Welcome to Paris
Thanks to that portal, the family of 5 arrived in Paris, France.
"Here we are..." Jazz said, admiring the scenery
Currently, the 5 currently stood about several blocks from the famed Notre-Dame, with the church itself closed due to the current hours.
It was then they noticed it was night.
"Why's it so dark?" Danielle asks.
"Paris is about 9 hours ahead of us. So… if we left at 4, it's 1 AM here." Maddie explained.
"Huh… this is the first time I've left North America, so this is a surprise." Danielle commented.
"You were at the North Pole when the Disasteroid happened." Danny pointed out.
"Yeah but it was daytime there just like it was where I was, so it didn't really count." Danielle admits.
"So, where's the hotel we're staying at?" Danny asked.
"Hotel Yoatt...one second..." Jack said as he pulled out a copy with their hotel reservation info on it. "It says here that it's... oh boy..." Jack read the paper and looked tired just reading it.
"What's wrong?" Danny asked.
"It's on the other side of Paris, probably should have asked Wulf to use exact coordinates..." Jazz said as she checked her phone.
"He's learning…" Danny rescinded with a shrug.
"We best hurry. Start runnin'..." Maddie said.
30 minutes later
The Fentons ran as fast as they could while carrying the luggage with them.
"Why aren't we taking a cab?" Jazz huffed.
"At this hour and with their potential prices? Not a chance." Maddie said.
"Weird how we're not tired." Danny said as they continued.
"That's because we took a shortcut here. Our bodies didn't exactly get here the old fashioned way. It's basically a new way to get jet lag." Jazz explained.
"I'm starting to get tired here." Jack said as he panted for air.
"There it is!" Maddie said.
Ahead, she pointed to Hotel Yoatt.
"That's where we're staying?" Danielle asks.
"It is. Alicia set us up." Maddie said.
That caught everyone else's attention.
To hear that Alicia said this was something wholly out of character for Maddie's sister. She's not known for generosity or money to spare. Jack was the most suspicious of them all.
"I suppose we should thank her…" He said with a hint of sarcasm.
"We will." Maddie said, not seeing it.
Inside the hotel
The family was now inside the lobby, and saw how expensive and elegant looking it was. They could see a large chandelier, painting, a jazz band playing, and dozens of bellhops assisting people.
"*FWEET!* Swanky." Jack went.
"Mom? How could Aunt Alicia afford this?" Jazz asks.
"I don't know, Hon, but this is wonderful!" Maddie went.
"You think she made reservations...not so legally?" Danny whispered quickly to his big sister.
"Hard to say... Aunt Alicia might be a crab but she doesn't seem smart enough to fool a hotel..." Jazz whispered.
"True. She did think Vlad was a better fit for Mom..." Danny said while shuddering.
As their parents watched them check in with the hotel clerk for their rooms, Danny and Danielle stayed close as Jazz was busy admiring the decor.
"If there is a werewolf, I bet we'll shave his butt for causing trouble." Danielle said.
"And how would you do that?" Danny asks with a smile.
"Like this!" Danielle went, "KUWAH!" She shouted as she kicked Danny's leg lightly.
"Oh yeah?" Danny asks, seeing an opportunity to have some fun as they wait. "How about this?"
He lightly poked Danielle in the forehead, prompting her to retaliate.
"Then I'd counter with this!" She went as she lightly and playfully punched his arm.
From there, the two were pretending-fighting to mess around and kill time.
Meanwhile, Maddie has spoken with the concierge as they return.
"Keys to your rooms." He said.
"Wonderful." Maddie went.
"Yeah… let's see these rooms that Alicia somehow afforded us." Jack said skeptically.
"Jack." Maddie said with much sternness in her voice. "We deal with ghosts, we've seen aliens, and weeks ago a man-eating monster attacked our town. Is it really so hard to think, after all of what I said, that Alicia is doing something for us out of the goodness of her heart?"
"Yes, yes it is." Jack said. "Werewolf or no werewolf, Alicia doesn't ask for our help unless it's something she gets with little reward for us."
"Jack, you don't know her like I do." Maddie said.
"That's because she's not my sister." Jack responded.
As Maddie glowered at Jack for what he said, Danny and Daniele resumed their roughhousing, which had Danny holding Danielle in a headlock.
"Say it." He said with a smile.
