Knowledge of Part Eight, "Graveyard Shift," is recommended but not required.

I should wait to post this and give the previous story time to breathe. But, my dorky brain thought, "I could post a thing on a leap day!" XD

The Dearest Departed!

Chapter One: Party Planning

"Hey, you. Yeah, you. No, not you. The other guy. Yes, you. Do you like tacos?" - Unknown

Jazz

Dad comes in from collecting the mail with a deep frown on his face. A normal family in a normal town would assume that my father is irritated by bills or an influx of junk mail. But, my family is not normal and we live in Amity Park.

I curse myself for not remembering what time of the month it is and getting the mail myself. "Something wrong, Dad?" I ask as if I don't already know.

Dad pulls an envelope out of the small stack. "We got another of these donation requests. I don't know why they keep sending them. No one in this house contributes."

That's what he thinks.

"Oh, and here's your credit card bill."

I thank him and take the envelope, subtly moving my fingers so that I grab the donation slip as well. Dad doesn't notice. He walks away muttering about how he is not looking forward to opening the electric bill - okay, so some things about my family are normal - and I head upstairs to my room.

I shut the door and head over to my desk. I write a check to the credit card company before opening the other envelope. The one that Mom and Dad don't know I fill out every month.

About a year ago, the mysterious ghost known as Danny Phantom - also known as my little brother, Danny Fenton - saved the town from an incredibly powerful ghost called Pariah Dark. Up until then, people were terrified of Phantom for the sole reason that he was a ghost. No matter what he did, so few people understood that he wanted to help them, not hurt them. After that day, it finally clicked with them - besides Mom, Dad, and Valerie - that Phantom was good. More than that. My brother is a hero, whether he acknowledges it or not.

As Phantom's heroic deeds piled up, the town council decided that Phantom deserved to be rewarded. Somehow, it was decided that a donation slip would be sent out each month. The people our hero protects would have the option to give money to a bank account that an anonymous resident - ahem - opened up for Phantom. The account would become accessible to Phantom as soon as he turned eighteen, not that anyone but the anonymous resident knew exactly when that would be.

But, recent events have made that resident decide to open the account a little sooner than planned. And, since today is a special day, that resident is donating one hundred dollars instead of the usual twenty.

Good thing Danny pays zero attention to the mail, or he would have caught on and tried to stop the account from existing. My brother is humble and sees his actions as basic decency. He gets uncomfortable when people try to reward him for his kindness. I'll never forget the look on his face when he found out someone had put up a billboard that said, "Welcome to Amity Park! Home of Danny Phantom!" alongside a huge picture of him. It didn't take long for that billboard to be conveniently destroyed in a ghost attack.

Obviously, that example is a pretty extreme one, but even little things embarrass him. A good example would be when he rescued a Girl Scout who had been out selling cookies with her mother. The two had been attacked by some jerky ghost who wanted those cookies for himself. Danny took care of it, and the girl tried to offer him a box as a thank-you gift. My brother turned bright green - the ghost equivalent of blushing - and tried to say no. But, the family was insistent, so Danny reluctantly accepted a box of thin mints. When the family walked away, Danny stood there and watched them with a tender smile on his face.

Danny may get embarrassed, may claim that he doesn't deserve it, but I know he genuinely appreciates when people acknowledge his kindness. He hasn't had enough of that lately, and it's time to change that.

Today is Saturday, so it's the perfect day to borrow Casper High's gymnasium. When Sam, Tucker, and I ran our idea by the principal, she was more than happy to grant us permission and is even helping me supervise.

Dash and Paulina were in charge of spreading the word about this. After they spent a week making a movie with Phantom (until it was discovered that the director had his own agenda, but that's another story), it became common knowledge that those three were friends. No one questioned it when the two A-listers told them what was going on.

The gym is filled with townsfolk of all ages. Everyone is working hard to put up decorations, and I was pleasantly surprised by how many people brought gifts. We had to grab an extra table from the cafeteria to fit all of them. Having three ghosts here made that a lot easier.

