A Phantom and his Courageous Cowardly Dog
I do not own either. Courage the Cowardly Dog is owned by Cartoon Network/Warner Bros. and Danny Phantom is owned by Nickelodeon/Paramount.
The days and weeks since the pup named Courage had gone by and life has been good for him since being adopted by the Fenton Family through the son and youngest sibling that was Danny Fenton. Since then, though lingers of his trauma was still there since that very horrible day he lost his parents to the cruel vet which was also that same day Danny had found him all alone in the alleyway, day by day it began to fade away though the pup would always still remember his parents, Courage was beginning to adjust to his new life. Most days spending time with his best friend and owner Danny as well as his best friends Sam and Tucker sometimes with Jazz occasionally joining in on the fun.
Currently on this day. It was a rainy day and so to keep themselves entertained and not stay bored, both Danny and Courage were playing together throughout the house. Jazz was as usual in her room keeping to herself doing her own thing and both Maddie and Jack were downstairs in the basement working on something they have been building for years, though the process was long and they were still far from completing it. It was something by the time they finally accomplished it, the wait would have been worth it.
After a while of playing together, both Danny and Courage were currently in the living room on the couch together. Sitting next to Danny who was reading a book about astronomy, the pup proceeded to follow where the boy was currently at on the book talking about his favorite planet Mars. The past following weeks gradually took time but eventually Courage managed to overcome the triggers that brought back memories of his trauma that he was now finally comfortable with Danny's room or anything space related for that matter.
"See this red planet here Courage? That's Mars! It's my favorite planet in the solar system. So far we've only been able to go to the moon, the first people to have ever done so were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. When I grow up, I'm gonna be the first ever astronaut to set foot on Mars! Maybe the two of us can do it together Courage! You being the first dog to do so!"
The mention of this briefly brought back his memory from a few weeks ago but then the pup decided to forget about it, he was not going to let this trauma overcome him again, the only thing on his mind was wanting to have a good time being with his owner and best friend.
After finishing reading about Mars, Danny turned over the next page, the next planet they were looking at was Venus. "This here Courage is Venus, it's the closest planet to the sun so I couldn't imagine how hot its surface would really be.
Courage shuddered at the thought. He couldn't have imagined it either.
Turning the page again, Pluto was next.
"And that's Pluto. Not only is it the smallest planet in the solar system but also the farthest out in the solar system making it the coldest.
As Danny continued to read and Courage listening to him. After a while of reading, the boy had finished his book and put it aside. Suddenly feeling hungry, he hopped off the couch, Courage following suit.
"I'm feeling rather hungry Courage. I'm going to go get a snack in the kitchen. Are going to come?"
Nodding, the pup followed Danny as they proceeded into the kitchen. As they entered and Danny went to help himself. That's when the pup suddenly felt an eerie sensation. The same feeling he had weeks ago when he first arrived here to the Fenton's home. Immediately realizing what it was, Courage began to shiver, drastically looking around to find where the ghost seemingly was. Turning to Danny he got the boy's attention and began to speak in gibberish trying to warn him.
Not understanding a thing his puppy was saying. Danny tilted his head in confusion? "Courage what is it pal?"
As Courage continued to try explaining to him. That's when a green ghost with tentacles appeared from behind Danny, an ectopus, one of the ghost types Jack and Maddie labeled and tended to deal with.
Courage stopped completely. Feeling dread, complete numbness as he began to shiver.
Danny seeing Courage's strange behavior now felt concern. "Courage?"
Suddenly the boy heard something from behind and turned. Before him and Courage was the ectopus.
Screaming for their lives. Both Danny and Courage ran to the door that lead to the basement which the former's parents was but before they could get there though, the ectopus appeared before them again. With the ghost blocking their way, the two turned and ran out from the kitchen trying to go get Jazz from outstairs only for it to appear in their way again. Running once more they were both suddenly cornered into the living room as the ectopus closed in on them.
Danny trembled in fear. "C-Courage I'm scared. What are we going to do?"
The pup too was afraid but hearing his owner and best friend in the same state as he was activated Courage's instincts remembering his oath to protect him. Jumping between Danny and the Ectopus, Courage growled baring his teeth determined once more to protect Danny.
