Plasmius! Danny shouted as he hurled a ecto ray in his vicinity.
Vlad annoyed became intangible, watching the ray pass.
"Daniel, my boy, where are your manners? I'm a guest after all, show some hospitality," Plasmius said with a devious grin.
"Leave, Vlad," Danny said, standing up and crossing the room. "I'm not in the mood for any of your antics."
His eyes gleamed green for a moment. Before Danny quickly shut them, realizing that if Vlad witnessed his eye turn, it would raise to many questions that would ultimately lead to trouble.
"Oh look, you're doing the scary eyes," Vlad said, walking past Danny.
Tell me, child, are you planning to do something about these "ghouls" running amok through your precious town?
Maybe we could do a team up? The Amity Park Ghost and the Ghost of Wisconsin? Vlad said, moving his hands about.
Think about it. I could be the mentor you wished your father was. Vlad finished his rant with a light chuckle.
Yeah, We have done this dance before, and I'm not looking for any help.
Why the sudden interest in my affairs, Vlad?
Internet dating not working out? Danny said smugly.
Scoffs* Please, enough nonsense, Daniel.
I just think if you don't reign in these cannibals, you'll be inviting more trouble your way, Vlad said in the most sincere tone he could muster.
Danny slammed Vlad into the wall.
He spoke coldly, through a clenched jaw. My patience is wearing thin, Vlad. Leave.
A look of shock washed over Vlad for a moment, before he composed himself and vanished through the wall.
Next Day*
Danny groggily made his way downstairs.
The air was thick with the mouthwatering sweet smell of food coming from the kitchen.
(Odd, food actually is smelling pleasant again.) He thought but quickly let his curiosity go, as he deemed it to early to dive down the rabbit hole.
Danny turned the corner, still rubbing his eyes, before taking a seat at the table.
Morning, son, Danny's father said a little too enthusiastically for him so early in the day.
Morning. Danny muttered back as he brought the coffee to his face, allowing the warmth and its sweet aroma to fill his nostrils.
Breakfast passed with its usual family activities. Mom and Dad messed with their latest ghost equipment.
Jazz's face was buried in another of her many psychology books, and Danny took this moment to quietly head out and walk to school.
Danny barely got down the steps outside when he heard Jazz ask if he needed a ride.
Danny sighed, knowing Jazz wouldn't take no for an answer.
He accepted her offer and turned to walk to her car.
As they both opened their doors and got in closing there doors with a light slam.
Jazz hesitated as she stopped her hand before she could put the keys in the ignition.
"Are you okay, Danny?" Jazz asked.
Danny thought, a puzzled look washing over him.
I'm fine, Jazz, he says flatly.
Why do you ask? He retorted.
They sit in silence. Jazz looked like she was carefully mulling over her words before speaking.
You ever think back to before you were-"Danny Phantom," she says almost in a whisper.
No, not really, Jazz. Danny said, hoping she would buy his lie.
She knew he wasn't being honest with her, but she didn't pry.
I just think something has been different with you lately. I'm here to help, Danny.
I know Sam and Tucker have known about you being a hero for a long time, but-
Danny zoned out thinking to himself. While jazz continued on expressing her concerns for her brother. Danny was trying to skip to the end of this therapy session.
(If I don't give her something, she won't drop this) he thought carefully about what information he was willing to give.
Danny cut her off.
Jazz, if I'm being honest, the ghoul carnage has really been where my head is at lately.
I'll admit you were right, something has to be done. I've been trying to figure out what they are doing.
Constantly trying to find out after all this time, why they chose now to come to Amity Park. Something or someone has put them up to this but for what could someone gain from mindless murder?
That's why I've been "different" lately.
She paused for a moment taking every word in, while also making Danny sweat it out to see if he was being honest, before giving him a warm smile.
She put the key in the ignition, turned the engine over, clearly satisfied with his answer.
They drove towards school. They were about a block away, only to be stopped by a large crowd sporting a few news crews.
I think most of the school is here, Jazz said to herself. She pointed out Dash and a few others from the football team all gathered around.
Jazz parked the car, eager to find out what the commotion was about.
As Danny began to undo his seat belt, his ghost sense, that arctic breeze, escaped his lips.
Great, just what I wanted to deal with this morning, Danny mumbled to himself as he exited the car, slamming the door a little harder than he intended.
He made his way into the crowd before seeing that Plasmius had apprehended two ghouls.
Oh, you have got to be kidding me, Danny was livid.
(First he offers a team up, now he is catching ghouls in my town. Just what are you up to Vlad?) He wondered, his expression hardening.
Plasmius noticed Danny and flashed him a grin.
"I'll be back!" Danny shouted to Jazz over the crowd before disappearing into the sea of people.
Danny quickly found a place to go ghost, but was confronted by Vlad.
Danny looked behind him, still able to see Vlad boasting for the cameras and reporters.
A duplicate, huh? Tell me, Vlad, what's your end goal here?
Vlad tried to act offended. My end goal? he repeated in a hurt tone.
My dear child, I'm only offering my services to another ghost in need. Surely you understand that us ghosts should stick together.
"Vlad, I'm not buying it," Danny said through gritted teeth.
Watch it, Daniel. You might need my help sooner than you think. Vlad looked smug.
Danny turned to walk away when he was hit with a zap that made him feel like his skin was on fire.
Danny snapped around to see Vlad holding the Ghost Stinger before vanishing.
What's his deal? Danny grumbled.
(What was the point of that if he was just going to vanish and not fight me?)
