Chapter 3: A New Trip
Danny and Dani flew until they reached the rooftop.
The little ghost girl turned to her brother.
"We're home now..." Dani said, however, her brother didn't answer.
Danny's mind was still on that accidental kiss with Ember.
That actually happened… why didn't I react during the kiss? He thought, trying to get it out of his head.
"Big brother!" Dani called out, finally getting his attention.
"What?" He asked, realizing she was talking to him.
"What happened? I asked you something but you spaced out..." She said.
Danny realized what he did and tried to save face.
"Sorry, was distracted..." He said.
Dani noticed how quiet he was, realizing the kiss was hard for him to get over.
"Remember when you asked me to come live with you?" Dani asks, getting his mind off the kiss a moment.
"Yeah, sure did…"
Flashback
Danny, having just found Danielle and due to how hungry she was, bought her some food.
"Here..." He said as he handed her a candy bar.
"Awesome, it's been so long since I had something like this..." Danielle said before wolfing it down.
I see she's still got the appetite of a dinosaur… He thought as they began to catch up.
"So, where have you been since the Disasteroid incident? I recalled seeing you there… Come to think, I don't recall ever seeing you in the Ghost Zone. How'd you get there?" Danny asks.
"I found a natural portal opened near the Rockies, I went there since I figured Vlad wasn't living there anymore." She explained.
"He never actually lived there, that was just a summer house for him. He actually used to live in Wisconsin." Danny tells her.
Danielle pouted.
"Wish I knew that…" She muttered.
"Well, in any case.. Here…" Danny said, offering the ice cream cone.
Danielle perked up upon seeing it.
"What flavor is it?" She asks.
"Chocolate. Why? You've never had it before?" Danny asks.
"Not completely. I had to fish for unused cones…" She admits.
Danny hated hearing that, feeling sympathy for the little girl.
Poor Danielle… He thought, thinking she shouldn't have to live this way anymore.
He made a decision and spoke it.
"Wanna come live with me and my family?" He offered, surprising the little girl.
"What? You mean it?" She asked, stunned.
Danny nodded.
"Yeah, Vlad is gone and my parents know my secret, so there is no reason to hide you from them..." He said.
Danielle couldn't believe this. She wanted to say yes but she was hesitant.
"Uh...I don't know...I mean, I have places to go and things to do..." She tried, inching away.
Danny sent her a concerned look and shook his head.
"Danielle, you don't have to lie..." He said in a gentle tone.
"Huh?" She asks.
"Just because I'm a C student, doesn't mean I'm an idiot. I know you don't exactly have places to go, I can tell from how dirty your shorts are you've never had them cleaned, and you don't exactly have money so I can only assume you've been scrounging in trash for something to eat, that or you've had to steal to live. So… I know you've got nowhere. With Vlad gone, why not come?" Danny asks.
"Because...I...well...do you think your parents will like me? Even if they know about...who...created me?..." Danielle admits.
Danny realizes the source of her insecurities and tries to reassure her.
"Danny, my parents might be a little crazy but I just know that they will not see you as an extension of his..." He said.
''Really?" She asks.
"Can we give it a try? At least let me introduce you to Jazz…" Danny said.
"I… I don't know…" Danielle went.
That's when her stomach was heard grumbling, causing her to look embarrassed.
"Your stomach thinks it's a good idea. Especially since ice cream's not enough to fill that belly. Come on… you can at least get a good meal." He offered.
Danielle sighed before finishing her ice cream.
"Fine…"
Flashback over
The two, after reminiscing, phased through the ceiling until landing in the living room.
Both of them morphed back to human form before noticing three people were already there, all of them standing in a row with arms crossed and disapproving looks.
"Daniel Fenton." Maddie went, sounding a bit unwelcoming.
"Uh… hi?" Danny went as he and Danielle waved to them, unsure of what they're doing.
"So… have a good day?" Jazz asks.
"Yeah. We got new retro games! Even this one!" Danielle went, holding up what looked like a fighting game with a blonde man wearing a red trucker hat.