Briefly the ectopus stopped in its tracks taken aback by then. But soon enough knew there's nothing the pup could do to it and proceeded.
Out of ideas and unsure what to do. Courage had to think of something quickly. He watched as Danny continued to feel scared, that's when nearby the pup saw one of Jack's and Maddie's inventions: A Fenton Thermos, which just happened to be laying around. Given his great hearing being a dog, he remembered overhearing them a while ago on how it worked and memorized it. Taking the risk, Courage dashed to the thermos and grabbed it, pointing it at the ectopus, he activated the thermos and a beam was release which caught the ghost sucking it in.
For a moment, Courage just stood there holding the Fenton Thermos, Danny just standing there still shook and shock but relieved. Running over, Danny picked up his puppy and hugged him tightly. "Courage! Y-You saved me again! First Dash and now from an actual ghost!? I truly thought this was going to it for us! Thank you so much!"
Appreciating the praise his best friend was giving him. Courage felt good about himself, despite his fears, he was truly living up to his oath as usual.
The moment was interrupted when Jack, Maddie and Jazz came into the living room. "What's with all the commotion?" Jack said.
Maddie chimed in. "Did something happen?"
"We heard you both screaming." Jazz said.
Setting Courage down. Danny ran up to his parents and older sisters. "Mom! Dad! Jazz! Y-You wouldn't believe it! A ghost appeared and tried to attack Courage and I! I thought we were done for but then Courage acted and caught the ghost in your invention! Courage protected me as usual!"
For a moment, there was silence until Jack and Maddie laughed, but also relieved at the same time. "Oh Danny...So it was just you and Courage just playing fighting and catching ghosts, and to think you all actually had us worried this whole time something was happening."
"Danny, it's fine to play in the house, just try not to be so loud next time when you're both playing alright? You gave us a scare." Jack said.
Danny stood there in disbelief, the fact his parents didn't believe him. "B-But it's true! Courage actually saved me from a ghost!"
"Danny, ghosts are not real. You're just letting your imagination get the better of you. We get it, you and Courage are trying to be like mom and dad, living up to their potential, despite how ridiculous their obsession of this is."
"B-But..."
"You both continue having fun. Don't be so loud again ok?" Maddie said.
With that, Jack and Maddie went back to the basement to do work and Jazz going back upstairs to her room. Danny sulked, he couldn't believe it, his own parents and sister didn't believe what Courage just did for him.
The pup feeling sad walked up to Danny. "Mom...Dad...Jazz...They didn't believe what you did for me Courage..."
Courage whimpered in sadness as he comforted Danny, if only the three of them gotten here in time to see the whole thing...
Courage currently sat at the door of the house leading to outside. Today the pup was sad, Danny had gone off to his friends Tucker's for a sleepover and unforunately couldn't come due to the latter's father being allergic to pets. So Courage was left with no choice but having to stay home. What was just hours ago since his owner left felt like eternally to the pup. He would continue to stay at the door awaiting for Danny's return even if it was all day and night.
Eventually unable to wait knowing it was doing nothing. The pup whimpered as he decided to go find something to do to keep his mind occupied, maybe doing so will let time fly and by then Danny would be back.
But with Danny not here, there just wasn't any fun to do. It wasn't fun playing without him, nor any reading for that matter. Courage couldn't think of anything of what to do.
As Courage was thinking through his thoughts what he should do to pass the day. That's when he heard a familiar female voice from behind him. "Hi Courage."
Turning around, Courage looked up to see Jazz standing there. "I take it you're waiting here for my little bro to get home?"
The pup nodded. "Well you're gonna be just sitting here doing nothing day. Danny's not coming back until tomorrow. So how about you come join me in my room? I can keep you company while Danny is gone." Jazz leaned down onto her knees over to Courage "And we can even have our very own little sleepover tonight ourselves in my room. How about that?"
Courage smiled having heard this. After Danny himself, the pup was the closest to Jazz, from time to time she would sometimes join in with Danny and him in their playful activities or just spending time with them, also staying true to her word on the day Danny had found him in that alleyway after escaping from the evil vet she would pitch in helping Danny take care of him.
