejoin his girlfriend. However, he still found that this ghostly encounter was more random than usual.
"That was weird, but at least no one got hurt. Now to get back to my date..."He said as found a spot to morph from Phantom to Fenton.
Whatever brought the ghost would have to be a mystery for now. Still, he had his own theories on what had happened.
"Those natural portals really are getting weird..."He thought, before he went to go find Star and resume their date.
Meanwhile
While Star waited for Danny, the blonde girl was pacing back and forth. She was wondering how he's doing and what to do as she waited for him.
"Maybe I should have gone, I could help him out..."She thought.
As she paced, she noticed someone running from where the ghost apparently was, the runner took a quick moment to stop to catch his breath while looking over his shoulder.
"Slowpoke! Start running!..."He shouted, as he kept running with the crowd of panicked people
Star glowered, taking offense at what he said and stomped her foot.
"I'm not fat!..." She shouted before realizing that's not what he meant.
The blonde girl groaned as she massaged her forehead, as her concerns for her appearance and weight grew and left her getting far more depressed than before.
"Stupid jerk..."She grumbled, as he made mental notes to cut down more junk from her diet.
She sulked, as she continued to wait for her boyfriend to return to her.
Elsewhere
As Danny dealt with the ghost and Star dealt with her insecurities, her rival was looking for her "date".
"Where'd he go?..."Misty thought as she kept looking for Danny.
However, the area was now deserted and she came to the realization that there's a good reason as to why he's absent.
"Come to think of it. Maybe sending a ghost wasn't the best idea..."She thought, wondering if he ran away too.
She hoped not, as she still wanted to try and see if she could somehow locate him.
"Can't give up yet..."She thought, continuing her search.
That's when she walked into someone because she was distracted. Misty and Colette ended up face to face once more and both girls glared at each other.
"Are you kidding me?!..."They both exclaimed, pointing at each other.
"I thought that I told you to leave Mon Danny alone, peasant!..."Colette said, stomping her foot. "Why don't you just go back to whatever hovel you live in?!..."She shouted in a mean way.
"Better idea, why don't you take a long walk off a short pier?!..."Misty shot at her.
Colette glared at that remark.
"Cocky words from a peasant who probably can't even afford to make purchases here..."She said in a mocking tone.
"I so can and I happen to work here. If anything, you're wasting your time here..."Misty said, making a face at her.
"Even so, I am sure that I'm right about you not being able to afford even half of zhis junk..." Colette snarked.
"Junk?!..." Misty questioned, sounding offended.
"A lot of these stuff happens to be antiques and valuables!..."She said, seeing as her grandmother sells items like these.
"Don't care. You heard me, zhis is junk! My ensemble is worth more than everything else here..."Colette said in a haughty fashion.
"It sounds like you want to get punched!..."Misty said, resisting the curse to cast another spell on her yet again.
"Such a brute. You're almost as obnoxious as Estelle..."Colette said, sounding irritable.
"Who?..."Misty asked out of pure confusion.
"She goes by Star. Zhe stupid blonde girl who doesn't deserve to be in Danny's arms!..."Colette said, envy dripping in her tone.
"Oh her..."Misty said, not disagreeing with her on that matter. "I know her..."She said, frowning as she thought about her richer and prettier rival.
"Then you know who earns my ire more..."Colette said, her hate for Misty was briefly forgotten in turn of her hate for her lousy stepsister.
The spoiled brat crossed her arms and looked away. Misty frowned. She still didn't like this brat, but it seems that they had one thing in common.
They couldn't stand Star. However, that wasn't enough to make Misty stop disliking the snooty redhead.
"If she hates you too, I can relate..." Misty said, but she was ignored as the rich girl kept complaining about her own troubles.
Namely, about her step-sister and how much she can't stand her.
"Ugh... the only person I despise as much as Estelle... is that Starlight Spirit..."Colette grumbled as she recalled her humiliation by that girl.
"Then go online to vent like most people who have nothing better to do with their lives..." Misty snarked, not caring.
The spoiled brat, however, ignored her and kept grumbling over her own issues.
"I just... I wish I could personally get rid of Estelle Joy Strong and Starlight Spirit at the same time..." Colette said, arms crossed as she wanted to have them out of her life.
