Full disclosure: This will be a very dark chapter. Reader's discretion advised.
Chapter 21: The Curse of the Wendigo Pt2
The snowstorm raged on. The sky had turned dark already. The chill was uncomfortable for anything still alive. All but one creature, that is.
at the now abandoned city hall, the wendigo stood in front of it. He was now surrounded by his revenant an evil grin, he observed dozens under his control, and awaiting more to be added.
"Perfect." He said.
The sound of a vehicle was approaching fast. Despite the storm and the snow that was already on the ground, the vehicle was speeding as quickly as it could.
The vehicle in question was the Fenton RV, which was now intangible thanks to the two were inside it, granting it that power.
"Careful, Dad!" Danny shouted as he clung to the side.
"Even if we are intangible, this is still reckless driving! We'll be tangible again we lose our grasp!" Dani complained.
"Fine, fine… if only because I don't want more proof for the DMV to take my license again..." Jack said in annoyance as he parked.
They soon charged out of the idea and were now facing the wendigo and his army.
"Oh, what's this? Delivery?" The Wendigo asks with amusement.
"Prepare to return to wherever it is you came from!" Maddie declared, aiming the upgraded Fenton Bazooka at her target.
The Wendigo looked somewhat startled before taking a closer look, calming him down.
"Wait… that's not-"
"Away with you!" Maddie shouted.
With a pull of the trigger she fired.
A multi-colored blast of energy left the cannon, hitting the Wendigo spot on.
The bright light blocked everyone's vision.
''BONZAI!" Jack shouted as it hit without issue.
The smoke did not clear yet, causing everyone to think he was gone.
"It's over…" Danny said, letting out a breath of relief.
"Don't be so sure…" A familiar, guttural voice went.
The smoke cleared and, to their horror, the Wendigo remained where he was.
"What?!" Everyone went as they were shocked.
"Not enough to send me back… I guess my worries were overblown. Oh well… let's eat!" The Wendigo went.
"I could go for a bite." Tucker went.
"Me too." Jack said.
"He means us." Everyone said in unison.
"Oh… right…" The two went in response.
With the snap of his fingers, the Wendigo's revenants were on the move.
Tucker ran back to the RV for safety as the rest fought off at least 2 other monsters.
Maddie, however, was undaunted. She took aim at the Wendigo after swinging the bazooka to knock one revenant back and fired again. Like before, nothing happened to him once the smoke cleared.
With a cackle, he closed the distance between him and Maddie.
"Sorry, thigh meat, but that's not enough!" He said before grabbing the bazooka, crushing it, and tossing it aside.
"Oh no..." Maddie went, pulling back.
"And I call you thigh meat because that's the part I'll eat once your son becomes chunks in my belly..." The Wendigo said, licking his teeth in anticipation.
In response, Maddie readied her two-bladed saber, attempting to fight off the Wendigo.
''You will NOT lay a hand on my son or me!" Maddie shouted as she swung her weapon at him.
To her horror, he blocked each of her attacks with ease, blocking each blow with minimal movement from his arms.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I'm something far above you, so your toys can't kill me." He said.
Maddie gasps for air, seeing she's making no real difference in her fight.
Meanwhile, Danny punched one revenant in the face with enough force to knock its teeth out before seeing his mother getting knocked down, her weapon falling out.
"Mom!" He went.
Jack, punching one revenant in the face with the Fenton Gloves, saw this as well.
"Maddie!" He panicked as he ran for her.
"Anyone who gets in the Wendigo's path will learn the dangers of my curse. Either you end up my next meal or my next revenant. I've said this at least once or twice this year alone… well, guess I shouldn't be surprised. Humans can be as stubborn as they are selfish." The Wendigo said before picking her up by one ankle and hung her upside down. "Now… what part to eat after I've made sure your son ends up being my next meal?"
"Get away from her!" Danny and Jack shouted together as they sped up.
Grinning, the Wendigo swung Maddie, throwing her at the two, knocking Jack down.
"Don't worry… I'll be sure to prepare her like chicken breast… after I've eaten you." The Wendigo said to Danny, teeth grinning with anticipation.
Danny, teeth gritting, firing his ghost ray at the monster with all he had, only for each shot to be easily avoided.
The Wendigo once again crossed the distance before slashing out, hitting Danny's arm and causing him to cry in pain.
