Lights, Camera, Phantom!

by Jet Engine

A ghost decides to make a movie about Danny Phantom. Seeing this as an opportunity to show the world that not all ghosts are evil, Danny agrees to it, despite Dash and Paulina being cast as his co-stars. Unfortunately, not only is Vlad involved, but the school bullies are about to learn more about their hero than they wanted to. Part Five of the "Friendly Phantoms" series.

15. Rebel With a Cause

Chapter Eleven: Rebel With a Cause

"I may be small, but I am fierce." - Unknown

"Hopping mad" doesn't begin to describe how I'm feeling. I want to take a page from my dad and rip Plasmius apart, molecule by molecule. Then, I want to put him back together just so I can rip him apart again. Kidnapping my ghost-mom. Overshadowing the girl I like. Not to mention everything else he's done in the past month alone! I hope he's having a lot of fun with Cujo, who is getting so much bacon later. Assuming he doesn't eat Vlad first. In which case, he's getting belly rubs until his fur falls out.

For now, Mira and Eileen are searching for Dash and Paulina, and I have an entrance to make.

I fly around and phase my way through the projected film, revealing myself as I hover over the stage, much to the surprise of the audience.

"We interrupt this program for a special news bulletin," I announce. I fire a ghost ray at the camera that's projecting way too much information. A startled shout is the response, and the movie stops instantly. To the audience, "Hutch Blairman has deceived us all!"

Chatter breaks out, but it is silenced when a certain director says, "Have I?"

Blairman phases through the wall with his camera, which is still intact. Either I shot the wrong camera, or Blairman had a back-up. I'm too angry to care.

The hyperactive weirdo I've been working with is gone, replaced with a calculating, manipulative man. I'm starting to see why Vlad is friends with him.

"If you wanna make a mockery of something people like," I quip as he hovers across from me and over the audience, "might I suggest rebooting a cartoon?"

Blairman ignores the taunt. "You know, Phantom, I can see why these humans like you. You're a good actor."

"What are you talking about?" I ask. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot something in the front row that makes my core wail in my chest. Sam, Tucker, Valerie, and Jazz are tied to their seats with what looks like wires - Wires! - and there are more covering their mouths. I throw my hands toward them. "Why are they tied up? And, what is," I catch before I say my sister's name, "the Fenton-girl doing here? She doesn't go to this school anymore."

"Rumor has it that she became fatally ill during one of your battles," and I still haven't forgiven myself, "but made a miraculous recovery." The only miracle was that I'd developed my Healing Touch in the nick of time. I school my expression as Blairman goes on. "I thought she might offer a unique point of view, so I brought her here myself." Against her will, no doubt. "As for why they're all tied up, they made quite a ruckus once the film got going." He rolls his eyes and scoffs. "They were worse than those people who talk on their phones in the theater. So, I silenced them."

My friends struggle against their bindings. Even Valerie, who should still be pretending to despise ghosts, especially me. There will be a lot of questions about what brought on her change of heart, and she doesn't care.

"Why are you doing this?" My voice shakes with rage. "What did I do to you? I'd never even met you before all of this!"

"You didn't need to meet me," Blairman says. He points to me in accusation. "I knew enough about you without meeting face to face. The way you treat your own kind is abysmal!"

What is he talking about?

"It would almost be forgivable if you were still a human, but terrorizing ghosts when you, yourself, are a ghost? If there's one thing I don't tolerate, Danny Phantom, it's hypocrisy. Oh, that was the nail in the coffin! You claim you want ghosts and humans to get along, yet the second that Ghost Sense hits you, it's game over for the poor undead sap who crosses your path."

Is he serious? "I told you I don't attack ghosts unless they're hurting people. I would never hurt an innocent!"

Blairman grins coldly and points to Jazz, who struggles harder and screams through her gag when Blairman says, "Not even her? 'The Fenton-girl,' you called her? She almost lost her life because you threw a ghost into her hospital room." People start murmuring, which spurs Blairman on. "What? You all didn't think that ghoul flew through the wall of its own accord, did you? That was your hero's doing."

The reminder stabs a hole in my heart, but I won't let him see it. "That was an accident."