Misty, after hearing that, suddenly got an idea. She quickly pulled out the amulet and noticed that it glowed briefly for a moment.
The dark haired girl then held the necklace, wanting to be sure about something.
"Uh... say that again?..." Misty asked as she pressed on it to use her magic.
"I wish I could personally get rid of Estelle Joy Strong and Starlight Spirit at the same time..." Colette repeated before noticing how eager Misty was to hear her.
"Vhy?..."She asked, wondering what this girl is up to.
Misty held the amulet behind her back. She adopted an innocent look on her and took a step back.
"No reason..." She lied with a smile, trying to act inconspicuous.
Colette rose one eyebrow before rolling her eyes away and turning.
"The sooner I take Danny away from this town, the better..." Colette grumbled.
As Colette marched away, Misty smirked as she saw that the amulet was glowing with magic once more. She grinned, as she could sense the magic she used within it.
"What do you know? Maybe that brat might be useful after all..."She thought, giddy as she found a wish.
"So... her wish will probably make Star leave town or something... maybe Danny Phantom's girlfriend too, but she's been AWOL for months, so it's not a big loss..."She thought, unaware of what Colette actually meant.
"Misty, come give me a hand..."Her Laolao's voice was heard.
Misty went back to help her grandmother to continue packing up, all the while, feeling optimistic.
"I just hope that Star leaves town soon..."She thought, thinking that soon, Danny will be single and she will never have to deal with Star again.
Later
After the swap meet, Danny and Star decided to head back...mostly to avoid running into Colette again.
"Really wish that we could stick around a bit longer, but I cannot risk seeing that annoying French poodle again..."Danny said.
"What do you think, Star?..."Danny asked, but received no answer. "Star?..."He asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Huh? What?..."She asked.
"I asked if us leaving to not see Colette again was a good idea..."He said.
"Oh...uh...sure..."Star said, while her boyfriend still was worried about her.
"Seriously, what's wrong? You've been acting weird all day?..."He asked, looking at her suspiciously.
"Me? Weird? Ha!..." Star went.
"Starlight..." He said, almost as a warning.
Star then sighed as loudly as she could. She didn't want to admit this, but she didn't like keeping secrets from her one true love either. She decided to just be honest.
"Okay... I've been... worried about my weight lately. After that assembly, I'm worried I'm getting heavier..."Star admitted, looking insecure as she said this.
Her boyfriend heard this and made a face.
"That's why you asked me if you felt different when we got here?..." Danny asked.
"Yeah... then Colette made me feel worse..."Star said, frowning as she hated that her stepsister managed to make her feel awful.
Her boyfriend heard this and immediately tried to make her feel better by telling her what he thinks.
"Oh, you didn't seriously take what Colette said seriously. Come on Star. You know that she's just a witch who thrives on messing with you..."He said.
"True... but she hit the nail on the head..."Star grumbled, hand on her head.
"No, she didn't. Not even close. Plus, I doubt that Colette has ever actually HELD a hammer in her entire life, much less hit someone with it..."Danny joked.
"True, but...as annoying as she is...she...uh...she still said something that hurt me..."Star said, looking at the ground instead of him.
"Then don't let it. You're better than that. Plus, I already told you that you are the most beautiful girl ever and I literally cannot see anything wrong with 're perfect just the way you are..."He said, sounding very loving and supportive right now.
His girlfriend, however, sighed and shook her head.
"No offense, Danny, but you already love me. I could dress up like Ember and I know that you'd still say that to me..." Star said.
"True, but I think you'd look way better in that outfit than Ember..."Danny said, while his girlfriend looked a bit unsure about his claim.
Seeing Star still down, Danny held her close.
"I'm serious, I'm not shallow and I'd still think that you'd be the prettier girl..."He said, as he kissed the side of her head.
"So not the point I was making, but I guess that's good to know..."She said, making a mental note to know Danny has her back.
"So, just drop it..."Danny said, but the blonde girl then pulled out.
"No, I have to lose weight..."Star said, getting stubborn.
"So you gained an extra pound or two. Big deal. For all you know, it could be just muscle, plus it hasn't slowed you down or anything..."Danny said, seeing the bright side.
