Author's Note: Some lines are from the Gravity Falls episode being adapted into this chapter.
Chapter 3: Archibald's Appearance
"Uh-oh." Danny said as he felt his ghost sense. "Excuse me! Gotta Go!" Right after he ran, the ghost of Archibald Corduroy showed up. "Open the gates, Northwest." He demanded.
"What have you done with my wife, spook?" Jack asked with a frown.
"And my brother?" Mabel added.
"I've turned the both of them into trees." Archibald Corduroy said. "Now it's time for justice."
"It's time for the Fenton Bazooka!" Jack replied and shot at the lumberjack's ghost.
"Ha!" The ghost laughed. "You missed!"
"Did I?" Jack asked with a smile as a portal opened behind the ghost and started sucking him. To Jack's astonishment, the ghost simply disintegrated the portal. "What?"
"A Northwest must open the gate!" The ghost insisted as he turned every human in the room other than Wendy and the Northwests and their butler into trees.
From a nearby corridor, Danny and Vlad were watching everything. "Little badger, do you think the Northwests will see reason?" Vlad asked.
"I hope so, Vlad." Danny answered.
"Dudes, look at that!" Wendy pleaded to the Northwests. "Open the gates, please."
"No!" Preston shouted. "My family has enough sandwiches for us and our butler for a whole week!"
Back at the corridor, Danny and Vlad were still observing it. "So much for seeing reason, little badger." Vlad commented. "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
"I think so, Brain." Danny replied, went ghost and overshadowed Preston Northwest. "Mr. ghost, look at me! A Northwest! Ready to open the gate! Just detransform everyone, okay?"
'That's NOT what I was thinking, little badger.' Vlad thought in frustration. 'I'd have held Mrs. Northwest as hostage to force her husband or at least done a better acting.'
"Do you take me for a fool, ghost?" The Lumberjack's Ghost asked, shocking Danny and surprising Wendy. 'What's he talking about?' The lumberjane thought, albeit she didn't have to wait long for an answer as Archibald Corduroy pulled Danny Phantom from Preston Northwest's body and tossed him at a wall with so much power Danny didn't have time to even think about turning intangible. The pain was so excruciating he turned himself back into Danny Fenton.
"Danny!" Wendy shouted in horror.
"Uh, you didn't see that, right?" Danny asked her.
"We'll talk about that later, Danny." Wendy calmly replied. "Now we can only hope he'll turn into a pumpkin."
Right after she said that, a grandfather clock struck midnight. "A forest of death, a lesson learned. And now the Northwest Manor will BURN!" The Lumberjack's ghost said.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" Pacifica called the ghost. "You want me to let in the townsfolk? 'Cause I'll do it! Just change everyone back!"
"YOU WISH TO PROVE YOURSELF? PULL THAT LEVER AND OPEN THE GRAND GATE TO THE TOWN! FULFILL YOUR ANCESTORS' PROMISE!" The ghost replied.
"Pacifica Elise Northwest, stop this instant! We can't let the town see us like this! We have a reputation to uphold!" Her father demanded.
"Are you for real?" Danny asked while glaring at Mr. Northwest. "This is NOT the time to care about reputations!"
"What do you know about reputations?" Preston asked Danny and rang a bell to make Pacifica stop. Seeing Pacifica's struggle made Danny concerned for the kind of parenting she received. 'And to think Jazz and I thought our parents were disturbed.' He thought.
After Pacifica fulfilled her ancestors' promise, the ghost quickly detransformed everyone and left. Fortunately, Danny was quicker and changed himself back before anybody else learned his secret.
"Oh, my." Gordon Wellington III said upon recovering himself. "What happened?"
"I don't know but I'm sure it's the Fentons' fault." Mr. Manson answered.
"Why do you believe so, Mr. Manson?" Gordon asked.
Before Jeremy had a chance to answer, Jack approached them. "Mr. Splat! Mr. Splat! May I have your autograph?" Jack eagerly asked.
"Splat?" Jeremy asked in confusion.
"That was my stage name from when I was part of a team of stunt doubles, Mr. Manson." Splat answered as he made the autograph. "Here it is, Mr. Fenton."
"You know my name?" Jack was pleasantly surprised at that.
"Mr. Manson told me how well-know your family is at your community, Mr. Fenton." Splat explained.
"That's a way to put it." Sam muttered. "Mr. Fenton, who's that girl dancing with Danny?"
"That's Wendy Corduroy, Sam." Jack answered.
"Archibald Corduroy's descendant?" Pamela Manson asked in shock. "I thought she was here by virtue of coming from a rich family."