That thought was quickly answered when the crowd erupted in screams and panic.
Danny saw the ghouls had conveniently gotten "loose".
"Plasmius!" Danny shouted.
(What can I do? My powers are shorted out) Danny thought frantically trying to come up with a plan.
The ghouls were injuring bystanders left and right, but it was clear they had a particular interest in Danny.
Vlad made a feeble attempt to stop the ghouls; it was all for show, of course.
He grabbed a ghoul that was attacking people behind him and hurled it toward Danny.
To anyone looking it seemed like he was trying to get some distance between the crowd and the ghoul, but it was clear what was really going on to Danny.
Watch out! Vlad yelled. He tried to put on a look of concern, but Danny wasn't oblivious to his tactics.
Danny dashed to the side of the building as the ghoul came soaring by.
Still within the view of the public, Danny continued to back away as he avoided a barrage of attacks from the ghoul.
Danny ran and turned the corner; the school was in sight.
Casper High, never thought I would be so happy to be at school, Danny said under his breath.
(There should still be those Fenton wrist rays in my locker that I let Sam use; that should buy me some time until the effect of the "Ghost Stinger" wears off.) He thought hopefully.
After navigating through the school halls, Danny stood in front of his locker, spinning his lock from one number to the next.
With a *click, he opened the locker full of barely used textbooks and a few assignments from class that Danny had been neglecting.
Come on, where is it? Danny said, rummaging through the contents of his locker.
A few more moments passed.
Ah, there you are, Danny said cheerfully.
Danny strapped on the wrist ray.
He started to remember that after the camping fiasco and among a few other ghostly incidents.
Mom and Dad really wanted Danny to keep at least some kind of anti-ghost gear with him, so he took the wrist rays, knowing that Sam and Tucker could use them if need be.
If only she knew her son was a weapon. He said out loud, his thoughts trailing off.
Danny stood up and closed his locker, spinning the dial on the lock.
He stopped, a sense of unease started up his neck, like goosebumps.
Let him know that someone, somewhere was watching him.
Danny thought, "But from where?"
His eyes darted around the room trying to not let them know that he was aware of their presence.
Danny turned slowly and started to make his way down the hall, turning the corner.
He knew the closet exit was through the gym. No one was there, which would give him plenty of room for a fight, and having an escape at his back was a bonus.
He roamed the halls for a while before eventually standing before the gymnasium doors.
Danny pulled open the door but he was met with complete darkness.
He flicked on the lights, but they hummed as they warmed up slowly, illuminating the gym.
The eerie feel was now accompanied by the low hum of fluorescent lights.
In the corner by the bleachers, Danny could see the silhouette of someone lurking.
(That's definitely one of the ghouls from earlier, now for the other one.) Danny thought, glancing around the room.
Come out, let's get this over with, said Danny.
The ghoul slowly emerged, dressed in maroon and sporting some kind of mask.
Danny took a few steps closer.
"what do you want from me!?" Danny yelled.
The ghoul didn't speak; instead, the ghoul engulfed his arm with a kagune, but it was different from Rize's.
The kagune swirled around his arm. Before Danny could analyze the kagune any further, the ghoul darted his way.
He began firing rays. A few missed, but most pierced through the ghoul. Now inches apart, the ghoul began swinging his kagune, managing to barely cut Danny's face.
The wrist ray was much weaker than his own, but with good enough shot it could do some damage.
Danny shot another ray, putting a end to the fight as he punctured the ghoul's lung.
He lay on the ground wheezing. Danny now stood over him, aiming the wrist ray at him.
"Who sent you?" he said, pressing his foot on the wound in the ghoul's chest.
The ghoul didn't speak. Danny dug into the wound even more, and the ghoul cried out in pain.
A loud slam south of Danny caught his attention as he spun around to face the direction of the noise.
I've already got your friend. Might as well give up, he yelled.
All of a sudden, Danny's leg was swept out from underneath him. Causing him to fall, he turned over, and the hurt ghoul had a death grip on his leg.
"Will you just give it a rest?" he said, aiming the ray at the ghoul.
Just as he fired the ray, his arm was pulled in another direction, causing him to miss his shot.
The other ghoul snatched Danny's gadget and crumpled it.
Hey! Danny yelled.
Danny, fed up, reared his free foot back and kicked as hard as he could.
The mask, now embedded into the ghoul's face, left streams of blood falling down his face.
He let go of Danny and held his face in anguish.
Danny stood and ran at the other ghoul. Now being the aggressor, he swung, clipping the jaw of the ghoul. A crunch echoed around the room.
(These guys got nothing on Rize in terms of power or speed.) he thought.
A smirk crossed his face as he continued to land blows, dodging almost effortlessly.
Sheesh, you are slow. Tell me who your boss is, and I'll let you go. He said to the ghoul, but was met with silence.
Danny stepped on the ghoul's foot, kicked his knee inward, causing the ghoul to wail in pain.
Shocked by his strength, Danny paused. He looked down at his hands and thought back to the moment when he kicked the ghoul.
I don't have strength like this when I'm human. It's not on the same level as my ghost strength, but it's still an improvement.
He said, not realizing he was speaking out loud.
So caught up in thought, Danny hadn't noticed the ghoul was gone, and so was the other one that laid on the floor.
Huh, someone has defiantly taken a interest in me but the question is why?
*Sorry it was not my intention for this to take this long, Hopefully you enjoy it. I'm already working on the next chapter, should be out sooner than later.
~W.W.