"Perhaps what happened to the girl was an accident," Blairman taunts, "but I saw the whole thing. You may not have meant to harm the girl, but you had every intention of harming the ghoul."

I force back my temper, though my hands curl into fists. "If you saw the whole thing, you know that ghoul was attacking the town! Ghouls can't be reasoned with. I'm not even sure if they have brains."

Blairman considers this for a moment then raises his hands. "Alright. You got me there. But, what about sentient ghosts? The moment you see one, you rush in, ecto-energy blazing, and fire at will."

"Only when a ghost is already causing trouble," I snarl, "which we have established! Look, if we're just gonna talk in circles, how about we skip to the part where I pull you from theaters?" I punctuate this by letting energy flow into my hands.

Blairman puts his hands on his hips and gives the audience a smug grin. "Listen to the way he threatens me." To me and with a hand on his camera, "If you want to beat me into the ground like you do everyone else who lacks a pulse, at least let me give you a reason for it."

The top of his camera opens up, and an impossible amount of wires shoots out. Faster than I can process, each wire falls into the audience and ties a student to their seat. Everyone screams and struggles against their bindings, but they're trapped.

My merged heart and core pulsates so hard and fast, I can feel myself vibrating. "What the hell are you doing?" I barely recognize my own voice.

"Exactly what I said," Blairman says. "Besides, who doesn't like a captive audience?"

I'm about to unleash hell when the side door opens. As if things couldn't get any worse, Vlad Plasmius flies up to the stage. His hair is a mess, his clothes are torn, and he's covered in ectoplasm that I'm hoping is his own.

But, it's who he's carrying that gets my attention.

"Look who I found snooping around," he says as he tosses Mira and Eileen on to the stage. Their injuries aren't as bad as Vlad's, but it's enough to send fire through my veins. "I didn't want to hurt them," he says, and I don't believe him, "but I couldn't let them roam free. Which reminds me…"

A duplicate Vlad hears its cue and flies in with Dash and Paulina, who are scuffed up but look mostly okay, in tow. "They managed to free these two, so Vlad had me step in." The duplicate throws them on stage as well before disappearing.

Dash looks up at me and shouts, "Danny! Blairman's trying to make you look bad!"

"I think he figured that out, Dash," Paulina drawls.

"Oh! This is fun!" Blairman chirps and claps his hands as a trace of that hyperactive weirdo peeks through. "I love surprises!" More wires shoot out of the camera and wrap around my battered friends, tying the four of them together. "There. Now no one can try anything."

I am going to shove every single wire in this room down his throat. But first, I ask Plasmius, "What are you even doing here, cheesehead? Last I saw, you were being used as a chew toy." A grin pulls at my lips. "And, a well-loved one, by the looks of it."

Vlad ignores that part. "You say that like my escape was difficult."

In one of those perfect timing moments, Cujo's massive, monstrous head phases into the room.

Directly behind Vlad, is who is oblivious. "Everyone knows dogs are idiots, especially one that size. A single-celled organism could have escaped from that hideous, flea-ridden dish rag, masquerading as one of God's creatures!"

Here's a fun fact about undead animals: not only are they smart, but they can understand human speech. Case in point: Cujo's low and vicious snarl.

The look on Vlad's face is priceless. He turns around, sees Cujo baring his teeth, and says sheepishly, "I mean…you're such a good boy!"

I swallow a laugh when Cujo grabs Vlad in his mouth and phases them both back outside. That dog is getting belly rubs. Bacon too, if he still has room after eating Vlad.

"You all saw that, right?" Blairman asks. "It-it wasn't just me?"

"Enough fooling around," I say. "Lights. Camera. Action!"

I charge at him, readying a punch. Blairman dodges and grabs my ankle. But, I kick him in the face hard enough to send him soaring downward. He and his camera crash into the stage, and I'll worry about the property damage when I'm not seeing red.

Blairman clearly hasn't learned his lesson. He grabs his camera and aims it at me. The film reels are spinning, and I don't know why he's bothering now. "What's your problem, Phantom?"

"My problem?" I shout. "You tricked me into helping you make my own slander film. You recruited the one person I hate more than I hate myself- Why did I say that?"

"Don't stop!" Blairman begs, rising to my level and keeping his camera on me. "This is getting good!"