Distracted, Danny did not react in time to defend himself when the Wendigo grabbed him by the neck and pushed him down.
"I could start anywhere… but I want you to get a first look at where you're headed. I'll start with the head! Face first…" The Wendigo had a twisted smile before opening his jaw.
"NO!" A spear flew in, hitting the Wendigo in the arm, causing it to fall oft.
That was the same arm that was grabbing Danny, who pulled it off.
Achak had arrived, being the one to throw the spear that he recalled with the wave of his hand.
Seeing a ghost, Jack reacted as he usually did.
"Ghost!" Jack went, holding up his blaster, only for Danny to push the weapon out of aim.
"No Dad. Achak's a good guy. He just saved me. Plus, he's the one who put Wendy here in his cave and helped us leave scratch free." Danny said.
Jack lowered his weapon.
"... my mistake." He said quickly.
''Don't make it again... "Achack said with a scowl before walking towards the Wendigo.
The Wendigo picked up his arm and, to the disgust of those watching, reattached it. No cuts or markings to indicate it was ever dismembered.
"Right… his zombies could heal, I figured he could do stuff like that too…" Danny muttered.
"You again? I'm not good with your name… but I'll never forget what I got to eat that night…" The Wendigo went with a mocking smile.
Achak gritted his teeth in rage.
"You will not slay this boy or anyone else, ever again!" Achak went.
"You still think you can stop me? Ha!" The Wendigo mocked.
Unwilling to give in, Achak charged at the Wendigo.
Meanwhile
Dani kicked one creature in the head as Jazz used the Anti-Creep Stick to knock one away.
"Look out!" The two went, seeing revenants about to sneak in and attack, taking them out quickly with a blast and a swing. "Thanks, Sis!"
Danny then flew in and blasted one that appeared before the two.
"Achak's got the Wendigo covered." Danny said.
"Then Ghostly Wail these things away." Jazz said, pointing at the revenants with the Anti-Creep Stick.
"I'm not sure if that'll work on toothy. If I go, he'll be free to take the rest of the town." Danny pointed out before his phone started ringing.
"Seriously? Now?!" Dani questioned.
Danny, raising a shield to keep the Wendigos out, answered the phone.
"Hello?" Danny asks.
"Hey there." Nat went.
"Nat?" Danny asks.
"Who's Nat?" Sam questioned.
"The girl he met in Canada." Jazz went.
"Seriously?!" Dani and Sam went in unison, upset for different reasons.
"Uh… now's not a good time, Nat." Danny went, seeing the creatures trying to break down the shield, causing him some strain.
On the other side, Nat's eyebrow raised.
"What's that noise? Are you watching a movie?" She asks.
"Y-Yeah. Already getting angry eyes…" Danny said, seeing his sisters and ex-girlfriend look at him disapprovingly.
"Gotcha… talk later." Nat went before hanging up.
With Achak
Achak continued to thrust his weapon, each time easily avoided when the Wendigo seems to contort his back in almost painful ways that didn't seem to hurt him.
"You're giving me good practice for limbo!" The Wendigo went with a sinister laugh before kicking Achak away.
Achak hit the side of the RV. Before he could resume the fight, one of the revenants approached him. He readied his spear before he recognized it, sensing something within it. His eyes widened in shock.
"Kanti?" He asks, seeing the revenant get closer.
Danny saw this, questioning why his guard was down.
"Achak?" Danny asks before getting closer.
Achak lowered his weapon, his expression a mix of joy and sorrow.
"Kanti? Can you hear me? Are you in there?" He asks as the creature continues to snarl at him. With a pain sigh, he raised his weapon. "No… you are too deep. I must free you… at least that can bring me peace."
He thrusted his spear at the creature. Before he could pierce its head, a hand grabbed his spear.
"Not so fast!" The Wendigo went, swinging the spear and slamming Achak into the ground, making him let go of the spear. "So… this is her, huh?" He asks, tossing the spear aside.
"Achak?" Danny asks, firing into one revenant's mouth to launch it away.
"You! Come here!" The Wendigo ordered, making the revenant approach. "So… this is her… Whoda thunk she'd be here after this long?"
Seeing the Wendigo crack a smile, Achak grew frightened by the implication.
"No… please no…" Achak begged.