"No!" Danielle went, trying her best not to laugh.
"Say it…" Danny repeated.
"Fine… You're the best video game player on our side of the planet...and you deserve to be in a fighting game, one where you're a Shoto." Danielle went.
"That's right…" Danny went, getting Jazz's rather crossed attention.
"Will you two knock it off?!" Jazz went, causing both pairs of eyes to dart to her. "We're in a hotel in one of the greatest cities on Earth! Can you both please, for once in your lives, be… not your usual selves?!" She scolded with fists at hips.
Both Danny and Danielle looked unamused by her demands before sharing a look.
Pretty soon, both shared a mischievous look and directed their attention to the eldest sibling.
Jazz raised an eyebrow, not liking how quiet they were.
"Why are you both looking at me like that?" She asks in an uneasy tone.
"Oh, just figuring out who will go high and who will go low. I call high and you go low?" Danny asks.
"Seconded." Danielle responded.
The two of them both ran to their sister and started roughhousing, much to her annoyance.
"Knock it off!" Jazz went as she pushed Danny as lightly as she could.
Danny laughed off her weak attempt before he tripped over the luggage, causing him to lose his footing and fall onto someone.
Both Jazz and Danielle gasped at this.
Danny, shaking his head, sees that someone is beneath him. Panicking, he got up.
"I am so sorry! But, for what it's worth, it's my sister Jazz's fault!" He went.
"Her fault! She pushed him!" Danielle went, much to Jazz's annoyance.
The person he spoke to did not look amused.
She was a girl who looked to be around Danny's age, with Short red hair in a bob cut and curly bangs, a fancy looking beret, she was also wearing a green shirt, knee-length green socks and white shoes.
"Watch whe- I mean… How uncouth!" She went in an oddly exaggerated accent.
Danny raised an eyebrow as he took a step back.
"Sorry…" He said, not sounding as apologetic as he did prior.
"Ah, I should have guessed from your accent that you're American. Such uncivilized people, donch- I mean, don't you know?!" She went in a haughty manner before turning her head and walking away.
The three raised their eyebrows at this girl's back as she walked towards the elevators with her luggage in one hand and purse at the shoulder of another.
"Well… she's charming." Danielle went.
"And pretty…" Danny said with a small look of interest, getting their attention. "Well… she is."
"And why did she talk like that? Like… how people pretending to be British sounded?" Jazz asks.
As that happened, Jack and Maddie approached the kids.
"Well, we got our rooms." Jack said.
"You three will be having your own room for the next 2 days." Maddie said before noticing something on the floor. "A necklace?"
It was a golden pendant with a green gemstone on it.
"It must belong to Danny's new girlfriend." Danielle said.
Hearing that caused Danny to stiffen. Slowly, he turned his head to send Danielle a disapproving look.
The rest of the Fentons stared at her disbelief as Danielle mischievously smiled.
"I can't be the only one to notice something of a pattern when we're out of town. Something that's not a ghost suddenly attacks, we come and then he meets a new girl who likes him. First it was hillbilly Barbie, then it was a Canadian snowboarder." She points out.
"Bold you to assume she'd like me after what just happened." Danny said with an unamused look on his face.
"Wait, what happened?" Maddie asks.
"Oh, Jazz pushed Danny into his future wife." Danielle snarked.
As Danny glowered at her some more, Maddie gasps at her eldest daughter.
"You pushed him into that girl?" She asks.
"Those two were roughhousing and targeted me when I tried to stop them." Jazz said.
"Still, you pushed him into that girl?" Maddie asks angrily.
"Oh, so when I push him, even lightly, it's suddenly a war crime. But when they rough house in the lobby of a hotel in one of the most famous places on Earth, it's totally cool?" Jazz questioned angrily.
"Makes sense to me." Danielle said before looking towards the elevator. "She's still there."
The girl that Danny fell on earlier was going flying through her purse, looking increasingly panicky as whatever she's looking for was apparently missing.
"I guess this is her's." Danny reasoned as he looked at the necklace in his hand.
"Go on over there. Maybe she'll apologize." Danielle went.
"Right… and maybe I'll get her name too." Danny said sarcastically.
"That's the spirit." Danielle went as Danny walked ahead to the elevator.
Danielle sent a thumb's up to Danny as Jack saw something that interested him.