It clicks, and all I can feel is rage. "The Compulsion setting. You never stopped using it, did you?"

Blairman glances up at me. "Why would I? The truth is coming out, and it is fabulous!"

The tied up foursome on the stage start screaming various versions of "Leave Danny alone!"

Blairman glares at them. "Will you shut up? You're as bad as those humans."

The wires reposition themselves to cover the captives' mouths.

"Let everyone go!" I demand. "I'm the one you want!"

"What I want," Blairman says, "is for everyone to see who they've been idolizing all this time." In a flash, he's in my face. The camera lens is almost touching my nose. "Now, what else are you hiding, Phantom? Spill your darkest secrets for everyone to hear!"

Every instinct is telling me to smash that camera into his stupid face. But, my brain has gone numb from the Compulsion. The truth bubbles up in my throat. That I'm Danny Fenton, a ghost/human hybrid, a zombie with superpowers, a freak of nature. I bite my lip, not stopping even when I taste ectoplasm, trying to keep the words inside. Searing pain shoots up my skull until my head feels like someone crushed it with hammer. A moan escapes me, and I throw my hands on my head as if that will ease the pain.

But, my brain can melt out of my ears for all I care. I won't let Blairman win.

Blairman is talking, but it sounds far away. "The more you resist, Phantom, the worse the pain gets. I recommend spilling the beans about whatever it is you're trying so hard to hide."

Don't speak don't speak don't speak.

I feel myself sink to the stage and crouch there, holding my head and maybe screaming because I can't do anything else.

Speak don't speak speak don't speak.

Then, the pain stops so abruptly, it makes my head spin. Blairman is no longer pointing the camera at me. He's looking at the audience, stunned. Once my brain starts functioning, I can see - or rather, hear - why.

Everyone who hasn't been gagged is yelling, furious. It's all muddled together, but what I can make out leaves me as stunned as Blairman.

"Leave Phantom alone!"

"Come on, Phantom!"

"Go home, Blairman!"

"Don't give up, Phantom!"

"Fuck off, Blairman!"

They're booing him. And, cheering for me.

I'm a nobody. An easy target. A piece of gum stuck to your shoe. A worthless scrap with no purpose outside of punching things.

They know that now, but they're still rooting for me.

I will away the rising emotion, and focus on the fact that Blairman is distracted and I have an opportunity.

"You're booing…me?" Blairman asks, aghast. He's too preoccupied with his bruised ego to notice the way I inch toward the foursome who are tied together. He ascends with his camera and hovers before the audience. "What are you booing me for? He's the fraud. I'm the only one telling the truth!"

The booing gets louder, and Blairman gets more distracted as a result.

While he's busy arguing, I get close enough to the tied up ghosts and humans to grab the wires surrounding them. I pull on a spot between Mira and Paulina, but nothing happens. An idea strikes. I check that Blairman is still busy before trying something that better work this time!

I remember my training with Reaper and hold out my hands and concentrate. I feel the warm energy coat my hands and focus. A knife. What I need is a knife. Something sharp that will cut these guys loose.

The green light stretches into a rectangle. One end narrows and becomes pointed, and I hold back a triumphant shriek. It's a little bulky and looks more like a misshapen rectangle, but it's a knife made of Hard Light. And when I use it on the wires, it cuts through without issue.

Eileen, Mira, Dash, and Paulina are free, and we all climb to our feet. "How's everyone doing?" I whisper.

"We're okay," Eileen says.

Electricity runs over Mira, who sports a determined grin. "Want us to help you beat up Blairman?"

The offer is tempting, but… "No, thanks. This is my fight."

On that note, the four of them walk/float off the stage and give me my space. Meanwhile, I conjure some duplicates to free the rest of the audience.

Which Blairman takes notice of. When he whirls on me, I don't let him get a word in.

"It's not a secret that I'm a loser, Blairman," I say, floating to his level. "I've spent my whole life being ignored if I was lucky. You want the truth about me? Over the years, I've been beaten down, told I was unwanted, called all sorts of things I'd rather not repeat. Even now, after everything I've done for this town, there are still people who think badly of me. But, you know what? I'll still protect them, because no matter how much it hurts, I'm doing what feels right to me. And you, Hutch Blairman, are the perfect example of the kind of ghosts I do fight. And, I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you've overstayed your welcome."