"Sorry… getting hungry here." The Wendigo went before biting the revenant in the head.
"NOOOOO!" Achak went.
All action ceased as they witnessed the Wendigo devouring the revenant, which did not react to this at all. He chewed until slurping its body up, his head whipped back as he swallowed it down to its knees, slowly taking his time before the feet entered his mouth.
With an audible swallow, the Wendigo licked his teeth.
"There we go…" He went.
"Kanti… my Kanti…" Achak went, a face of pain and rage appeared on him.
"I can feel it. Her soul is now in even worse pain than ever... seeing you again, now lost forever. This is why I love humans so much... dumb animals are not sapient, but humans are, that makes trapping their souls so much more fun..." He said with a twisted sense of glee, cradling his own stomach.
Rage taking over, Achak stood up and attacked with his spear.
"I WILL DESTROY YOU!" He screams as he attempts to stab his foe.
He was met only with mocking laughter.
"Now she's really gone for good! Your selfishness cost you her a long time ago!" The Wendigo mocked him as he didn't bother avoiding or defending himself.
As they fought, Danny got another call.
He saw that it was Nat again and panicked.
"Uh, Nat. Now is not a good time..." Danny said uneasily as he answered.
"I was just wondering when your movie ends?" Nat asks.
"Uh… not for a while. I'll call you." He went before hanging up.
"Oh, what's wrong? Girlfriend number 2 being intrusive?" Dani questioned with an edge in her voice.
"She is not my girlfriend and she's not intrusive..." Danny said.
"And you don't have to keep answering her, especially now!" Dani argued.
"Who I speak to, especially if I like them, is my business..." Danny said defensively.
"Don't just shut me out of your life! You're the reason I exist, after all!" Dani snapped, her eyes glowing red.
She suddenly started snarling like an animal, glaring at him with hate filled red eyes. Danny saw this and gasped.
"Dani, what's happening?!" He exclaimed.
Dani pulled back and held her hands to her mouth, shocked at what she just did.
"What… what happened?" She asked.
Achak ceased his battle, seeing something that snapped him out of his rage.
"She's been cursed..."
"CURSED?!" They shouted.
"I have seen this before… the beast has cursed her..." Achak explained.
"Guilty as charged…" The Wendigo went with a proud smile on his face and a bow.
Thinking it happened recent, the Fenton matriarch directed her attention to who she blamed.
"This is your fault! You got them to the zoo!" Maddie shouted.
"Me? That could've happened in Canada! Don't blame me for wanting to save those animals!" Sam snapped.
"They were already dead whether you showed up or not and I happen to think my daughter's life is much more important than your agendas!" Maddie went.
Sam hissed at her, her jaw dropping further than humanly possible as her eyes turned red and her teeth became like daggers. This caused Sam to pull back, gasping in shock.
"What the heck?" She asks.
Maddie dropped her hostility, looking at Sam's eyes flashing red.
"It's happened to you too…" She said.
''ME?! WHY?!" She exclaimed, not desiring to eat people.
"A selfish little girl… this town is full of selfish people… some of the most I've ever met." The Wendigo went.
"I'm not a sel-" Sam tried but was cut off.
"You wanted to save those little lunch meats… You'll do anything for your agendas, right to being willing to mess with people's lives… like your little vegan menu at school… or making Danny use his folks' stuff for some stupid independent radio station…" The Wendigo went.
"How did you know that?" Sam asks, pulling back as she knew he was not present for any one those incidents.
"When I looked you in the eye… I saw a whole lot of things you did. Sure, you can boast good intentions… but in the end… you did to make yourself look better." The Wendigo said, looking around. "All of you humans have that bit of selfishness in them." He looked at Jack. "The idiot who wants recognition to the point of disregarding others' safety or opinions of him, seeing as he turned his best friend into a sociopathic freak of nature because of his negligence." Jack wanted to argue but cringed and felt some guilt as he recalled some things he wasn't proud of. "The woman who wants to be respected, she'll do anything, even harass Mall Santas just because she had less than happy holidays in the past and not care who she hurts, to the point of being confused at her son's rantings over ruining the holidays…" Maddie felt like she had just been stabbed in her heart upon hearing that. "The coward who seeks money and women while wanting to be respected for his ego…" Tucker looked down, avoiding eye contact. "The brother and sister who want more out of life to run away from how lackluster being Jack and Maddie's kids are…" Danny and Jazz flinched. "The little girl who doesn't want to lose big brother, while still desperate to forget the man she once called "Daddy"..." Dani felt tears forming in her eyes. "And… the fool who failed his family…" He went, looking at Achak, who glared hatefully at him.