"Really?!" Jack went, excitedly. Then he noticed his wife and eldest daughter looking disapprovingly at him and resumed the serious attitude. "I mean… I see."
"So… nothing else happened?" Jazz asks.
"Uh… we got attacked. By Skulker… but we won." Danny went.
"Just him? Not any other ghost? Not even… Ember?" Jazz asks.
Danny started sweating while smiling nervously.
"Uh… why are you naming her specifically?" He asks.
"This." Jazz said, pulling back and revealing her laptop was behind her, picking it up and showing it to the two. "Phantom Rocker: Ghost Boy Dating Ghost Rockstar?!" She shouted the name of the article out loud.
Danny's face turned cold as he saw the picture of his and Ember's accidental kiss on it.
"Wait… people took photos?!" Danny asks.
"Uh… you didn't notice?" Danielle asks.
"Oh, there's more than just photos…" Jazz went.
She placed the laptop on the couch and played a video.
"Danny Phantom, Amity Park's haunting hero, was seen kissing Ember McLain, Rockstar supervillain ghost. Are these two a couple now?" Tiffany Snow asks. "We go with people who witnessed the event for their words."
"I actually thought that kid would have better taste in girls…" An old woman said.
"I always knew they'd be a couple! This perfectly aligns with my fanfiction!" Dash said with a big grin.
"No! Impossible! I refuse to believe anyone but me can be with my ghost boy!" Paulina shrieked angrily.
"Can't help who you fell in love with, I guess…" The owner of that shawarma van went.
"Did I mention my fanfiction? I also drew some pictures! I can show you!" Dash went excitedly.
"Well, they are ghosts." A man in tourist clothes went.
"I even had a few ideas for where they could go on a date! Bora bora, Tahiti, Switzerland is kinda neat…" Dash went.
Jazz paused the video to cross her arms at Danny.
Danny had his hands on his face, dragging them down.
"Look, it's my fault." Danielle went, getting their attention. "There was a fight, I accidentally caused it… the kiss, not the fight, just to be clear."
That caught their parents attention and their glares dropped a bit.
"So, you didn't intentionally kiss her?" Maddie asks.
"No, I didn't intentionally kiss someone who has hypnotized teens for world domination, adults to get rid of them, or women to make an anti-man utopia or whatever…" Danny said.
Maddie sighed.
"Well… at least that's that." She said.
"Heh… yeah…" Danny went nervously as he blushed at the thought of the kiss.
''Uh, sorry for the third degree son..." Jack apologized, glad it wasn't what he thought.
"Thanks… so, can we move on now?" He asks.
"I don't see why not. Well, best check the mail." Maddie said.
Jack went to the mail and started going through it.
"Glad that's over…" Danny said in relief.
Jack was looking through the mail and grinned.
"Maddie, we got an invite. I know because it has the word invite on it..." Jack said.
"Who's it from?" Maddie asked.
"Canada…" Jack said as he handed it to his wife.
Maddie opened and quickly read the letter. Once she was done, she smiled.
"For real?" Maddie asks.
Jack looked over her shoulder and grinned.
"Now we're talking!" He went.
"Kids!" She called out.
"Uh, we're right here." Jazz said.
"Something wrong?" Danielle asks.
"Pack your bags, we're going to Ontario Canada for the weekend!" She said.
Danny felt Deja vu while his sisters looked confused.
"What are you talking about, Mom?" Danny asked.
"It looks as though there's a ghost causing trouble and they invited us to take care of it while we stay there..." Maddie explained.
"All expenses paid, too." Jack said, grinning.
The three shared unsure looks.
"Uh, last time we took a trip, we dealt with family feuds, family drama, and aliens…" Jazz pointed out.
"Yes, but this one's more our kind of norm." Maddie said.
She handed Danny the letter, which described the ghost's attacks as he briefly skimmed it.
"Plus, it'd help us get over the whole thing of seeing Danny locking lips with an evil ghost." Jack said.
Danny groaned and facepalmed as Maddie looked at her husband disapprovingly.
"Too soon, Jack…" She said.