"Oh, they got a midnight snack shop?" He asks as he heads there.
"Jack…" Maddie grumbled as she followed him.
Jazz, meanwhile, shook her head in disapproval at Danielle.
"You really think his bizarre luck with girls out of Amity Park is something he can make a thing work here? You think your theory that he can attract girls out of Amity Park is sound after two incidents? Please! That girl is more likely to give him grief than give out her name, much less want to spend any time with him like Sally-May or Nat did." She said, scoffing at the idea that Danny could make a better second impression.
"10 bucks says I'm right." Danielle said with arms crossed and a notable pout.
"You're on!" Jazz said in overconfidence.
"Where are you? Where are you?" She was heard whispering as she looked through her purse.
"This what you're looking for?" She heard the voice of the boy she met ask.
Turning her head, she saw he was holding a gold necklace with a green gemstone.
"Yes!" She went, taking it from his hands before a thought crossed her. "Wait…" She looked at Danny with suspicion. "Why do you have it?"
"It kind of… fell out of your bag after I fell… onto you… accidentally! It was not intentional! I swear!" Danny went with raised hands.
The girl's expression softened slightly.
"It was?" She asks.
"I give you my word." Danny said.
After a second, the girl's face softened completely as she looked to her pendant before nodding at Danny.
"Dreadfully sorry…" She said.
"Nah… it-it's cool." Danny said.
"It is not cool, it was… uncivilized of me to act that way." She said before putting her pendent in her bag and smiling. "I'm Chloe, Chloe Garnier."
Danny smiled, relieved she's done a 180 on her attitude.
"Danny Fenton, nice to meet you." He said.
As that went on, someone came down the stairs to get something when they spotted Danny from afar.
That someone was Kwan.
"Fenton?" He asks, keeping his voice low.
"So… you from around here?" Danny asks.
"Not at all. Most citizens wouldn't rent a hotel where they live, after all." She went with a playful wave of her hand. "I'm visiting… fro-" She paused before clearing her throat. "I'm here for some important… umm… school related things. Yes…" Chloe said with a nervous smile.
"Oh, what kind?" Danny asks.
Before she could answer, she heard clearing their throat behind her.
"Chloe…" It was a fancy looking woman wearing an expensive looking red outfit, sunglasses and a lot of makeup.
"Y-Yes?" Chloe asks, straightening up.
"You're running late. Best not waste time." She said with a demanding tone.
"Y-Yes Mrs. Dubois" Chloe said with a hint of fear.
As Mrs. Dubois walked away, Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Teacher?" Danny asks.
"In a sense…" Chloe said before choosing to change the subject. "So… Danny? I take it you're here for vacation?"
"Yeah." Danny said.
"Wonderful, I have tomorrow off. Perhaps I could… treat you to breakfast as my apology." Chloe said graciously.
"Oh… that's not necessary." Danny said.
"I insist. Bring your family, if you'd like. I've been here long enough to know a wonderful place for crepes." Chloe insisted.
"Uh… sure…" Danny went as his face started to go warm from how close Chloe was getting.
"Wonderful." Chloe said as she took her belongings with her as the elevator opened. "See you at 9." She said as she entered.
As Danny waved to her, Kwan slowly walked back up the stairs without being spotted.
"I should tell Star." He said.
As soon as he was gone, the rest of the Fenton family joined Danny at the elevator.
"So… who's the latest in your harem?" Danielle asks.
"Her name's Chloe, and she's apologizing to me by treating us to crepes in the morning." Danny said.
"Hmm… as lovely as that sounds, I have to get in touch with Alicia about when she's arriving. And there's no way I'm letting your father anywhere near a French cafe, not after what happened last time." Maddie said, glancing at Jack.
"What happened last time?" Jack questioned in defense.
"You ate the entire place full of food… and I kept telling you it wasn't all you can eat." Maddie said.
"Bah! Not my fault I don't read French." Jack said.
"First off, yes it is. And second, it was in Vegas!" Maddie said before handing the kids their keys. "For your room, you three share."
"And… you two?" Danny asks his sisters as he pressed the button for the elevator.
"As amazing as that sounds, I have a bit of homework I wanna finish." Jazz said.
"Pass." Danielle went, surprising Danny.
"Really? You don't wanna get treated to food?" Danny asks.
"Oh… I'm sure room service will suffice." Danielle went before winking at Danny.