Sam got on her knees, looking as if something was about to burst open.
She wanted to deny everyone but it was as if something awakened her, something she never wanted to admit. Guilt.
"He's right… I've been selfish…" Sam went, on the ground in a fetal position while looking like she's trying not to combust. "Burning up… inside…"
"Sam?" Danny asks.
"Samantha?" Maddie questioned, her anger gone as she tried to help her up.
"No!" Sam went, holding her arm out to halt her. "Right now… I feel like I'm looking at something to eat…" Sam said, trying to keep her eyes off Maddie.
"I feel that way too…" Dani went, getting on her knees.
"Sis?" Danny asks, his attention on her.
"Danny… I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have acted like I did…" Dani went as she morphed to human form.
Danny reached out for her, only for her to hiss at him. Danielle pulled back, horrified at what she did.
"Oh… it's happening faster than usual… probably because I'm so close…" The Wendigo said with a smile.
Seeing his best friend and his sister in pain, especially the latter, an anger filled Danny Phantom. One that he's never shown for anyone other than Vlad Plasmius.
"Change them back!" Danny demanded.
"Even if I could... why? The entire point is to hurt you!" The Wendigo said. "You messed with my dinner plans, I messed with your life..."
"I didn't even know you existed!" Danny pointed out.
"Not my fault you're ignorant..." The Wendigo said in mocking sarcasm.
Danny glared harder, his anger rising.
"I'll make you change them back!" He yelled as he was so angry that he felt like he was on fire.
"If anyone in this world had the strength to end my life…" The Wendigo's eyes darted to Achak. "... he'd have done that already."
Angered, Danny flew in and tackled the Wendigo with enough force that both were flown into a building, smashing through the windows.
The Wendigo only laughed at him before pushing him off.
"It's me you want! Leave them be!" Danny demanded.
"You're right… but can't do. Now that they're cursed… the only way to free them is either some hocus pocus ritual the Algonquin did… or to remove me. And those are the easiest options! Like I said, killing me is next to impossible…" The Wendigo went.
"I said change them back!" He shouted as a ghostly fire blasted from his hands, towards the beast.
The Wendigo looked surprised at first to see the fire somehow turn white, hotter than before as it hit his side.
"ARRRRGGHHH!" The beast yelled as he was scorched. "How?!" He asks, pulling away and snarling in pain as he held onto his arm.
Danny saw this and looked at his hands. He still had that green fire and recalled the idea of heat having a negative effect on him.
"Finally, I actually hurt him." He said, as he fired again.
He hit the Wendigo again. With a pain screech, the Wendigo backhanded Danny. Rage replacing sadism, the Wendigo saw his arm heal slowly.
"This meal's gonna have to wait!" The Wendigo said as he leapt into the snowstorm.
'On no you don't!" Danny said as he went after him, refusing to let him get away, especially when he finally had the upper hand. "Get back here! GET BACK!"
No answer.
It was then he recalled the shelter and realized what must be happening.
Elsewhere
Danny Phantom arrived at the shelter, wanting to check up on everyone. Once he was inside, he morphed before entering. There, he saw something that made him worry.
Everyone was fighting, namely those who exhibited inhuman actions like growling or hissing.
"Oh no…" He whispered in hushed shock.
He saw Dash and Paulina. Pushing each other, threatening to claw each other like cats..
"Guys, please stop..." Kwan begged while his friends kept acting in a ferocious manner.
"Okay, they are acting even nastier than usual...and I didn't even think that was possible..." Danny said.
"It is the curse. The beast of winter's power and nearby presence is causing his influence to increase..." Achak explained, having appeared by Danny out of nowhere.
This surprised the young superhero.
"How'd yo- You know what, never mind." Danny went, deciding it wasn't that important.
He then saw Kwan somehow pushed into the wall with enough force that it caused him to fall to his feet by Dash. He also saw Star backing away from Paulina, who looked at her like she were starving and seeing a feast.
"Paulina? Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks.