As Jack grinned innocently, Jazz sent her brother a sympathetic look.
"Relax, maybe nobody else saw it?" She suggests.
There was a knock on the door. A loud, almost destructive knock.
"DANNY?! WHAT'S THIS ABOUT YOU KISSING EMBER?!" Sam was heard from the other end.
Danny heard this and groaned.
"I'm not here." Danny said as he turned invisible and ran off.
Once Jack opened the door, Sam stormed into the house, with Tucker behind her.
"Sam? Tucker?" Jazz asks.
"Uh… I might have… shown her the link." Tucker went.
"So, you're the reason the Fentons are about to lose a son?" Jazz asks as Tucker shrugged as he smiled nervously.
"I'm not gonna hurt him, I just wanna talk… about how after breaking up he dates A SWORN ENEMY?!" Sam questioned.
"He's not dating her. The kiss was an accident." Jazz said as her eyes rolled to a nervously smiling Danielle.
"It was?" Sam asks, calming down.
"Yes, it was. He's not dating her." Jazz said.
Upstairs
Danny was in his room, talking with his sisters, as well as his best friends, ex-girlfriend included.
They were still talking about the "Ember incident", as well as the upcoming trip.
"So...it really was just an accident?" Sam asked again.
Danny sent her an annoyed look.
"For the 10th time, yes!" Danny snapped.
"Sheesh, you don't need to bite my head off!" Sam said, not liking his attitude.
"Well, I've been telling you that over and over again and why do you keep thinking that I'd actually go for one of my enemies?!" He shouted, still mad at being asked that.
"Calm down you two!" Jazz said, being a mediator.
"Yeah, just because you're his ex, doesn't mean you keep grilling him on who he kissed, accident or not. Plus, he's clearly not into her." Danielle said.
"Yeah, Ember might be hot but the whole "world domination thing" is kind of a turn off..." Tucker said before smiling. "Though, that doesn't mean she's not hot and awesome to look at from a distance..." He said, getting a glare from the others. "Sorry, slipped out..." He said sheepishly.
He was ignored as Team Phantom decided to change the topic back to the upcoming trip.
"So, you guys are seriously going to Canada?" Sam asked.
"Mom and Dad pretty much decided it. Looks like we have to go..." Danny said, sighing.
After the incident in Kentucky, he wasn't in the mood for another trip. However, since this may be "ghost related", his parents were more in their department and there is no way that they would leave them alone for the weekend, so they have to go.
Another trip, wonderful… He thought, not looking forward to this.
He also recalled he still had the note from the envelope.
"This is what they said they're paying my parents to handle…" He said.
As he was about to read, Jazz tugged at Danielle's arm.
"Come on… I can tell you've been sweating a lot, let's get you washed." She said.
"Aww…" Danielle went as she was dragged by the arm out the room.
"According to eye-witnesses, they were attacked by a large, skinny creature with pale skin, claws and mouths full of fangs. The thing displayed incredible strength, quick speeds and an apparent desire to bite people or take them to the woods. Thankfully, no one was hurt." Danny said.
"For what you've told me, that creature sounds like a Wendigo." Sam said.
"A what-igo?" Danny and Tucker asked.
"A wendigo..." Sam repeated as she pulled out a book from her bag.
"Wendy Go? She hot?" Tucker asks.
"I don't think it's a girl…" Danny remarked.
"It's a mythical creature or "evil spirit" that originates from the folklore of Algonquin people from places like the Great Plains and Great Lakes regions from Northern US and some parts of Canada. Supposedly, it's a human-like evil spirit that poses human beings.." Sam explained as she showed a picture of the creature.
Both Danny and Tucker cringed at the sight of it.
"Sheesh, and I thought Kwan after watching him puke was ugly…" Tucker commented when he saw the picture.
"Wait… that's not the book you used to use, like for Fright Knight or Pandora." Danny commented.
Sam groaned as she pulled out a note from her bag and handed it to Danny.
"Read it." She said.