For some reason, Blairman starts clapping with a wide grin on his face. "Bravo! What a great speech!" He grabs his camera and points it at me. "Can you say it again? I wasn't rolling."

You could hear a pin drop because everyone is so dumbfounded. Even my duplicates.

"Is it me," Tucker says from where he is still seated with the rest of the team, "or does that guy have a serious one-track mind?"

"Can we just get back to the hitting?" I shout at Blairman. "I really wanna hit you!"

Blairman narrows his yellow eyes. "I'm not an idiot, Phantom. I know you're stronger than me. But, it doesn't matter," the reels spin on the camera, "because I could incapacitate with a simple question!"

Just then, he is encased by a vibrant yellow-green light that I recognize as one of Mira's lightning bolts.

"Sorry," she sing-songs when she's done zapping. "My hand slipped."

Oh, yeah. I'm into her. Like, really into her.

Smoke curls upward from Blairman's very charred body. Even better, his precious camera turns to ash. He watches as the ashes fall to the ground then looks at me with barely concealed panic.

Which means it's time for the real show to begin. "Epic fight scene: take one," I quip. "And, I don't do retakes."

I leave my duplicates in play so they can protect the audience from any stray shots. I launch three consecutive ghost rays. Blairman dodges two of them, but the last one nails him in the side and sends him reeling back.

Blairman holds out a hand behind him, and a red ball of energy appears in his palm. He throws it at me, and I take a risk. I will my ecto-energy into a bat made of Hard Light.

It works, and I shout, "Batter up!" just before swinging my bat. There's a satisfying ping as the hit connects and sends the energy ball back at its thrower. The ball explodes in his chest and sends him flying into the wall, creating a gaping hole when he crashes through it. Again, property damage is not my main concern.

One of my duplicates throws its fist in the air and shouts, "Homerun!"

Because he likes to be dramatic, Blairman bursts through the main doors. His clothes are rumpled and singed, his hat is gone, and his boa is less feathery than usual. His sky blue skin is burned to a grayish-blue in some places, and it looks like he's struggling to hold himself upright and has one hand clutching his side.

"Are you just playing a game now?" he rasps.

"I've had a long week, dude," I retort, letting my bat vanish. "Let me have a little fun."

He flies at me, but I'm ready for him. I grab his wrists and throw him right back into the hole he made in the stage. I descend and stand on the edge of it, watching in triumph as Blairman blinks dazedly at me. He's battered, bruised, and running on fumes. Meanwhile, I'm still going strong.

I allow my duplicates to disappear, knowing that it's over, as Blairman grins desperately at me. "Danny, my man!" he says. "You-you know I was just kidding, right? All this slander nonsense was-was just a little joke between friends." He giggles nervously when I don't respond.

I reach into pocketspace and pull out the Fenton Thermos. Sweet satisfaction wafts over me when he screams while being sucked into the thing.

As I clamp the lid back on, I throw in one last quip. "Cut. Print. That's a wrap."

I put the Thermos away and pause when I hear increasingly loud noises coming from behind me. I turn around watch in awe as everyone in the audience rises from their seats, clapping and cheering, the team - yes, I consider Valerie part of it, even if she, herself, doesn't - cheering the loudest.

My other friends run up to me as a breathy laugh escapes me. "They're cheering for me."

Dash throws his beefy arm around my scrawny shoulders. "Why wouldn't they? You beat the bad guy!"

"Yeah," I say quietly, "but they know what I'm really like."

Paulina puts her hand on my arm. The gesture isn't flirtatious. It's friendly, though her eyes betray how she still feels toward me. "That's why they're cheering."

Mira grabs my hand with both of hers, and the look in her eyes is similar to the one in Paulina's. "They know you're great," Mira says with so much feeling.

"We all do," Eileen adds, ruffling my hair.

Tears sting my eyes as everyone's love and appreciation and acceptance pours over me. Me. Of all people. They're applauding me, the loser, the freak in a family of freaks except his sister, the shy kid nobody likes, the punching bag, scary undead guy. Me.