"I'm sorry… it's just… you look like a large helping of my tia's pollo asado…" Paulina went, mouth drooling.
Seeing her get closer and thinking fast, Danny grabbed a nearby broom and used it as a weapon, threatening to poke Paulina with it.
"Back!" He went, acting on Star's defense, much to the blonde's surprise.
"Fenton?" Star asks.
"You can thank me by being at least 10% less rude… now go back to your family while I keep her from tasting you." Danny insisted.
With that, Star nodded and ran for it, but not before briefly looking over her shoulder at Danny.
Kwan, meanwhile, saw what Danny did and tried the same, taking his shoe off and threatening to throw it.
"Back off, Dash! You know how bad my feet stink!" Kwan warned him.
Dash backed up, knowing what Kwan's feet smell like.
Danny and Kwan stood side by side, both concerned about what the two were about to do.
"I'm getting hungry… but they're out of good food. All they got is those crummy chips…" Paulina went.
"I know… Fen-ton over there… is looking like a big hotdog… I am getting hungry… but something is telling me to keep it in… for now." Dash said.
"Keep it in?" Danny asks, realizing one thing.
He's keeping them from attacking because he wants me to go down first… He thought.
"Attention! Everyone!" Mr. Lancer called out, getting their attention. "Going rage from hunger and fear is not going to solve anything! Now! Everyone! PLEASE calm down!" He went.
He was ignored as more and more people were starting to hiss and even walk in a hunched state.
Danny walked towards the doorway when two people got in his way.
"You." Pamela Manson went.
"Me?" Danny asks.
"Where's our daughter, Fenton?" Jeremy questioned.
Danny looked away, not sure what to say until he saw Tetslaff trying to fight off the urge to bite someone and Tiffany Snow getting on all fours while breathing heavily.
"Somewhere where she won't… fit in with all this." Danny said as he gestured to those cursed.
Realizing his words, both Mansons grew concerned.
"Fent- Danny… where is our girl?" Pamela asks, using his real name for once.
Danny didn't bother acknowledging that, only sighing.
"She's at Fenton Works… but I don't recommend going. My parents are keeping her and my sister contained in case they bite someone." He answered.
"Your sister? Jazz?" Jeremy asks.
"Danielle." Danny said, unaware someone overheard him.
"Oh dear…" Pamela went, a rare display of sympathy for someone being shown.
Danny took a deep breath.
"We'll get in touch if… we find something…" He said before walking towards the door.
As both Mansons stare at each other win uncertainty, Sophie and Carly stuck their heads out in surprise.
"Danielle?" They went in unison.
Outside
Danny, seeing no one was looking, morphed as he was about to go, only for Achak to appear again.
"What now?" He asks.
"I don't know, dude… I don't know…" Danny went.
"Here's a suggestion…" The guttural voice of the Wendigo was heard.
The two turned their heads, seeing the owl the Wendigo uses staring at them from atop a car.
"You?" Danny asks.
The owl's eyes glowed.
"Sup?" The Wendigo's voice went, coming from the owl yet the beak did not move.
Danny's eyes glowed green with rage.
"What do you want?" Danny asks.
"Revenge… your flesh… but I'm getting impatient. So… I propose a suggestion. At midnight… exactly a few hours from now… I'll have my new puppets start biting and taking flesh… unless you give yourself up or try to stop me." He said before a snicker was heard.
"What?!" Danny questioned.
"You foul beast! You've said you want only the boy and you won't kill any other humans until you've satisfied your revenge!" Achack stated.
"I never said I'd kill them. They can live without a finger or two. Best hurry up… because I got a few of my boys at the nearby hospital. All those sick and scared little kids are looking very… What's the word? Juicy?" The Wendigo went before a snicker that was followed up with the owl flying away.
Enraged, Danny contemplated shooting down the owl before lowering his arm, knowing it'd do nothing.
Fenton Works
Downstairs, in the laboratory. Danielle and Sam were currently in the stockades, though not by choice.
"I'm hungry. I need to eat..." Sam said in a vicious manner.
"Uh… here…" Tucker went, pushing some tofu into the slit where her eyes were.
The block was pulled in with such speeds that Tucker pulled his hand back in time.
Munching was heard, followed by spitting.