"Dear Samantha…" He heard her groan. "The books you've read were actually planted by me so as to make sure Danny Phantom stays on the path… they're not even sold in stores outside the Skulk & Lurk and the people who work there are too lethargic to care. For reasons I can't get into, you'll have to deal with these things on your own… sincerely, Clockwork." Danny read out loud. "Wow… so the stuff about Pandora and all the other things were by him… weird…"
"Yeah… suddenly I feel like I'm less the bridge to all things spooky and Goth and more the bridge to Clockwork giving you intel…" Sam grumbled as she crossed her arms.
"Uh, let's forget that for now. You said it can poses people. How is that any different than when ghosts overshadow others?" Danny asked.
"It gets worse. According to the myth, the wendigo is said to invoke feelings of insatiable greed and hunger to people, giving the desire to cannibalize other humans, as well as the wanting to murder in those that fall under its influence..." Sam said, horrifying the others.
"So, it doesn't overshadow them?" Tucker asks.
"More like mind control." She says.
"Okay, that sounds pretty evil…" Danny said, scratching the side of his head.
"Yeah. So, it sounds an awful lot like those things." Sam said.
"So… is it one? I mean, we just found out aliens are a thing… what if this thing is?" Tucker asks.
"I don't think so… they called it a ghost, so you might be okay." Sam said.
"Yeah… we should be." Danny said, feeling relieved this sounds like a cinch.
"So, now that that's done… what was it like kissing Ember?" Tucker asks eagerly.
Danny glared at him as Sam quickly smacks Tucker in the back of the head.
Later
It was late at night and Danny was having trouble falling asleep.
The fight from today was still on his mind, but it was that kiss that kept going through his head.
Each time he recalled it, he also recalled the feeling he had after it was over and how Ember seemed different. It was as if he suddenly realized how beautiful she was but shook his head.
"Of all girls..." He grumbled as he tossed in bed.
Knowing that he likely won't get to sleep this way, he decided to go for a quick flight to clear his head.
He changed forms, phased out of his room and took off. After a few moments, he began to cool off. The cool night breeze relaxed him a bit, giving him some relief.
This works… He thought as he kept flying.
Before he could consider going back home, he heard the sound of a hovering vehicle reaching him.
He turned around and saw a familiar face.
"Valerie..." He said, surprised to see her at this hour.
"Hey..." She said.
Here they were, hundreds of feet in the air and in their respective outfits.
"Uh… hunting?" Danny asks.
"Yeah. You?" Valerie asks.
"No… just… clearing my head." He answered.
"So, I guess it was about today?" Valerie started.
"You saw?" Danny asked, embarrassed.
"If you are talking about the photo of you and Ember acting like you weren't sure if you were pecking or Frenching, then yeah. In fact, I wanted to ask about that..." She said.
"Unbelievable..." He muttered, dragging a hand down his face.
"So… I'm guessing she's not your new girlfriend?" Valerie asks, almost amused.
"Just to be clear, that kiss was an accident and I have no interest in some vain, ghostly diva with delusions of world domination..." He said, crossing his arms.
"Then… why were you smiling after the kiss?" Valerie asks.
Danny felt his face go cold.
"I… I wasn't!" He went.
Valerie chuckled.
"I guess a half-ghost can still find a normal ghost hot." She mused.
"I do not!" He insists.
"Well… I know you're still choosing not to date after Sam… but if you wanna talk… I'm always open. But… I mean… to be fair, I can see why you'd think Ember's hot." Valerie said.
"I don't!" He insists.
"Heh… you almost fooled me there." Valerie said before flying off.
Danny groaned, facepalming.
"Even she's talking to me about this. It! Was! An! ACCIDENT!" He shouted furiously before realizing he was alone. "And I'm talking to myself…" He muttered.
Shaking his head, he turned towards the direction of his house and flew.
As he flew, he thought back to the look on Ember's face after the kiss.
The way she stared at him, the way her mouth hung agape, the way her eyes looked. Thinking about it made his face feel warmer, causing him to shake those thoughts out.
He did not want to suddenly find himself attracted to her, much less falling in love with someone who means nothing but harm.
As Danny was trying to fly home, his ghost sense went off.