I push Dash away and take his hand. Eileen, Mira, and Paulina get the idea and form a chain, Paulina holding hands with me and Mira and Eileen with Dash. The five of us stand before the audience and take a bow.

---

As everyone made their way out of the auditorium, they showered me with praise, saying how much they appreciate me for keeping them safe and how awesome that fight was and how I should keep doing what I'm doing. It's as embarrassing as it is honoring.

Two girls had hung back and one approached me at a time. Both had a similar thing to say: they hate themselves, too. I thought of Michael Vancleave from Reaper's lair and introduced the girls - Judy, a sophomore, and Mikenna, a senior - to each other so that they would have someone to talk to. Lord knows, we all need that when we're at our lowest.

Once they leave, the team approaches me, and we all act like I'm a stranger to them because Dash and Paulina are still here.

"So," Sam says with a hand on her hip and a secret smile on her mouth, "you're in the same boat as us, huh?"

"That I am," I say proudly.

Tucker extends a hand. "Then, allow me, Captain Foley, to officially welcome you aboard the S.S. Loser."

I laugh and shake his hand. "It will be an honor serving you."

On their way out, Tucker gives me a wink and a finger gun and Sam pats my shoulder.

Jazz is next, and she isn't even trying to mask her pride. "You know, my little brother serves on that ship, too." She starts to lean in for a kiss but remembers that there are witnesses. She settles for saying, "I hope he turns out as well as you."

I can only smile as a lump forms in my throat.

She walks out, and Valerie takes her place, regarding me cooly before raising her fist in front of her. "Not bad, for a ghost."

"I guess that's the best I can get from you," I tease as I bump her fist with mine.

Before she leaves, she turns serious and whispers, "Meet us at the football field when you're done here. We wanna talk to you."

My stomach drops when I realize what this is most likely about. I said things both in that footage and out of it that I never wanted to say out loud. They know Blairman's narration was a lie, but they know I'm down on myself a lot. I don't know how much of the movie they saw before I jumped in, but I know they saw enough to worry.

Which is exactly what I didn't want.

Once everyone else has left, Dash, Paulina, Mira, and Eileen - all of whom had already received a round of Healing Touch from me - approach me. I'll deal with my other friends later.

"So," I say, closing the door, "that happened. I'm sorry you all had to get mixed up in this."

"Are you kidding?" Dash pipes. "This was better than that time you and I got shrunk to the size of ants! Mostly because there was no robot-dude chasing us."

I laugh at the memory. "You actually liked that? You were complaining half the time." I mimic the whiny voice he used that day. "'I don't do puny!'"

Everyone else covers their laughter, and Dash cringes and turns bright red. "Did I really sound like that?"

"I wish I could have been there," Paulina giggles.

"Anyway," Dash says, "that adventure was awesome because I got to work with you, Danny. And, no matter how much I complained," he spits out the word, "you just kept encouraging me."

I rub the back of my neck. "I was pretty irritated after a while," I confess.

Dash gives me an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, I could tell. But, you really made me feel…less puny."

"What are you saying?" I ask.

"I know what he's saying," Mira chimes in. Her head is ducked slightly, and her cheeks are a little greener than usual as she pulls on her denim jacket. "It's like when you and I first met. I'd just died and, you know, I was freaking out. And, you were so sweet. I didn't even have to say anything. You just wanted to help me. And, when things got really crazy, you didn't hesitate to step in." Mira shrugs, oblivious of the way my meager pulse picks up speed. "I thought you were awesome back then, but after getting to know you better, I like you even more…"

She trails off, and I wonder how she's gotten so much taller. Then, I realize that I've phased halfway through the floor. I shoot back to my feet and feel my own cheeks turn green.

I swear I catch a flash of sadness on Paulina's face, but she covers it quickly. "The point, Danny," she says, "is that you're a wonderful person. Forget everyone who made you feel bad-"

"I can't forget," I say. "You don't get it. When you've spent so long being told that you're nothing, you start to believe it. As I've stated," I add with a glance at Dash.

Dash and Paulina are silent for a moment, then Dash stammers, "W-what if the bullies apologize?"

I look from one bully to the other, marveling that we'd somehow reached this point. So much changed in less than a week. But, I'm still not going to make this easy for them.