One of them is the Box Ghost, with whom Danny has slowly been becoming close to over at least the last two months. Much to the confusion of all five of Danny's human friends. What they don't know is that the Box Ghost has been letting Danny stay with him when my poor brother is too afraid of our parents to sleep in our house. A fact that I try not to dwell on, but…

The second is a semi-shapeless black ghost appropriately named Shadow. He and his partner, Johnny, started out as Danny's enemies and, like the Box Ghost, eventually became his friends. Shadow was an unexpected arrival, and I have no idea how he found out about this party. He just kind of showed up and started helping with decorations. Even weirder is that there's no sign of Johnny; from what I've seen, the two are always together. But, since Shadow can't talk and seems to genuinely want to help, I'm willing to roll with it.

The third ghost is Eileen Merryweather, whom Danny imprinted on, essentially meaning that she's his second mother. She is tall, would be alarmingly thin as a human, and has no legs, so she is constantly floating unless she shapeshifts herself a pair. She has off-white skin, long black hair, and wholly red eyes. She's a wonderful woman who cares about Danny as much as I do. Though, there was some discourse when we found out that she'd told Vlad Masters about Danny's fear of Mom and Dad. In her defense, she had no idea that Vlad was secretly Danny's arch nemesis, Vlad Plasmius. We let it go because there was no point in being angry about something no one gave her all the facts on. But, I know she still feels guilty.

But, none of that matters right now. Today is all about fun.

I spin around and take it all in. Balloons are being blown. The gift tables are filled. Sam, Tucker, and I picked out the music, so I know it's all stuff Danny likes. The caterers are set to arrive in a few hours, bringing all my brother's favorite foods. Danny's girlfriend is keeping him distracted.

Most importantly, the gym is filled with people who respect and appreciate my little brother, even if the majority don't know exactly who it is we're celebrating.

There's a tightness in my throat as it hits me just how loved my brother is. True, most of these people don't know that Danny Phantom is also Danny Fenton, but it doesn't matter. Because we're all here to celebrate him, regardless of which form it is.

My brother's birthday was last week, and he refused to celebrate it. So, as far as almost everyone here knows, today is the day Danny Phantom turns seventeen.

Danny

Every part of me aches. I struggle against the instinct to shift back into my human-form. But since I'm surrounded by government agents, that would be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea. So, my only option is to fall to my knees and prop myself up on my hands and moan in agony. This is what happens when I use the Ghostly Wail.

"The ghost shield is no longer operational," one of the agents says from his position in front of a screen. "And, neither are my ear drums."

"No shit, Sherlock," I mutter, shakily climbing to my feet in spite of my numb legs.

Just over two months ago, I learned that I had begun a process known as the reckoning, which is basically puberty for halfas. The only side effects of this so far have been my eyes turning black when I'm upset and my powers malfunctioning when I'm really pissed off. However, on July 23rd, the final day of the reckoning, all hell will break loose. I will become violent, attack anything in my path, and have absolutely no control and (I hope) no awareness of my actions.

That's why the Guys in White are here. I don't trust them in the slightest, but they're the best chance I have at keeping this town safe on that day.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't need their help. I would be in the Ghost Zone on that day, and Reaper - one of the two ghosts I imprinted on - would keep me under lock and key until the reckoning was over.

Unfortunately, this is far from a perfect world. Clockwork, the Master of Time, informed Reaper that they wouldn't be able to stop me from attacking the town. Being the cryptic bastard that he is, Clockwork gave no information beyond stating that there would be forces outside of Reaper's control. Because that's so helpful!

I like Clockwork, but I also hate him.

I made sure the townsfolk knew what was going on, and I understand that a lot of them are making plans to be far away from here on July 23rd. Smart move.