However, his girlfriend was still upset.
"Danny...it's...it's the principal of the matter. I mean...I pride myself in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and it was the only good thing I picked up from the A-List. I shouldn't have let myself get carried away with all that extra eating and stuffing my face whenever I got hungry..."Star said, pulling her phone out.
"Star...people are SUPPOSED to eat when they feel hungry. That's just common sense..."Danny said, trying to make her feel better.
"I know... but I need to eat lighter!..." Star insisted.
"Need I remind you the last time you starved yourself, you ate enough to put an entire restaurant staff's kids through college..." Danny recalled.
"This is different! I'm willingly doing this!..." Star insisted as she typed on her phone.
"Star... what are you doing?..."He asked, while his girlfriend was looking at the screen.
"Looking up all sorts of ways to lose 20 pounds within a week..."Star said, looking desperate to get thinner.
The blond girl then stopped as she read, but her boyfriend grew more concerned and didn't want her to obsess over it.
"Stop..." Danny insisted as he reached for the phone.
"No!..." Star went, pulling it back.
Danny tried to pry the phone out Star's grip, but the girl was like a crab or gator. Even with the clear difference in muscular strength, the girl would not let go or budge.
"How is it I'm the one who fights ghosts hand-to-hand, yet I can't take this for the life of me?…"Danny grunted, pulling harder.
"This guy says you need to add all these vitamins for a healthy complexion!…"Star yelped.
She jumped up and ran off, now dragging her boyfriend for the ride.
"Star!..." Danny went, being pulled along as his feet weren't even on the ground.
After a moment, Danny let go, hitting face first.
Star stopped, seeing him down.
"Danny-boo?!..." She went, going to help him up. "What happened?..."She asked, surprised how this happened.
"I have no idea... OWW!..." He went, rubbing his knees.
"Oh... I'm sorry. I'll put the phone away for now..." Star went.
Danny got back up, questioning what happened.
"That was weird... almost a weird as the ghost weasel... but I don't think they're connected. Let's just get you home..."Danny said, pushing the weasel out of his mind for now.
Danny and Star returned to her house. Star was still bummed due to her weight issues not leaving her as she sat on her bed.
"I don't get it. I can't get how I'm heavier and don't see it..."She thought, frustrated.
"Star... please tell me you're not thinking about what Colette said..."He said, while his girlfriend cringed.
"I'm not..."She said, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Look me in the eye and say that..."He challenged, knowing better.
Star sighed.
"Alright, she's pure evil, more than the ghosts. But she's right. I'm heavier than before! It's not like I got so light that can just jump up and float!..." She went as she hopped up.
Star, without realizing it, began to float and remain in the air for seconds.
"Uh...Star?..."Danny said, stunned.
Star blinked and soon realized what was happening, gasping at how she's now 4 feet off the ground and starting to lower.
"Why is the ground so far from my feet?!..."She exclaimed and would have fallen had Danny not caught her.
"Gotcha..." He said.
"Uh... did you do that or is there a ghost?..."She asked, but her boyfriend shook his head.
"I didn't see or sense anything..." Danny said as he felt her lift out of his arms.
"Star!..."He exclaimed while his girlfriend was currently pressing on the ceiling.
"Uh... I'd like to get down now, please!..." Star went trying to reach the floor.
Star willed it and to her shock, soon changed into her ghostly form. She and Danny were speechless, as they were processing this latest development.
The blonde girl was especially stunned, as she marveled over her sudden change in appearance.
"I'm Starlight Spirit again..."She whispered, stunned as she stared at her now gloved hands.
"How?..."Danny asked, rubbing his eyes.
The image of his girlfriend's current form did not change. She is still in her heroic ghostly form. She also looked even more confused than he was.
"I have no idea. I couldn't even change forms like you..."Star said, before she gasped upon realizing something.
"Danny...the last time I was Starlight Spirit. You lost your powers. Check if you got your powers..."She said, worried about him.
Danny saw her point and panicked. He had to check and be sure. He tried and to his relief, he turned into his ghost half.
"I just gone ghost..."He said, looking relieved.
"Thank goodness..."Star said, also relieved.