"An apology isn't enough," I say. "I heard about your cards. It's a nice gesture, a first step. But, if you genuinely want to change, you have to act like it." They nod solemnly.

Quietly, Mira says to me, "You really are amazing." When I turn to her, she blinks. "Did I say that out loud?"

"You did." I suddenly notice the light pressure on my arm and look down at the two green hands that weren't there before. "How long have you been holding my arm?"

Mira yanks her hands away with a squeak and puts them behind her. My lips curl upward a little.

Eileen pats us on our backs and speaks for the first time. "So, is one of you going to ask the other out," she teases, "or do I have to overshadow one of you and do it myself?"

Well, if those are our options… I clear my throat. "So, Mira, uh, do you…want to go out with me?"

"Yeah," she says with a wide grin. "I could do that."

"Wait. For real?"

Everyone laughs, and I hold myself back from turning invisible.

"I really do wanna go out with you, Danny," Mira assures once she stops giggling.

A few nervous giggles of my own bubble up. "Okay. Okay, great! Awesome!"

Dash lightly punches me on the shoulder. "On that note, I guess we'll see you around. Maybe we could finally play Smash some time."

"Totally," I say.

He walks out the door with a relieved grin, like he expected me to say no. Fenton would reject the offer, but I'm Phantom right now.

Suddenly, Paulina is in a startled Mira's face. "If you hurt Danny," Paulina threatens, "I'll make you wish you'd never even met him!"

Mira throws her hands up in surrender. "I'll be good."

"You better." Paulina's demeanor shifts when she passes me. Her hand brushes against mine, and she whispers, "Be happy, Danny," on her way out.

My heart breaks for her. For a brief moment, I'd forgotten she was in the room. I shouldn't have asked someone out right in front of her. For her own sake, I hope she gets over me soon.

"Should we talk to her?" Mira asks sympathetically.

Eileen sighs and shakes her head. "Leave her be. She'll sort herself out."

"I hope so," I say. I huff a laugh. "It's crazy. A week ago, I wouldn't have cared this much."

"A lot can happen in a week," Eileen says. "But, I think you would have cared anyway."

"Yeah," I agree, "but not this much."

Eileen chuckles. She bends over and kisses my forehead. The action is so sweet and simple, motherly. There's no nagging in the back of my mind about how she wouldn't touch me so tenderly if she knew I was a ghost. Why would there be? Mama's a ghost, too.

Eileen looks between me and Mira. "Well, I think I'll leave the new couple alone." Before she leaves, she puts her hands on my shoulders and says firmly, "I've told you before, and I'll tell you again. If you need to talk, you can talk to me. I want to be here for you. And if Reaper was here, they'd say the same thing."

I don't quite meet her glowing red eyes. "I know."

Eileen pulls back, satisfied. "I'll see you in class tomorrow."

She bids us goodbye before flying out of the room through the ceiling. It's just me and my girlfriend now-

Heh. I have a girlfriend. I hope I do right by her. The only other girlfriend I ever had (besides Kitty, who was just using me to make Johnny jealous) was Sam in our sophomore year. We dated for a few months until we realized that we felt like we were dating our sibling. I don't regret dating her, though. As weird as it sounds, breaking up actually made us closer.

But, let's hope that doesn't happen with Mira.

"What's the story with you and Eileen?" my new girlfriend asks. "You guys seem, like, really close."

I suppose word will get out eventually, especially if Eileen is going to start acting like a mom to me. "I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone. Especially not the guys. I wanna tell them myself." If I can figure out a way to phrase it that doesn't implicate Mom and Dad.

"I saw a smoothie place not far from here," Mira suggests. "Maybe you could tell me there?"

Like, a first date? My heart flutters. "Sure." Then, I remember that my friends are waiting for me. "But, I'll have to meet you there. The guys wanna talk about the movie." I grab my arm and lower my gaze. "Probably about what I said in it."

Mira's red eyes soften. "Do you want me to be there?"

God, she's sweet. "Thanks, but I'll be okay. I'll see you after?"

"See you for smoothies," she says kindly before flying through the ceiling as well.

I take a moment to meditate before heading off to face the music.