"NO! Not good enough! Meat! Want meat! Wait… what am I saying?" Sam went, having enough awareness to know what she's doing wrong.
"Let me out!" Danielle snapped.
Jack and Maddie stare in sadness over what's become of their adopted daughter.
"To think she was afraid of melting… now she's suffering a fate crueler than death…" Maddie said in sorrow.
From afar, Danny, Jazz, Frostbite and Achak watch as well. All of them are silent over what's happened and what Danny had told them of the Wendigo's plot.
"Any ideas… on a cure?" Jazz asks.
"There is no actual cure…" Achak said. "Normally, we'd perform a ceremony to ward off the evil spirit… but we do not have the items needed, nor can we get them in time. And besides that… it was meant for my people and requires a shaman… which I am not. Nor do I have a group who can chant along with me to rid the influence. And even then, they would need to be far away from the beast's presence to be freed, which is an impossibility."
''But… they're resisting though…" Danny pointed out.
"The beast is keeping them in this state for now... but soon, they will no longer resist. I've seen it before... and I've let it happen again." Achak said.
"You have?" Danny asks.
Achak looked pained before answering.
"When I was… human… I was a proud hunter of my tribe. My wife died years prior from illness, but I had a daughter. Her name was Kanti." He said.
"That's the name you shouted earlier." Tucker said.
"Yes, don't interrupt." Achak said impatiently. "In any case... I was the best hunter in my family, in my group. I took pride in how many kills I made, how much meat I brought back. so much so that, for one winter, I chose to be out longer than usual. My daughter begged me not to do it, fearing for me and for what would happen if I was gone. I insisted she would be fine, ignoring her fears, and telling her that her place was to stay at home, with my brother and his family that we were staying with. when I got home…"
He froze up, unable to speak of what happened.
However, someone spoke up.
"That monster got to them, didn't he?" Maddie asks.
"Yes…" Achak said, letting out a sob. "I can still remember it…"
He recalled entering that room. the first thing he saw was his daughter, with his back turned. He questioned her, only for her to look back with a pale and gaunt face, her mouth filled with sharpened teeth.
"So… that's why you're so eager to get to the Wendigo." Danny said.
"Yes… my soul cannot pass as long as my guilt over what happened remains. I let my selfish pride in being a hunter get in the way…" Achak said.
"But… you were only doing your duty…" Frostbite pointed out.
"And providing for your family…" Maddie said.
"I had more than enough! I had more than enough to feed us and keep us safe, along with my duty being fulfilled. I was more concerned with my reputation over anything else. I don't deny that the meat I brought back would have been helpful ... but it doesn't change the fact that I took too long, did more than I needed to do. And my family paid the price for it…" Achak said, looking away.
The room was silent, even from the two cursed. They realize now this man was on a path of redemption and revenge, one that he cannot fulfill now.
"But, couldn't you just... trap him somewhere again?" Danny asks.
"That was a gift from the spirits. It took decades to build up that much energy... and it has already been used up." Achak said bitterly. "Ages of waiting for my redemption, freeing my daughter... and it was all for nothing..."
He lost and broken when he said that.
"How did he get out?" Danny asks.
"I do not know... all I know is that there was a visitor. A man in a wide-brimmed hat. Then, before I knew it, a portal was opened. I do not know if the creature made it, only that it used it to get out... and before you ask, I can't even trap him there even if I could do it now. That portal closed, I saw it as we returned. Now I have to wait decades more to try again."
"We don't have decades!" Maddie went, gesturing to Danielle.
''And I don't have the power to stop him, so if you have any ideas, I am all for them." Danny said.
"You have but one option now…" Achak said, getting everyone's attention.
"What?" Danny asks.
With a pained breath, Achak looked at them in seriousness.
"... kill the infected before their transformation is complete."
"No! Achak!" Maddie went, stepping towards him with a finger pointed at him. "That is never an option!"
Achak winces at this, knowing what he's suggesting is awful.
"I am not proud of this. However… you heard your son. The beast will cause life changing injuries just to make sure he comes to him like a lamb to slaughter…" Achak said.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Jazz asks.
"Wait, what about the rocks? Maybe if we use the rest of the radiation off those things, it'll work?" Danny said.
"Send him back to his world and let his people sort it out?" Achak asks.
"The Wendigo's actually the lowest of low where he's from, and they don't like him. Would removing him from this world work?" Danny asks.
