A Date at Ten
Returning home, Danny let out a breath in relief.
"Samantha…" He said under his breath.
He let the events replay in his head, from the moment they met to seeing her in action.
From a well-known heroine to a secret spy, so far he's been getting very impressive girls as dates. He let his mind wander a bit as his father walked by, noticing him.
"How'd it go, son?" Jack asks.
"It was great. Samantha was awesome." Danny admitted.
"Ah, it's about time that girl finally started to use her actual name." Jack said with a smirk, misunderstanding things.
"Wrong Sam, Dad." Danny said with an eye roll.
"Wait… really?" Jack asks, stopping in place as he stared in disbelief.
"You are aware Sam is a common name, right? Especially for someone named Samantha?" Danny asks.
"Uh… y-yeah." Jack said as he hurried away. "Now… to finish that new invention I'm working on."
As Jack headed back to the lab, Danny headed upstairs to his room.
He took in a deep breath as he lay face up on his bed, looking up at the ceiling.
Kim… Samantha… Two awesome girls who kick butt. It's like my life took a turn for the better when it comes to dating… He thought.
It was then he noticed his phone ringing. Seeing who it was, he answered.
"Hey, Tucker…"
That's when the world suddenly froze.
"Deadpool…" NeoMark warned before eating some popcorn.
"Let me guess, he went out with Mandy here too, right?" Deadpool asks as he wags the remote.
"Well… yeah." NeoMark said.
"Cool. We'll skip talking about that dud of a date. No offense to people who like this loser… but this isn't "The Many Dates of Tucker Foley". We're not here for him, we're here for any new girls or, judging by the title of this chapter, returning girls." Deadpool insisted.
With that, he pressed fast forward to pass the phone call.
With that done, Danny decided to log back in to give Samantha a score.
Not unlike Kim, he gave her a 9. As much as he liked her, the villain's interruption once again made what was a great time have one sore spot.
Two nickels… He thought with amusement.
He then saw his next date's information.
User Name: G. Tennyson
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Height: 5"4'
Weight: 114 lbs
Home Town: Bellwood
Physical Description: Young, slender, fair skinned redhead girl with green eyes and of average height and built.
Personality: I am an intelligent, independent and hardworking individual who is merely looking for a companion who shares my diverse interests...
Likes and Interests: Reading, traveling, gymnastics, martial arts, magic and sci-fi
Type of person I wish to date: I'm looking for a nice, well mannered gentleman whom I can have a pleasant time with and who takes me seriously...
Once again, Danny raised an eyebrow. This girl did sound more mature than the kind of teenage girl he expected, but it was her description on her appearance he couldn't help but comment on.
"Another redhead with green eyes? About to be three nickels if I find out she fights bad guys." He said to himself in amusement.
He noticed it read they'd meet in her hometown of Bellwood at 10 in the morning.
Weird how it gave me her hometown this time instead of mine… and it's a place only I can reach that soon. He thought before deciding it wasn't worth thinking about.
Now, he was getting ready for bed as he wondered how the day would go.
"So, you're gonna get back to her story soon, right?" Deadpool asks.
"Yes…" NeoMark responds tiredly.
After getting up early and on time, Danny took a quick bite and left for Bellwood at 9. He managed to stop at the flower shop along the way.
He arrived at his destination within 2 minutes of his date starting at 10.
"Right on time…" He said to himself.
That's when he was seen by another person, wearing the same heart symbol he bore on his chest. She approached him.
"You must be D-Fenton?" She asks.
Turning around, Danny smiled in relief at who his date was.
"And you must be G. Tennyson. I'm Danny Fenton." He said.
What he saw before him was a redhead with green eyes of a slim build, a fair complexion with some freckles on her cheeks and a delicate smile on her face. She is also wearing a blue cardigan, a black skirt, pantyhose and blue shoes..
"It's Gwen, Gwen Tennyson." She explained.