The Guys in White are a hive mind of thorns in my side, but their technology is incredible. Take the stark white lab we're in, for instance. When the scientists first arrived in their fancy white cars, I thought they were going to escort me to their headquarters. Instead, one Guy pulled out a metal cube that fit in the palm of his hand, threw it, and a small but fully functioning laboratory was there. The sci-fi nerd in me sprang to the surface and bombarded everyone with questions until someone threatened him by pressing the barrel of an ecto-gun to his throat.

I am standing on a platform while we test how my powers hold up against the ghost shield they'd sprung up around me. This one held up longer than the last, but it still can't handle my Ghostly Wail. Since that's my most powerful attack, and I have a feeling the resulting fatigue won't stop me on that fateful day, the shields must be perfected until they can withstand that.

Two months of work, and the shields still aren't good enough. We have a few months until the big day, and I'm hoping that's enough time.

"Phantom," the tall, burly Guy in charge of the group says, "you're done here."

My fatigue is gone in an instant. "Excuse me?"

"We'll go over our latest findings and do more work on the ghost shield," the leader says. "You can get out of our hair."

"You don't get it, do you? I'm still here. I still exist! That means you still turn into me."

There's a stabbing pain in my chest. "I can help," I say. "There must be something else I can do."

The leader's eyes are narrowed behind his sunglasses. These doofuses wear sunglasses even indoors for some reason. "At this point, you'd just get in the way. When we have more for you to test, we'll let you know." I start to object, but he cuts me off. "Don't forget, Phantom. The only reason we're helping you is because," his frown turns into a meaningful grin, "it'll make things easier for us in the long-run." As in, easier for them to take me down. It's a risk I'm willing to take. "But, that doesn't mean we won't attack you if you become too problematic."

My turn to glare at him. "We have a contract." Signed by their overshadowed boss, not that anyone needs to know that. "You can't attack me unless I'm attacking an innocent. Which means that July 23rd will be the only time you're allowed to have your way with me."

His grin widens. "And, we're all looking forward to that day. Now, get out and let us work."

I reluctantly exit the lab, which is located just outside of town. I take to the skies and float over the town, watching everyone mill about, living their lives, so blissfully ignorant of the sheer power that watches them from the clouds.

So frightfully mortal, these humans. So terribly fragile.

So easily I could rip off their skin and snap their bones. Freeze them from the inside. Reduce their homes to rubble with only the sound of my voice.

Don't worry, good people. I will never do such horrible things. On July 23rd, you will all be safe and sound and alive. Keep them alive keep them alive keep-

A sharp, icy breath pulls me away from the ramblings of my core. I scan the area and instantly see who triggered my Ghost Sense. The ghost flying toward me is a human-looking nineteen-year-old with luscious curves, glowing green skin, dark green hair that looks like it's never brushed before, and deep red eyes. She wears a jean jacket over a white shirt, a black skirt, black sneakers, and a purple and black striped beanie.

Mira Scott. My girlfriend. False alarm.

"Well, this is a nice surprise," I say as she floats in front of me. She lives with her human parents in Nebraska, so despite her abilities to open portals and travel across the globe through various electronics, I don't get to see her every day. "I didn't forget about a date, did I?" I ask when the thought hits.

Mira is grinning ear to ear, so I know the answer before she says it. "Nope. Are you saying I'm not allowed to drop in unannounced?"

Now I'm grinning. "I'll never say no to that." I cup her cheek and kiss her soft lips. When we pull away, I ask, "Something with chocolate?"

Mira's Obsession is food, and she's always in the kitchen, so it's become a game for me to guess what she'd been making that day.

"I made red velvet cake," is her answer.

Which happens to be my favorite kind of cake. I put my hands on my hips, slightly miffed. "And, you didn't think to bring me a piece?"

Mira rolls her eyes. "It's for a party, silly."

That pacifies me. "You're catering a party?"

"Just the cake. I can't wait for you to see it!"

"Aha! So I do get to eat some!"