However, this made things even more confusing as this made even less sense than the last time.
"But...how...why am I like this and how do you still have your powers?..."Star asked.
"I have no idea..."Danny said, rubbing the side of his head.
"This is... weird..." Star said as she noticed Danny now staring at her longingly.
She knew why, though.
"Danny..." She said with a low tone, snapping him out of his trance.
Danny blushed a bit, and rubbed the back of his head in a sheepish manner.
"Oh... sorry..." He said, snapping out of it. "It's just been a while since I saw you in that outfit..."He said, while his girlfriend rolled her eyes in an almost playful manner.
"Normally, I'm happy to have you stare at me like that. This time? I'd appreciate help here. I've never morphed like you..."She said, trying hard not to freak out right now.
Her boyfriend tried to calm her down and help guide her to the floor. Once done, he tried to help her change back to her human form.
"Try thinking of how you look as a human..." Danny suggested, since it was all that he could come up with.
Star shut her eyes and, after a few seconds, rings appeared and she morphed to human form.
"I'm me again..."Star said, smiling in relief.
"Thank goodness. I mean...you look hot in that outfit but not enough to watch you press against the ceiling..."Danny said, holding her hands in relief.
The couple both let out a breath, still trying to figure out what was happening.
"So...how the heck is this happening?!..."Star exclaiming, once again sounding panicked as she wondered how she has powers again.
Her boyfriend was just as clueless as she was.
"No idea. I didn't see anything weird happening today, with the exception of a talking ghost weasel and him not knowing how it happened, but I don't think they're connected. Let's get you to the lab and see if we can spot something unusual..."Danny suggested.
Not having any other alternatives, Star nodded, her concerns for her weight were now forgotten in favor for worrying about her sudden gaining powers.
"Okay, I want to be lighter, but not like that..."Star said with a nod, since this was a development she wasn't prepared for.
Danny picked her up bridal style, and soon flew back to his home with her. He was still worried about her recent body image issues, but he will have to deal with that later.
"Deal with the sudden reappearance of Starlight Spirit first, then help convince my girlfriend that she's totally wonderful the way she is, and get her to drop her obsession with her weight..."Danny thought, as held Star as he kept flying.
However, things were gonna get way more complicated than this.
Neither knew now that another newly powered being was in Amity Park and would make their way to them soon. The difference is this one would be far less lovable and even less heroic.
Oh boy.
-To be continued-
Next time on Empowered
The Second Half of the Wish
A/N(1): I dedicate this chapter to my family, my friends and my love for God :)
A/N(2): Special thanks to NeoMark, BeConfuzzled Writer and Jay The Average Fanboy for all their help. You guys rock :)
REPLIES to my loyal and totally awesome reviewer:
RonaldM40196867:
1) Yeah, they are becoming less patient with that spoiled brat and her antics.
2) They probably blame Jean-Luc more than Stella, since Stella has only been Colette's step mother for a few years. Colette's rotten attitude mostly comes from her father and how he always spoils her.
3) Not really.
4) Unfortunately, they weren't strong enough to keep Colette away this time.
5) I'd say Ember, since Paulina is more of a nuisance than anything.
6) I see the similarities.
William Escobar 608: Quiero trabajar en mis fics de "Stranded", "GK: Katie's Quest" y "Hot Ectoplasma" antes de volver a ese fic.
Saberwolf335: Thank you for the suggestions, and the suggestion for the diet and exercises.
Jebest4781, Eecobeo, pokemon fan 1991 and CZS4: Thank you :)
Invader Johnny: True, but Star is still young and has already been feeling insecure lately. Thankfully, Star has Danny by her side to remind her not to take anything Colette says seriously.
Luiz4200: Well, Colette ended up making a wish alright.
Let's see how it turns out.
JDF Legacier Morphicon: Thank you :)
Here are my responses to your questions:
1) Probably.
2) I think that like Clockwork, he was always a ghost and he was created in the ghost zone.
3) Definitely when Jazz gives lame names to the ghosts or calling the team "Ghost Getters".
4) I see her going to college and getting a degree in psychology.
5) NeoMark suggested it, and I liked the idea.
:) I hope you enjoyed this! Remember to read and review :)