"It's nice to meet you, Gwen. So, these are for you." He said, offering the flowers to her.
"Wow, thank you." She said, graciously taking the bouquet and admiring them. "So, shall we go inside?"
"Definitely." Danny said as he walked towards the movie theater and opened the door for her.
"Such a gentleman. Thank you, Danny." Gwen said with gratitude as she entered.
"Well well! I best let those Warners know I won the bet!" Deadpool said with a smile under his mask.
"Bet?" NeoMark asks.
"That you'd not only keep another girl whose spin-off you're penning, but we'd have three redheads with green eyes. Best pick up the phone because I [redacted]ing called it!" Deadpool went.
"Yes, well… I already decided ahead of time that Gwen was a good choice to keep. She's got experience fighting bad guys and being the first date with powers was a plus. I also really want to make sure it's pre-Omniverse." NeoMark.
"Indeed… before the worst of the original continuity. Before it went into a mess of executives and obsessive original series fans dictating what happened… proving Ultimate Alien should have been where it ended." Deadpool said as the two continued watching.
Finding their seats after getting some snacks, Danny sat down with Gwen.
"So Gwen, tell me about yourself?" Danny asked after they took their seats.
"Well, I recently turned 15. I'm a student at Bellwood Preparatory school. I take gymnastics, I am on my school's Jujutsu team, I already got my black belt in Taekwondo. I also enjoy horseback riding, softball, cross country and skiing. I also take French, I enjoy jogging in the morning and I enjoy getting a smoothie from Mr. Smoothy..." Gwen said.
"Uh...wow..." Danny said as he heard what she does in her spare time
Looks like I found an overachiever like the past three. He thought.
"But enough about me, tell me about yourself, Danny. What do you do for fun?" Gwen asked politely.
"Three nickels…" He said to himself.
"Huh?" Gwen asks.
"Oh, uh. Nothing, just a dumb little inside joke I remembered. Anyway, I like NASA and astronomy and going to the Nasty Burger on my time off..." He said politely.
"Nasty Burger?" Gwen asks with an amused smile on her face.
"It's tastier than it sounds, honest." Danny went.
The two resumed their talk before the first trailer even began.
"What's this?! No Kevin?! Why, it's almost like you're avoiding repeating every minute detail!" Deadpool jokingly went.
"Well, I don't want to just repeat the same thing, after all." NeoMark said.
"Gumball?" A hand offered.
"Oh, thanks…" NeoMark went as he took it, only to stutter upon realizing another was inside the room. "Paradox?!"
There, at his side, was the time traveler that Ben Tennyson was acquainted with.
"I knew there was another timeline created by Deadpool's idiocy with that Continuity Gem he keeps using to help you and your friends play around with differing paths our Phantom friend goes through. So, you're seeing what would have happened had you been the one who determined all of his potential suitors?" Paradox asks with a knowing smile.
"Uh… yes?" NeoMark went.
"Just be sure not to let our masked acquaintance make any changes behind your back." Paradox said as he gestured to Deadpool.
Deadpool had the Continuity Gem in his hand, almost ready to use it before he saw NeoMark give him a disapproving scowl.
"Oh… uh… sorry. I wasn't gonna make changes! Honest!" Deadpool went.
With a "give me" motion with his hand, NeoMark insisted Deadpool hand over the gem as they resumed watching.
With the movie over, Danny and Gwen left the theater together. Both satisfied with the film and getting to know each other.
"So, you're from Amity Park?" Gwen asks.
"I am." Danny said.
"You wouldn't happen to be related to Jack and Maddie Fenton? Are you?" She asks.
"Uh… no." Danny lied nervously. Seeing Gwen eye him with a knowing look, he gave in. "Okay, yes, I am…"
"Huh… so… these… ghosts. Are they ghosts?" Gwen asks.
"Uh… yeah? I mean, some of them are people with confirmed documented human lives, others are just… clouds with faces." Danny said.