I'd been joking when I said that, but Mira clamps her mouth shut like she'd said too much. She recovers before I can call her out. "Anyway, Danny, I made some ghost friends recently, and they said they know you. Johnny 13 and Kitty?"

"Yeah, I know them," I say. "What about them?"

Mira puts her hands behind her back, and I know something weird and spontaneous is coming. She does this sometimes. Like when I was bemoaning my own self-hatred, and her immediate reaction was to demand a fight to take my mind off things; it worked. Or Christmas night, when Jazz and I were fed up with our parents' fighting, so she brought Bub and Cujo and essentially kidnapped me and my sister for a night of fun; it also worked. The latest idea came when we were hiding from the Guys in White in Tennessee, and Mira dropped everything to sample some authentic Nashville hot chicken; that was just stupid.

Fortunately, this idea is a pretty normal one. "I told them about an amusement park not far from my hometown. They're already there, and I thought we could join them."

"Like, a double date? Right now?" I ask. I suppose that would be okay since I'm already friends with the other party, as long as they don't cause any trouble, that is. However, "I can't. I'm needed here."

Mira frowns. "Do the Guys in White need you for something?"

"Well…no," I confess and rub the back of my neck. "They said that there was nothing else for me to do until they did some more work on the ghost shields. But, I can't leave! Who will protect everyone? There's danger lurking around every corner. This town is a bloodbath just waiting to happen!"

Mira and I look down at the town. It's…quite peaceful. And, I'm starting to feel stupid- Wait!

"See that?" I say and point down at the danger that just cropped up. "That guy ran a stop sign! He could have hit someone!"

"And yet," Mira deadpans, "he did not. Danny, you've been working hard for two months without a break."

"That's not true," I argue. "I took a break on your birthday and on Valentine's Day." I cross my arms. "Like a good boyfriend."

Mira rolls her eyes. "Oh, whoop-dee-doo. You had two days off in as many months."

I swallow a rising growl. "This is serious work, Mira! July 23rd will be around before we know it. When that day comes, everyone needs to be safe! I can't…hurt them. I…I won't!"

Mom. Dad. Jazz. Sam. Tucker. Everyone I love (and Mr. Lancer, whom I like as far as teachers go) was strapped to the big metal tank that would explode if I didn't stop that awful man.

A man who they knew was me but ten years older.

A man whom I refused to become.

"Don't worry," I told them. "I won't turn into that. Ever. I promise."

Mira says my name and grabs my shoulders. I was shaking, and the concern in my girlfriend's eyes doesn't make me feel better. "Danny, you're working yourself ragged. I know how important this is, but wearing yourself out isn't going to help anyone." She lets go of me. "Take the rest of the day off. Let's go hang out with our friends and have some fun. You clearly need it."

I hiss and ball my fists when that stabbing pain returns. I cannot leave! What if something happens, and I'm not here? Who will protect everyone?

I must have spoken my worries, because Mira puts her hands on her hips and says, "You've got Sam, Tucker, Jazz, and Valerie here."

Three out of four of them were the first to go. The other breathed her final breath as my white gloves were drenched in red red red. Not him never him keep them alive.

"And, didn't you say that weaponry has already been distributed to all the households? And that everyone received training on how to use it?"

"But…"

"Danny," Mira takes my hands; my gloves are clean, "take a break. You need it."

I need to keep them alive.

But, Mira has a point. I can't protect everyone if I'm exhausted. My core is the slightest bit soothed by the realization.

So, I relent. "Alright. Maybe some mindless fun would do me good. I guess I have been wound kind of tight lately."

"And, I completely understand why." No, you don't, and I don't ever want you to. Mira taps my nose with her finger. "But, today you are going to kick back and have fun." She claps her hands and bounces on her feet on the air. "Maybe you could win me a stuffed animal like the boyfriends on tv!"

"You know all those games are rigged, right?"

"Yep!"

Oh, boy.