"There are certain ghosts whose powers are only present when they themselves are on Earth. If they leave it, that power and influence can weaken the longer they are away." Frostbite said.
"It's possible the beast's power is the same." Achak said.
"Great, let's use them!" Jack went as he walked to where he and Maddie were storing them, the cabinet.
"What a relief…" Danny said as he let his breath out.
"Yeah…" Jazz said before looking at the stockades. "You'll both be free in no time!"
"That's a relief… I seriously do NOT want to eat meat.. Not even if it's organic or well fed…" Sam went with a pained yet relieved expression.
Jack opened the cabinet, only for his smile to drop.
"Uh… honey?" Jack called out.
"Yes?" Maddie asks.
"Where are the rocks?" He asks.
Curious, Maddie walked to where they were, only see them gone.
"What?!" She gasped, getting their attention. "They're gone!"
"What?!" Danny asks.
"All of them… gone!" Maddie went.
A collective gasp was heard throughout the room.
"Where? Did a ghost take them?" Jazz asks.
"I wouldn't see why…" Maddie went as she put her goggles on to track the radiation. "That… that can't be right…" She said.
"What?" Jack asks.
"There's very little ectoplasm… and the radiation doesn't appear to have left the cabinet… it's as if it just disappeared…" She went.
"How?! How did they disappear?!" Danny asks.
"I don't know but…" Maddie turned around, taking her goggles off. "It looks like… we can't upgrade the bazooka to blast that thing away…" She said, looking lost and broken up over this.
"So… we can't send him away? Free them?" Danny asks.
Maddie huffed as she looked at the two, namely her daughter.
"...no." She said with a shake of her head.
"But… what about the Ghost Zone? Can't we send him there?" Jazz asks.
"You didn't see how he one-monster-armied his way through the ghosts earlier. They'd either come here out of fear or find a way to send him back here and we'd just be going through the whole thing all over again." Danny said.
"I can verify the Ghost Zone wouldn't handle him well…" Frostbite said, gesturing to his injuries.
"What if they send him somewhere else?" Jack asks.
"They'll probably send him back here out of spite." Tucker pointed out.
"It's true…" Frostbite went. "Those who don't wish your world harm live in further reaches of the Ghost Zone, your portal leads to those less friendly, however."
"I don't want this to be someone else's problem even if they sent him somewhere else…" Maddie said.
A coldness was felt by all. There was no way to uplift the curse now. No way to truly be rid of the Wendigo.
"So… now what?" Danny asks.
Now, a heaviness entered the room.
"It looks like… you'll have to do it." Danielle was heard saying.
Everyone looked at her in surprise.
"What?" Danny asks.
"Do it… what Chuck said." Danielle went.
"Achak… and I deeply regret what I said…" Achak corrected and expressed his displeasure at his suggestion.
"You should! How could you think we'd be willing to do that?!" Jack questioned.
He and Maddie both approached him, angered with what he said. Achak stared at them in seriousness.
"You're not the only ones whose daughter fell to his curse…" He reminded them.
With that, the two pulled back, knowing he hates the idea too.
"Please…" Danielle begged. "I don't want… to hurt anyone… especially all of you. You're my family… my friends… I love you all."
There was a silence as many were holding back their tears.
"We love you… little princess." Jack went, unable to hold his tears back as he started to pant.
In her stockade, Sam was heard crying.
"I should've just listened to him about not going in the portal…" She was heard saying. "None of this would have happened…"
Maddie walked up to the stockade and placed her hand on it.
"Don't say that…" She said, surprising Sam. "Vlad would have gone unchallenged… and we wouldn't have gotten Danielle…"
Although that did lighten the mood, it wasn't enough to distract the situation. Especially when Danielle spoke up.
"Danny?" She got his attention. "I want you to do it…"
That shocked them all.
"Me?" He asks.
"Yes. I got this way because of how I acted with you… only right you do it. Please… everyone… let him do it…" She begged.
5 minutes later
After Danielle gave her apparent last goodbye to everyone, Danny was the only one left not in a stockade. He turned Sam around.
"Please… let me do this without an audience." He said.
"Understood…" Sam said sympathetically.
Danny let out a breath as he morphed before opening the stockade.
Danielle fell out, getting on her knees and holding herself up with her hands.