Nodding his head, Jazz saw his answer and smiled. "I know that I'm not close to you as my little bro is but I'll try to do my best to keep you happy. So what is that you would like to do then?"
Courage didn't need to think she was below Danny, she may not have been as close to him as Danny nor their parents for that matter to the pup but she was still amongst his new family.
Standing up to her feet. The redheaded girl gestured to the pup. "Come on, how about we find some of your toys mom and dad bought for you to play with?
Following Jazz, the pup and her went upstairs into Danny's room to find where some of his toys were. As they entered and looked, that's when the pup saw a large ball. Memory came back to him on that unforunate day, the last happy moment in his life he and his parents had done together teaching him how to catch the ball before they were taken away from him. Sure it brought back a lot of painful memories but Courage knew he had to move forward and live the life he had now.
No, Danny and his family would never replace his parents, they would always be second place to him but they especially Danny would fill in the empty void that was love, companionship and comfort for him.
With that in mind, Courage decided on what he wanted to do. Replicate that loving moment he had with his parents on that day.
Jazz interrupted. "So Courage? What do you want to play?"
Pointing to the ball. The redheaded girl looked over and tilted her head in confusion. "Ball huh? You want to play with that? None of your toys?"
The pup nodded, if this was what he wanted to play. Jazz was not going to object to it, she wanted to give him the attention he needed while Danny was gone. "Well alright then, but we'll have to go somewhere outside to play and I know exactly a spot to do. It's not too far away from here actually. First let me just first tell mom and dad we'll be out for a bit."
Jazz went to go tell her parents that she and Courage would be outside the house playing for a bit which they said was alright and as they left the house, Jazz putting Courage on a leash went to the spot she told him about, when they arrived it was a grassy fenced area roughly the size of a baseball field. As soon as entering the area, both the red-headed girl and pup were ready to play, the former holding the ball in her hands.
"Are you ready Courage?" Jazz asked.
Courage nodded his head up and down giving his answer.
"Alright then catch Courage!"
Throwing the ball at him. The pup attempted to catch it but missed. Walking past the pup and grabbing the back, Jazz went back to where she originally was. "It's alright Courage, you're not gonna get it the first time, it takes practice.". Eyeing Courage, the red-head prepared herself to throw it once more. "Ready?"
Courage gestured back, Jazz threw it once more, this time the puppy finally caught it. "You caught it! Good boy Courage!" Jazz shouted.
The pup giggled as he threw it back to her as they continued to play, some times they missed, but more often than not they managed to catch it as they threw it back and forth. After a little while of playing, Jazz decided it was time to head back home.
"Alright Courage, I say we've played enough for one day, it's time to head back home."
Placing the leash on the pup, both Jazz and Courage began their way back to FentonWorks. As they walked back, Courage couldn't help but enjoyed the time spent with Danny's older sister, getting to play ball again when he had with his parents, he had forgotten how much fun it was, at the same time though, Courage gave out a quiet whimper which Jazz couldn't hear, as that day came back to him again, he really missed his parents but he would continue to keep going forward because that's what his parents would have wanted him to do, and whether if they were still alive, they'd be happy knowing their son was in good hands being taken care of by the Fentons.
Arriving home, Courage and Jazz eventually continued to spend the day together before supper was made and Maddie called her, going downstairs, Jazz fed Courage as she, Maddie and Jack ate. Later that night, Jazz and Courage were up in her room on the bed. The red-head scratched the pup behind the ears.
"I really had a fun day today spending time with you Courage. What about yourself?" Jazz said giggling.
Courage nodded back agreeing with her.
"It's not very often that it's only us, so today felt really special." Looking at her window, Jazz stopped for a moment and thought to herself. "I hope Danny is having just as much fun at Tucker's as we are now. I'm sure that he is though he likely wishes he could have taken you with him. You and Danny have a really special bond, so I know I can't compete with that."
There was a bit of silence for a few moments before the red-headed girl spoke up. "You know Courage, You've made Danny's life a lot better since he found you that day and I couldn't be much happier about that."
Courage blinked. He felt confused what she was saying?