"Huh… so they're not aliens…" Gwen said with a ponder.
"Aliens?" Danny asks.
"Oh… never mind. Anyway, it's around lunchtime… wanna grab a smoothie?" She asks.
"Sure. Been curious to try since I don't have any Mr. Smoothy's in my area." He said as he followed Gwen.
"Ooh, this is different." Deadpool said, only to be met with NeoMark and Professor Paradox shushing him. "Fine…" He whined before crossing his arms.
Mr. Smoothy's
Danny had arrived with Gwen at this popular hangout spot for teenagers in Bellwood.
Sitting at one of the tables, Danny sipped his drink with a smile on his face.
"Huh… who knew cherry and peanut butter can taste so… good." He said.
Sipping her own nectarine, Gwen smiled in amusement.
"You and Ben would get along. I'm sure his own date is going well, maybe if we run into them, then-"
It was then a truck drove past them, one driving wildly.
"Huh… some people these days." Danny commented, only to notice Gwen staring at the truck with a strange look on her face. "Uh, Gwen?"
"That looked like the truck that was stolen…" She said under her breath.
"Stolen?" Danny asks.
"Oh. Uh…" Gwen went, looking like she was trying to find something to say. "I better… call the police to let them know." She quickly got up. "I'll be a while… might be on hold, after all."
As she ran behind the store, Danny sat up, wondering what was up.
"Okay…what's going on?" He asked before looking back to where the truck went. "Although…"
The truck continued its destructive path, causing people and drivers to part as the police began following them.
Behind them, however, was a green muscle car. Inside it was one young man, with the passenger being Gwen.
"Convenient that you were around the corner, weren't you, Kevin?" Gwen questioned.
"Uh… I got thirsty." Kevin said as he didn't let his eyes leave the truck.
"We both know you'd never come there without Ben. Besides, you think I didn't see your car in the parking lot?" Gwen pointed out.
Kevin's eyes darted away with a nervous smile.
"I'm not sure what you mean… anyway… where's Ben?"
"Probably on his own date… maybe he's got someone stalking him too." Gwen said with arms crossed.
As Kevin kept quiet, the truck resumed its apparent joy ride.
That's when it was driving up towards an office building, still not stopping.
The police, and muscle car, tried to speed up.
"PULL OVER! NOW!" One officer called out through a speaker.
The truck's driver ignored them as it sped up.
However, before it could reach the building, something happened. The truck suddenly turned see-through as it went through cars in the parking lot and building itself, causing all the police cars to brake hard and stare in disbelief.
The muscle car made a sharp right to go around the police and the building.
"Did Ben do that?" Kevin asks.
"I don't think he can. He couldn't even do that as Ghostfreak…" Gwen commented as she pondered. "I wonder…"
On the other side of the building, the truck went through before regaining tangibility before something lifts it and lands it on its side. That something was Danny Phantom.
"That was close…" He said before flying to the driver's side door. "Okay… come out with your hands-"
The door was then pushed open with enough force to come off the hinges. What came out was not human.
It looked to be a one-eyed monster with what looked like beige skin with black hands and feet. It also had what looked to be a visible brain.
Danny's eyes blinked in disbelief.
"Uh… those are some… cool costumes." He said before one of them spat some kind of slime out of their mouths, causing him to bob out of the way. "Okay… not costumes."
"Another of Ben Tennyson's allies?" One of them asks.
"Does not matter… destroy him!" Another went.
Before Danny could say or do anything, someone approached the truck and took sight of what was going on.
"Don't tell me you guys are trading in me for another superhero, are you?"
Danny turned his head and saw someone in a green jacket with his arms crossed.
"Uh, dude? You should probably hide." Danny went.
"Me? Not a chance…" The one in green said before pressing on his watch.
In a green flash, the person Danny saw was replaced by something else.
"Huh?!" Danny went.