"Of course..." He muttered, almost expecting this.
He looked around, expecting something.
"Take this!" A familiar voice called out.
Danny heard a guitar and saw a blast heading towards him, but he managed to move out of the way before it hit him.
The ghost boy then saw who ambushed him and frowned.
It was Ember, and she looked angry..
"Not you again..." He said, mad.
Ember glared at him.
"I've been looking for you!" She said.
Danny took a deep breath, knowing what's to come.
"Look, about what happened. It was-"
"Listen here Dipstick, I am only going to say this once so pay attention: You better not tell anyone about that kiss or you won't be a half-ghost for long!" Ember warned.
"Too late, those people who saw up took pictures and they already posted them online..." Danny said quickly.
This made the evil Rockstar's eyes widen.
"WHAT?!" Ember yelled.
"Apparently, we have shippers, one suggested we should go out in Tahiti." Danny said, almost amused by the idea.
Ember growled, her hair flowing more viciously.
"This is all your fault, now people think we're a couple!" She yelled, firing at him.
Danny managed to get out of the way in time.
"It was an accident!" He called out.
"You're an accident! And I don't mean your powers!" Ember shouted.
She raised her guitar like a blunt weapon and flew in, intending to give him a concussion. In reaction, Danny caught the instrument with his hands before they hit him and struggled to keep it from hitting him.
As this went on, Danny looked at Ember's snarling face and felt his cheeks get warmer. That same feeling grew as he looked her in the eyes.
He thought they sparkled as she looked him in the eye, only to shake his head.
"What am I thinking?" Danny asks.
"That you're a Dipstick!" Ember shouted.
"At least I'm not bitter about my breakup! Not to mention an uncreative hack since you won't stop using that!" Danny called her out.
"You are so annoying!" Ember insulted him.
"Hey, Antique Girl! The 70's called! That look stopped looking cool in the 90's!" Danny jested.
"At least I have a look, Small Fry!" Ember went.
"Yeah? Well, you hit every branch when you fell out of the nest. No wonder your makeup is all messed up, Clown face!" Danny went.
"You're such a nerd! No wonder that goth was probably tired of you, Stick boy!" Ember went.
"Hotheaded witch!"
"Wimpy freak!"
"No-hit wonder!"
"Punching bag face!"
"YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL EYES!" Danny called out.
Suddenly, Ember gasped. Realizing what he just said, as soon as Ember stopped trying to pummel him, Danny covered his mouth.
Ember just remained there, staring at him in disbelief over what he just said.
They said nothing, Danny only inching back before flying back home.
Ember just thought about what he said.
"He said I have… beautiful eyes…" She said under her breath.
Days Later
The closest airport was not in Amity Park. They had to take a cab.
As they arrived, Jack groaned, something Danielle caught.
"You okay, Dad?"
"No, little princess… I just really hate going on planes. They're always crowded, the food sucks and there's always someone in the bathroom…" He muttered.
"But you flew a jet to Kentucky." Danielle pointed out.
"I was the pilot, big difference. The only reason I'm doing this is because it came as part of the all expenses paid thing. At least we're getting first class treatment." Jack said.
As they walked, Danny took a breath as he carried his luggage before looking back.
"Well, I guess I got a ghost up North to deal with…"
He entered the airport along with his family.
New chapter with thanks to Flower princess11.
Now, we're off to Canada.
Spot the references? Maybe one to Tarzan II?
LockAndKey989: They wouldn't ALL be based on MLP characters. Gotta spice things up, y'know? Sadly, this might not be the last time.
Invader Johnny: Same here, been waiting to write a story shipping these two.
Kilaknux: Fun times indeed. Also, yes, it's much scarier.
pokemon fan 1991: I think both girls have a shot here.
William Escobar 608: ¿Para Kim? Pronto. ¿Para Sibella? Víspera de Todos los Santos.
SoundVenom: She did not... and it's gonna slowly turn into one.
Luiz4200: Maybe not that cool considering what happened.
Leonardo: We did see varying reactions. Also, this is after Phantom Planet so... no comment.