"Life hadn't been easy for my little bro. Sure he has Sam and Tucker, his best friends and I've always been there for him, but I felt it still wasn't enough. Our parents are always too busy with their ridiculous obsession with ghosts that they almost don't have time for either of us and spends all day down in the basement with whatever they're building down there that's been taking years, so not only am I his older sister but I've basically had to take on the role of being like a second mother to my own brother taking care of him whether at home or school."
Courage continued to listen.
"Maybe call it a miracle but it was good I convinced mom and dad to take a break from their obsession and take a road trip to connect again as a family. It's funny, if this didn't happen, we never would have met you Courage, Danny never would have found you on that day, and for that I'm glad because you've made Danny's life a lot easier now since other than myself, he has someone else with him at home to be with and always love."
The pup couldn't help but feel honored hearing all of this, first not only living up to his oath protecting Danny and being by his side but to hear all this from his older sister as well. Courage has truly found his purpose in his new life since that unforunate day.
"And for you to especially be protecting Danny whenever I'm not around shows this. Like how you protected him from Dash at the park."
Courage nodded his head agreeing. If that bully ever tried bullying his best pal ever again, the pup would always be at it to driving him away again if he had the nerve to hurt Danny.
"The point is Courage. I'm happy fate seemed to have crossed paths with you and Danny, it seemed like it was meant to be."
Later that night, the pup slept on Jazz's bed as the girl soundlessly slept. Courage was still thinking about all those moving words she told him earlier tonight. With everything that she told him, he felt he never wanted let her down and would continue keeping Danny happy and protecting him the best that he could staying true to his oath.
The next morning, Courage had gotten up, and found Jazz no longer in bed immediately knowing she probably went to have breakfast. As the pup slowly began to wake up, he heard the sound of a door opening followed by an all too familiar voice.
It was Danny!
Immediately with a second thought, Courage jumped off Jazz's bed and ran down the stairs where he saw the boy coming out of the door with his mom that picked him up from Tucker's. Seeing Courage, before Danny could react, the pup was on him.
Giggling, Danny was happy to see Courage as the pup showed his affection.
"Courage! Hi pal! I missed you so much!"
As Courage and Danny continued to bond, Jazz was nearby watching as she smiled at the inseparable bond her little brother and Courage had for each other.
Author's Note: I hope everyone who has been following my story is all doing well and just in time for the spooky month which is rather ironic given the setting for both shows. ;D
So yeah, I'm so sorry you guys had to wait for almost half a year for the next chapter. As said before, life isn't easy especially with my compulsive thoughts alongside writer's block and how busy I am. So remember if it takes even over a year to get chapters written, I haven't stopped doing this story and plan to finish it to the very end. This is one of those very long stories though and its gonna be years until I finish it. So prepare yourselves!
Now I know you are all really anticipating for when I finally get to the timeskip which will be worth the wait given how I'm gonna begin it. Here's the thing, because you guys have waited for so long for the next chapter, I decided to go ahead and add the first two segments but will then update this chapter and add the other two as my intention is this and the next chapter having four segments going throughout the rest of the year for Courage as he continues to live with the Fentons. After that, we'll finally be entering the timeskip you guys have all been waiting for so stay tune!
Now to answer some questions to some of my reviewers.
Matt: Alright, here's a little spoiler to all of you guys actually. I have plans to introduce Muriel and Eustace in my story at some point and wasn't going to be until the re-telling of season 2 of Danny Phantom but with this idea you had given me Matt and how I wanted to have King Rameses appear at some point, I'm definitely gonna do this idea. After all King Rameses Curse is one of the most iconic and recognizable episodes of Courage the Cowardly Dog and I don't think any other episode would be perfect to eventually introduce them. Thank you for the idea!
Guest99: I intend to keep Danny and Sam together like in the show, what I plan to eventually do is write Sam being a more likable character especially for around the time when I finally get to Phantom Planet (That's gonna be a long time from now though). As for Danny ever meeting the Cruel Veterinarian, you'll just have to see and find out. Don't want to spoil anything further in my story, so just wait and see. ;D
Stay tune for more chapters. Next chapter could be this month, next month, the month after, sometime next year, no matter how long I take, I'm gonna finish this story!