"Nope." Jack eagerly replied. "She was helping us with her ancestor and, as it seems, couldn't resist the Fenton charm. You missed your chance, Sam."
"Fenton, you failed at your job." Preston Northwest said with a frown. "You and your family are no longer welcome here."
"Mr. Northwest, aren't you concerned the ghost might return?" Sam asked.
"The party's already ruined anyway and, since the Fentons aren't Gravity Falls residents, my ancestor's promise doesn't cover them, young lady." Preston explained.
"Preston! Preston!" Priscilla Northwest frantically called her husband. "This is terrible! Marius von Fundshauser is dancing with some girl with a masculine voice or some boy dressed like a girl instead of dancing with our daughter!"
"What?" Preston was outraged. "Where's Pacifica?"
"She's dancing with that Pines boy, Preston." She answered.
"Not if I have anything to say about that." Preston replied and approached his daughter. "Pacifica Elise Northwest, stop dancing with this boy right now. We must introduce you to Marius von Fundshauser."
"No!" Pacifica replied. "I'm happy with Dipper."
Out of a desire to keep whatever appearances the Northwests still could hope to, Preston Northwest decided not to drag his daughter in public. "What could even be worse?" he asked and then heard a sound of falling silverware.
"Uh, these are souvenirs." Stan said as he started running away.
"Somebody stop that thief!" Preston shouted.
"Duty calls, Deputy Durland." A man said.
"Right after you, Sheriff Blubs!" Deputy Durland replied and they started chasing Grunkle Stan, who shouted "You'll never catch me alive, coppers!"
"For as long as I get my silverware back, I don't care." Preston Northwest commented and was then approached by Splat. "I'm terribly sorry for leaving so soon, Mr. Northwest, but I'm afraid I no longer feel comfortable staying here." He said and then picked up his cell phone to call for an helicopter that arrived seconds after.
"I'll be a miracle if someone that rich accepts an invitation to return next year." Preston sadly said while Jeremy and Pamela Manson ran after Splat.
"Well, since my parents are leaving, I'm leaving as well, Mr. Northwest." Sam said and then approached Danny. "Danny." Sam called her friend.
"Hi, Sam." Danny replied.
"Do you know her?" Wendy asked.
"Wendy, this is my childhood friend Sam Manson." Danny said. "Sam, this is my date Wendy Corduroy."
"Sup." Wendy said and then whispered to Danny. "Does she know about the topic I said we'd discuss later?"
"Yes, Wendy." Danny answered, shocking Sam. "I'm probably returning to Amity Park so, if you'd like a second date, call me."
"It might take a while since I've got to schedule things with my boss and my Dad." Wendy explained.
The next day, in Amity Park, Danny was discussing matters with Tucker and Sam. "So, are you saying Archibald Corduroy exposed you in front of that descendant of his and the Northwests?" Sam asked with a frown.
"And their butler but don't worry." Danny replied. "Wendy told me Pacifica Northwest told her Preston Northwest decided that keeping my parents out of the loop is enough punishment for their failure in stopping Archibald."
"Important things first, Danny." Tucker said. "Is Wendy beautiful?"
"See for yourself, Tucker." Danny answered as he showed his friends a picture of the two of them together.
"Wow." Tucker said. "Does she have a sister?"
"No, she has three brothers." Danny answered.
"Tough luck, Danny." Tucker commented.
"Wait until you meet her father." Danny replied. "The guy scares me and I fight ghosts."
"Danny, are you really dating that girl?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, she's nice when we get to know her." Danny answered.
"And hot." Tucker added, earning a glare from his friends.
"Danny, aren't you worried about her knowing your secret?" Sam asked, wanting an excuse to keep Danny from dating girls who weren't her.
"No, Sam." Danny simply answered. "That actually makes things easier. I don't have to worry about how she'll react upon learning."
"Yeah." Tucker agreed. "There are only so many times you could go to the 'bathroom' during your dates before she either figured out or thought you had some bladder problem."
"Disgusting, Tucker." Sam said.
"But true." Tucker argued. "Remember Mr. Lancer stopped believing that excuse two weeks before summer vacation?" He asked and his friends nodded.
Danny's cell phone then rang. "Wendy?"
"Good news, Danny!" Wendy said. "I can go to Amity Park this weekend for a date with you! We just need to discuss time details!"
End chapter.
Answer to Leonardo (Guest): Certo. Gordon é o Splat de "A Turma do Barulho", como o desenho é conhecido no Brasil. Durante os anos 90, eu costumava ver esse desenho na Rede Record.