"Swampfire!" The plant creature said before fireballs appeared in his hands. "Let's heat things up!"
Putting his hands together, the one who called himself Swampfire released a stream of fire at the creatures, causing them to jump out of the way.
Danny pulled back.
"Hey! Watch it!" Danny shouted.
"I was aiming for the DNAliens!" Swampfire stated.
"If your aim is as bad as your smell, then it's a wonder why they haven't fainted just by smelling you." Danny said.
"Hey, I don't smell…that bad, I think." Swampfire said in annoyance. "Besides, who are you supposed to be? Ghostfreak's copycat?"
"It's Phantom, Sewerfire. Danny Phantom." Danny said.
"Seriously? Who uses their first name in a hero name?" Swampfire, who was also known as Ben 10 in most of the galaxy, said.
"You do." One of the DNAliens reminded him.
Swampfire responded with an annoyed scowl.
"Ha!" Danny went.
Their squabble was interrupted when the door of the truck was torn off, and four more DNAliens, and now all six of the aliens were glaring at the two heroes. The two heroes glared at the aliens before they rushed towards them.
The DNAliens started spewing green blobs at the two, but Danny just turned intangible and flew down the ground as Swampfire just burned the blob away with his fire. Danny appeared behind the group of aliens and released a blast that sent the aliens flying. Three of them flew towards Swampfire while the other three managed to stay put before charging at Danny.
The DNAliens fire blobs at Swampfire, who kept dodging them as he retaliated with his fire balls. One DNAlien jumped away, dodging the fireball that flew towards Danny, who saw it from the corner of his eyes. He quickly ducks, narrowly dodging the fire ball, but gets a sucker punch from the DNAliens.
"Hey! Watch it, Swampbreath!" Danny exclaimed in annoyance.
"You watch it, Jack Frost!" Swampfire exclaimed as he kept firing at the aliens.
"You wanted frost? Fine, here's some frost" Danny said as his eyes glowed blue. He raised his fists in the air and slammed on the ground, releasing a wave of ice that covered everyone in blocks of ice. He looked at the shocked Swampfire-cicle. "Cool enough for you?"
Fire erupted from Swampfire's hand, causing the ice to shatter. He shivered a little before glaring at Danny. With the DNAliens trapped in ice, that left Danny alone with Swampfire.
"Now, Frosty… who are you?!" Swampfire questioned, aiming his hand with a fireball.
"Funny… I was gonna ask the same thing, Swamptoilet." Danny said, aiming his hand at Swampfire.
"You first." Another voice Danny wasn't familiar with said.
That's when a pair of metal arms wrapped around him.
"What the heck?!" Danny went.
"Sup." Kevin went, now turned metal.
"Kevin? What are you doing here?" Swampfire asks.
Before he could respond, Danny phased out of his grasp.
"What the heck?!" Kevin yelled in shock.
"That's my line, Metalhead!" Danny said as he sent a blast at him.
He hit Kevin straight on and sent him flying. Since he was metal, it didn't hurt but he ended up hitting his car, scratching it.
"My car!" He exclaimed in shock before turning to face Danny, snarling in anger. "Okay, now I'm mad!"
"Aww, it'll buff out." Danny said with a smile.
"I'll buff you out!" Kevin snapped in anger.
Before he could get his hands on Danny, a pink energy wall appeared in between them.
"Kevin! Stop!" A familiar voice went.
To Danny's surprise, he saw someone step out of the car, a stream of energy from the wall coming out of her hand.
"Gwen?" He asks.
Gwen raised an eyebrow as she approached him.
"Wait a minute… it can't be…" She said.
"Can't be what?" Swampfire asks.
As Danny realized he made a mistake in saying her name out loud, he whistled innocently as he slowly tried to ascend. However, another wall of pink energy blocked his way.
"Danny?" Gwen asks.
"Uh… Danny Phantom." He said as he tried a heroic pose while deepening his voice. "I was just… passing by…"
"Why did you deepen your voice all of the sudden?" Kevin asks as he slowly changes back to normal.
