Chapter 4: Team Phantom in New York

Danny, Tucker and Sam were about to leave the airport in New York when they watched a TV screen showing the Ghost Force fighting a ghost. At some point, Myst unleashed what looked like some ghostly mix of a cat and an octopus and sent it after the ghost. It seemed to produce the desired effect as the ghost was weakened enough to be placed inside a Boo Cap. Danny was relieved that Liv was okay. 'Is that what she'll feel whenever she sees me in action?' He mentally wondered.

"What a girl!" Tucker exclaimed, oblivious to Myst's connection with Danny.

"Too bad she's pink." Sam replied in disgust.

"Maybe she couldn't choose her color." Tucker commented, making Sam lower her head.

Since the ghost was captured, it was deemed safe to leave the airport. They entered a cab and Sam paid the driver to take them to Central Park. "Let's see if Liv's parents really make Solar-Man movies." Sam commented.

"And let's see if I can meet the cheerleader playing the damsel in distress." Tucker said with a smile.

"Tucker." Danny and Sam glared at him.

"We've arrived." The driver said and the three teenagers left the cab.

"Danny!" They heard someone calling and it was Liv. "Are those the friends you mentioned?"

"Yes." Danny answered. "Liv, these are Tucker Foley and Sam Manson. Tucker, Sam, this is Liv Baker."

"So, is the cheerleader from the Solar-Man movie here as well?" Tucker asked with a smile and was elbowed by Sam. "Ouch."

"Sorry, but we aren't recording any scenes with Stacy today." Liv answered. Being the daughter of film makers, she was somewhat used to loony fans.

"Are you saying I came here for nothing?" Tucker asked in frustration and then noticed Danny and Sam glaring at him. "What?"

"We came here to check if Liv's parents are really film makers, Tucker." Sam reminded her technology obsessed friend.

"At least I can check if I could be a Solar-Boy." Tucker commented. "I'd have so many scenes with the actress playing the cheerleader."

"She's an actual cheerleader and it's too late to give Solar-Man a sidekick." Andy said as he showed up. "You must be Danny Fenton's friends. I'm Liv's brother Andy Baker. Nice to meet you."

"I'm Sam Manson." Sam replied.

"And I'm Tucker Foley." Tucker added and got too close to Andy. "So, what's that you just said about that Stacey girl being an actual cheerleader?"

"No surprises there." Sam huffed. "Cheerleaders are the perfect damsels in distress. Weak, shallow, and stupid."

"Shouldn't you get to know people before judging them?" Liv asked, not liking Sam's attitude.

"I wouldn't argue with the shallow part." Andy commented.

"We can discuss that because we know her, Andy." Liv replied. "Sam cannot."

Sam was disliking the "poser" even more. First, Liv dressed as a goth in spite of being too happy; and now she defended cheerleaders. "Fine, introduce me to that Stacy girl so I can figure out her deal."

"And let me go with you." Tucker eagerly added.

"You just want an excuse to flirt with Stacy." Sam accused Tucker.

"Or with her twin sister Jane." Andy teased Tucker.

"Twins?" Tucker asked with a huge smile. "Awesome! One for each arm!"

"Eeewwww." Liv replied and Sam agreed with her.

"So, wanna see the filming or not?" Andy asked Team Phantom.

The teens then watched the filming of a Solar-Man scene. 'Nothing can stop me now?' Sam thought in disgust while watching the recording. 'And another movie maintains that cliché.' She would have said something but she agreed to stay quiet.

After the recording ended, Tucker approached Liv and Andy's parents. "So, Mr. and Mrs. Baker, if you make a "The Making of Solar-Man", do I get to appear since I was among those watching this part of the making?" He eagerly asked.

"You're a minor so, even if we do something like that, we'd need consent from your parents or guardians to include you." Mr. Baker explained.

Accepting that, Tucker eventually left along with the other teenagers. Andy led them to Roland's cart, where he and Tucker bought hot dogs with bacon and mustard. "Is it just me or is Mr. Roland happier taking their orders than when he took mine?" Danny asked Liv.

"Well, they did follow his suggestion, Danny." Liv answered.

"Do you have anything for ultra-recyclo vegetarians?" Sam asked.

"What?" Roland asked in confusion.

"She doesn't eat anything with a face." Danny explained. "Also, if you're gonna offer her any popsicles, the milk in them must be soy milk or some other substitute that doesn't come from animals."

"I don't have any of those but I can make tofu dogs." Roland replied and Sam liked the spices he added to it.

After they ate, Sam took Liv to another part of Central Park for a girl talk. "Ok, spill." Sam demanded. "What's your game?"

"Excuse me?" Liv asked back, not liking Sam's attitude.

"Do you expect me to believe a popular girl like you would really date Danny?" Sam asked.

"Hey, where do you get the idea I'm popular?" Liv asked.

"Your parents make movies so you must be popular." Sam commented. "Why would you date Danny?"

"Because he's a nice guy and why wouldn't a popular girl like him?" Liv asked.

"The popular students back at Casper High treat Danny like a loser." Sam replied.

Liv figured out Sam. "Listen up, if you want something more than friendship with Danny, just say so or accept he's dating somebody else."

"What?" Sam was shocked. "I-I... I don't know what you're talking about."

Meanwhile, the boys chanced upon Mike and another character. "Hi, Mike. Hi, Charlie." Andy said as he waved his hand.

"Is her name "Charlie"?" Tucker asked in surprise.

Andy shrugged and gave a teasing smile. "To me, it's as normal as a girl being named "Sam"." He said.

"True." Danny and Tucker commented together.

"Danny, Tucker, she's Charlie, who usually goes around filming Ghost Force's battles." Andy said.