"Darn… if I knew this is it… I'd have gone to get pizza with Sophie and Carly more… I… actually really was liking being their friend." She said.
Danny took a long breath.
"Are you… sure?" He asks.
"Yeah… please…" She looked up, her eyes still blue yet tears falling from them. "I can hear him on the other side of my brain…"
Danny winced, hating what he's about to do.
"Okay…" He said as he created a sword construct.
"And Danny?" Danielle went.
"Yeah?" He asks.
She managed to form one last smile.
"I'm happy to have gotten you as a cousin, then brother… I love you." She said with much gratitude on her face.
Danny weakly smiled back.
"I love you too, Sis…"
With that, Danielle lowered her head, readying for the only salvation she could get.
Danny closed his eyes, recalling his time with Danielle.
"And I appreciate it but… uh…" He saw a little girl on his bed, reading his comic. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Danielle, your third cousin once removed?" She lied.
"Cover your ears and get behind me…" He said protectively after she turned on her creator.
"He's not gonna get you, Dani. Come on, I'll protect you…" He told her when she returned for his help.
Then there was the first night where they started fighting ghosts together.
"You sure about this?" Danielle asks as they stood on the rooftop together.
"Well… Sam and Tucker got their things and, to be honest, it's easier to know you got powers too. So, yeah." Danny went.
"Okay… but I'm not wearing tights that show off my legs or whatever." Danielle went, disliking the idea.
"No worries, I don't need a sidekick wearing that." Danny said jokingly.
With that, they both morphed and fist bumped.
"I'm ready!" Dani went.
"Me too…" Danny said.
"Let's go, Cu- I mean… Bro." Dani went, still not used to calling him that.
"Awesome, love to have you on board, Sis…" He said.
The word Sis repeated in his head several times before his expression steeled.
No. Only one person deserves this. I'll burn every piece of him for it. He thought before something else came to his mind. Burn?
Something else flashed in his head. The sight of the Wendigo in pain from his flames. That's when he knew what he had to do.
The sword constructed disappeared before he pushed her back into the stockade.
"Whoa? What? What are you doing?" She asks, questioning his actions.
With a serious look in his eyes, he looked at her through the slit.
"I'll save you… I promise…" He said.
"But… there's no way to break the curse! Achak said so!" Danielle went.
"Good of you to get his name right… but there is a way, one no one figured out yet. I'll be back, I promise…" He said before closing the slit.
"Wait! Danny!" Danielle went.
Danny walked to Sam.
"Sam? I'll free you too." Danny said.
"You will?" She asks with as much uncertainty as Danielle.
Danny nodded before closing the slit.
He then walked to the stair, creating a large chunk of ice closing off the lab as he walked up the stairs, all the way to the top, much to everyone's surprise.
"What happened?" Jazz asks.
"Did… did you-" Maddie started.
"I can't do it. And I just realized I don't have to." Danny said before looking at Frostbite. "Frostbite! Under no circumstance are you to let them out until they're cured, understand?!" Danny ordered.
Frostbite, under his oath of loyalty, bows.
"Understood, Great One." Frostbite said.
"What?! Danny?! what are you talking about?! Did you not hear what-" Jack was cut off when Danny extended his arm with an opened palm.
"If I do this… I just give the Wendigo a victory." He said seriously.
"Even so… there is no way to free them now and you have 2 hours before he begins his assault." Achak pointed out.
Danny shook his head and started to walk away from them.
"DANNY?!" All closest to him called out.
"You're wrong…" He said.
"What?" Achak asks.
"You're wrong about how there's no way to save them…" He said.
"You mean you've figured out something I did not?" Achak asks.
"There's only one option left for me. One that will free them, save your daughter's soul, and make sure this never happens again." Danny said as his fists balled up.
"What's that?" Jazz asks.
With a serious look in eyes, Danny looked over his shoulder at everyone.
"I'm going to kill the Wendigo..."
New chapter with thanks to Flower Princess11.
I knew this chapter would get dark, so I put a disclaimer at the end. Full disclosure, this and the next story will get dark
RonaldM40196867: Yes. Someone I made up. Dunno yet. 23. No.
Invader Johnny and danifan3000: Sending him back is a no-no, Danny has one option now.
Guest: We see them start to patch up.