"Uh…" Danny went.
"It's alright, guys." Gwen said, gesturing for Swampfire and Kevin to back off. "I knew something was up when I met you." She tells Danny with an assuring smile.
"Y-You did?" Danny asks.
"Yeah… I sensed something… off about your close presence. The fact that you didn't know me and went and stopped that truck tells me you're not the bad guy. So… why not change back and… tell us about yourself? The parts you didn't share yet." Gwen said with an assuring smile.
10 minutes later
"And then I got the symbol on my chest… so… that's about the basics of who I am and how I became Danny Phantom." Danny finished.
As he finished, Gwen nodded with interest, Kevin had one eyebrow raised, and Ben looked intrigued.
"So… you got caught in a machine that fused your body with energy that grants you the powers of a ghost?" Ben asks.
"And you got a watch that lets you turn into a huge assortment of different aliens." Danny responded.
The two took a moment to respond.
"Cool." They said in unison.
"So, you're named Ben…" Danny commented.
"Yes… Gwen and I have names that rhyme… laugh it up." Ben said with an eye roll.
"Hilarious, ain't it?" Kevin commented.
"There's that… but I'm more curious about something else. Why did you call out my name being Danny Phantom if you go by Ben 10?" He asks.
"Good questions." Gwen said as she sent a flat look to her cousin.
Ben rolled his eyes.
"Okay… I'm the pot in this calling the kettle black moment. My bad." He said.
"Also, why do you call yourself Ben 10 if, from what I heard about those aliens seen 5 years ago, you'd have to be able to be like 2 dozen aliens?" Danny asks.
"Oh… cause… Ten rhymes with Ben and "Ben 2 Dozen" doesn't roll off the tongue." Ben admits.
"So, now that we're all caught up to speed on both of your hero origins… Ben? Shouldn't you be on your date?" Gwen asks.
"I was. She had to take a quick break… something about dealing with some dude obsessed with monkeys." Ben responded.
"And… Kevin?" Gwen directed her attention to the other one, sounding less friendly.
"Uh… I had stuff to do." He said, eyes of the Tennysons looking at him unconvincingly. "I got stuff to do when we're not fighting bad guys." He said in a poor attempt at a defense.
"Sure… so… you two better get back to where you were before. Danny? I believe you and I still have a date to get back to. That is, if you're still up for it?" She asks.
"Sure." Danny said as he morphed back to human form and offered his arm to Gwen.
"Great." Gwen said as she wrapped her own arm around his. "So, Ben? Kevin? See you both later…" She then sent a dirty look at Kevin. "And I mean… later."
Kevin darted his eyes away, afraid to look her in the eye, as Gwen and Danny walked away together.
Once they were gone, Ben sent a knowing smile at Kevin.
"Someone's in trouble…" He said in a childish way.
"Hilarious…" Kevin muttered.
1 Hour Later
After another walk and grabbing a bite at the Burger Shack, Danny had walked Gwen in the direction of her house.
"So hard to believe you and your cousin were doing the superhero thing before I did." Danny admitted.
"Well, you're not the only hero under 18, y'know." Gwen pointed out with a smile.
"Heh… guess not. So, I guess that's where you guys met your friend Kevin too, huh?" He asks.
Gwen's smile dropped, almost as if Danny just unknowingly said something off.
"Uh… yeah." She went with an uncomfortable tone.
"Oh… did I say something wrong?" Danny asked, noticing how her voice changed.
"Let's just say… we weren't friends. We are now but… let's just leave it at that." Gwen said quickly to change the uncomfortable subject.
"Oh… okay…" Danny went, sensing something he shouldn't press. "So… what's his deal? Is he your ex-boyfriend or something?"
"No!" Gwen went with a disgusted look on her face. Seeing Danny flinch made her calm down. "Let's just say… he's not as mature as I'd like him to be."