"Tucker, Danny already knows him but he's Mike Collins." Andy said. "Mike, Charlie, this is Danny's friend Tucker Foley. Charlie, this is Liv's boyfriend Danny Fenton."

"Nice to meet you both!" Charlie exclaimed while Mike simply said "Hi, Tucker."

"Hi, Mike." Tucker said. "Hi, Charlie."

"Where's Liv?" Charlie asked.

"Having a 'girl talk' with Danny's other friend." Andy answered and then noticed the two girls returning and couldn't help but notice Sam was frowning. "Liv, what happened to her?" Andy asked.

"None of your business." Sam replied.

"I think she wants more than friendship with Danny." Liv answered.

"No, Liv." Danny cluelessly stated. "Sam and I are just friends."

"Clueless." Sam muttered.

"Uh, Liv, who's your friend?" Charlie asked.

"Charlie, that's Sam Manson." Liv answered. "Sam, this is..."

"Charlie, who runs the Ghost Blog!" Sam exclaimed. "I'm so glad to meet you! May I have your autograph?"

"Sure." Charlie nicely replied and drew a pen. "Where do I sign?"

"Uh, I didn't bring any paper." Sam uneasily replied and then thought of something. "You may autograph my shirt!"

"No need." Charlie said as she drew a piece of paper. "I have a piece of paper of my own to feel like an old-time journalist."

"Thank you." Sam replied. "I wouldn't like the idea of never washing this shirt again."

Tucker then approached Charlie. "So, have you ever interviewed the Ghost Force? Do you know if Myst is available for dating?"

"You didn't tell him?" Andy whispered to Danny.

"Not my secret to tell, Andy." Danny explained, increasing Andy's respect for his sister's boyfriend.

"So, Danny, care to play a basketball game?" Andy asked.

"Andy, you know I'm not into sports and..." Danny then felt his ghost sense. "Uh-oh."

"BEWARE." A ghost said as he revealed himself. "I am the Box Ghost, master of all things cardboard and square."

"Don't you already annoy enough people back in Amity Park?" Danny asked.

"A talking ghost?" Charlie happily asked as she started recording the scene. "Awesome!"

Danny realized that he couldn't transform in front of Charlie and her camera but, since it was the Box Ghost, there was no need to. He simply activated his Fenton Thermos and sucked the ghost inside it. "Danny, will you give me an interview?" Charlie asked.

"Oh, sure." Danny replied, thinking an interview to some teenager's blog wouldn't be a big deal.

"So, what's this thing you captured the talking ghost with?" Charlie asked.

"It's a Fenton Thermos, Charlie." Danny answered. "My parents made it."

"Do they also hunt ghosts?" Charlie asked.

"Yes." Danny answered and felt odd by the fact he had no shame in acknowledging it.

"I don't recall ever watching anyone other than Ghost Force protecting New York from ghosts." Charlie commented.

"We live in Amity Park, Illinois." Danny explained.

"So your parents are Jack and Maddie Fenton?" Charlie asked.

"Yes." Danny answered, wondering how she knew their names.

"How do you feel about Danny Phantom upstaging them?" Charlie asked.

"I'm actually glad he makes Amity Park safer, Charlie." Danny answered.

"I thought your parents believed Danny Phantom to be an evil ghost who pretends to be good." Charlie stated. "They even said so in public."

"They believe that, Charlie." Danny replied. "I don't."

"Well, back to the Fenton Thermos topic." Charlie asked. "DO they also undo ghostly damages like the Boo Caps do?"

"No, but I don't know if it has something to do with that makes the ghosts haunting Amity Park different from those haunting New York." Danny answered. "By the way, the Box Ghost usually haunts Amity Park."

"Well, that you for this interview, Danny." Charlie stated.

"You're welcome, Charlie." Danny replied and Charlie ended the recording and the transmission.

"Danny, you might not know it but you just made yourself almost as famous as Michael Collins." Andy commented after Charlie left.

"Andy, no way an interview to a student's blog can give me that kind of fame." Danny replied, not taking Andy seriously.

"Danny, while I'm glad you're finally starting to give Michael Collins the respect he deserves, you're underestimating the Ghost Blog." Andy said.

"Whatever, that interview opened my appetite." Danny said. "I'm in the mood for a burger."

"Roland also sells burgers." Andy eagerly stated.

Two burgers later (Tucker ate one), Danny and his friends returned to Amity Park. After entering Fentonworks, Danny didn't expect his parents' reactions. "Son, good job capturing that ghost." Maddie commented.

"Thank you, Mom." Danny replied and then realized what his mother said. "What? how did you know I caught a ghost?"

"Your mother and I watched the interview you gave that Charlie girl, Danny." Jack proudly replied but then took a serious expression. "But we'd appreciate if you didn't defend that putrid Danny Phantom."

"I am NOT going through that discussion again." Danny stated.

"Alright, but only because you must be exhausted from the journey back home." Jack sternly replied.

Danny then went to his bedroom, believing his parents and Sam to be the only people in Amity Park to follow Charlie's blog.

He was wrong.

Meanwhile, at the Mayor's Mansion, a seriously crazed-up fruitloop was watching a blog. "So, the little badger is expanding his friendship circle to New Yorkers." Vlad commented. "I guess I should meet the Mayor of New York to exchange tips on how to handle ghosts... or how to approach our towns. Don't you think, Maddie?"

A cat that (according to Vlad) belonged to his sister, meowed in response.

"I knew you'd agree with me." Vlad commented. "There was a reason my sister named you after the world's greatest woman."

Unbeknownst to Vlad, his ghost vultures rolled their eyes at his statement. "No wonder people think he's crazy." One of them whispered.

End chapter

Answer to Guest: It depends on how stubborn Sam can be.