"Oh… well… I hope you two… put it behind you." Danny said.
"That's oddly nice of you to say. For all you know, we really did date and we'd get back together again." Gwen said.
"True… but I'd rather not cause you any trouble. Plus, you're a cool girl. I'd hate for you to deal with crud like a jealous guy." Danny admitted.
Hearing that brought a smile to Gwen's face as, without thinking, she left a small kiss on his cheek.
"You're a pretty nice guy. And mature despite being younger than me…" She said.
"I'm… glad you think that…" Danny said as his face turned red.
Gwen chuckled as the two arrived near her house.
"This is it." She said, gesturing to her house. "Well… are you sure I can't convince you to join our team?"
"Sorry… but my place is in Amity Park. Still, you guys got something more ghostly to handle, you know where to find me." Danny said.
"Understandable." Gwen said.
"So… may I come in?" Danny asked with a smile. "Just kidding, I don't ask to use your bathroom on the first date."
"Hilarious. Still… glad we have at least one new friend to rely on." Gwen said as she waved to Danny with a smile. "Later, Danny."
"Later Gwen." Danny responded.
Once she closed the door, he nodded to himself and started to head home.
If I meet another redhead with green eyes, I'll have a full dollar. He thought in amusement before finding a spot to morph and head home.
New chapter with help from Flower Princess11 and TheWhiteTitan.
Next chapter will be a new girl from a series not featured in the original. Who? Well... you'll see.
Flower Princess11, Jebest4781, FC Tiraspol Fan, and ScarecrowReaper: Thank you.
guilhermefinamori: Not sure if I'll do separte stories with them as of now.
RonaldM40196867: No and No.
Ultimatrix bearer: Sorry, you'd have to pick an animated media depiction of her that appeared long enough. Even then, I don't think she got one until too late.
61394: You're right, it was Gwen. And it's a new girl next time.
Runeion: We shall see.
Luiz4200: Thank you for the suggestion, we'll see what happens when we get there.
danifan3000: 1. Eh? What part was referenced? I ask because it was probably accidental. 2. Yeah, but at the same time, this is just me wanting to peek at who could've been chosen. 3. Idiocy. 4. Unlikely, as Aresia was an original character for the DCAU who died at the end of her two parter (her appearance in the comic tie-in isn't canon).
amit . avrashmi: No girls he actually knows, it has to be new ones not from his series. Also, I don't see them having a brother/sister thing.
pokemon fan 1991: We shall see.
cybirddude, djinn, and SoundVenom: Thanks for the suggestions.
Invader Johnny: That was the intention, to be similar yet different.
qazse: Again, she's an idiot.
12: Huh?
JDF Legacier Morphicon: 1. You can... but please re-read my rules that I go over with Deadpool in the first chapter. A character from Avatar: The Last Airbender does not fit those rules. 2. Wait and see.
Leonardo: I did. Also, D.F. Cheng's is from the original story. It's a stand-in for P.F. Chang's, a real life Chinese restaurant.
Count von Count: Get ready to add to that number.
Guest: Wait and see.
TheWhiteTitan: Like I said, I figure he and Clover would need more time together to be genuinely interested in each other.
Bob the mammoth: 1. Not sure. 2. Dunno, I'll stick with Ami for now. 3. I hinted it was Kim... but I do plan for Ami to get acknowledged. 4. Dunno. 5. Definitely David Kaufman, Colleen O'Shaughnessy, Rob Paulson and Kath Soucie. 6. Not sure. 7. Not sure. 8. Well, I am doing a series of stories that pit him against other paranormal entities if you're curious.
Whotoonhouse75: Yes, I have one in mind.
White pantera: Yup, it was Gwen. I have yet to see Luca, so I can't give an opinion there.
LockAndKey989: No spoilers.
BeConFuzzled Writer: Maybe I'll do an original story with Clover? We'll see.