Danny rolled his eyes at this.
"It's not a date, it's just breakfast…" He said as the elevator doors opened.
As the rest entered, Danielle elbowed Jazz, getting her attention before raising her hand in a "give me" manner. Rolling her eyes, Jazz reached into her pocket and handed a $10 bill to Danielle, who grasped it with smug joy before they entered.
Elsewhere, at the crack of dawn
A wealthy estate on the outskirts of Paris had a visitor last night. One who opened the doors and slowly strolled out with his head tilted down to avoid his face being seen.
As he left, a woman in a fancy blue nightgown and blonde hair in a French braid walked out, waving her arm.
"Wait… Mister Rich!" She called out.
Rich, the man in question, groaned.
"I told you… we had a deal. You got my message to your husband's acquaintance, I gave you what you wanted." He said in a tired voice.
"I know… but you can't just walk around with that… family resemblance or whatever it is you got." She said in a stereotypical valley girl voice from America. "Here."
Rich turned to see what was in her hands and nodded.
"Acceptable. I suppose being a rich old man's 25 year old trophy wife has its advantages." Rich said.
"Sure is." She said with a happy smile.
Rich took what she gave him before walking away.
"I got someone else to visit." He said.
"Oh, another one?" She asks with a smile.
"No, the one I said I decided to keep contact with when I realized how helpful he can be." Rich said. "Thank you again, Mitzi..."
"You take care, Handsome." She said with a wave and a wink.
Rich did not wave back, only resuming his walk.
"Good thing he only married her for her looks and she for his money…" He muttered with amusement.
Elsewhere
A plane had just landed in France. The passengers had left.
One in particular, as evident by the high-heels, was a woman wearing sunglasses and a trench coat, complete with hat.
Once she was off, she had a phone to her head.
"I'm in France. Will be looking for the target soon." She said.
"Understood, Lieutenant Edge." A deep voice said on the other side.
With that, the woman looked out at the window and glared.
"You won't escape me…" She said in a serious tone.
Morning came
With his teeth brushed and his clean clothes on, Danny headed for the door.
"Be back soon." Danny said.
"Make sure not to kiss on the first date." Danielle jokingly said from her bed.
Danny paused, taking in a deep breath.
"Starting to miss you being clingy…" He said before going out the door.
Danielle and Jazz snickered with each other.
He ignored them as he went down to the lobby, where he saw Chloe on the phone with her back turned. He approached her.
"Morning." Danny said, startling her.
"Danny!" She went with a smile. "Oh, one moment please…" She said before clearing her throat. "Mother? I'm afraid I must go." There was a pause, as if Chloe heard something embarrassing that made her laugh nervously. "Yes… of course… Talk later." She then hung up. "Now… about those crepes?" She went before seeing he was alone. "So, it's just you?"
"My Mom and Dad want to have their own breakfast, my sisters are doing their own thing. So, it's just me." Danny said.
"Very well… come, you will love how the crepes here are made." Chloe said as she gestured to him to follow her.
The two left the hotel, going around the corner. There, Danny and Chloe entered a small but lovely cafe.
"Wow...fancy..." Danny said as he looked around the restaurant.
"Oui..." Chloe said in a fancy sounding way.
The cafe looked luxurious, very clean, something he's never seen in any restaurant before.
"And I thought the food court in Canada looked clean…" Danny mused under his breath.
"Behold, you are in ze establishment called "Alain's", one of the finest and quaintest of establishments for petit-déjeuner in the lovely metropolis of majesty known as Paris..." Chloe said in an extravagant way.
"Mouthful." Danny joked.
"Yes… quite." She said as a waiter approached them. "Table pour deux s'il vous plaît?"
The waiter nodded, taking them to their table, located on the patio.
As Danny glanced at the menu, his eyebrows almost skyrocketed.
"Uh… how much is this in American?" He asks, glancing at his wallet.
"Don't worry… my treat. I'm aware men are usually the ones who pay, but as this is not a romantic rendezvous, and I invited you, I will pay." Chloe insisted.
Hearing that calmed Danny down.
"Relief…" He said.
Meanwhile
At the hotel's restaurant upstairs, Jack and Maddie were enjoying themselves with a large breakfast.
"I told you, all expenses paid thanks to Alicia." Maddie said with a smile.
"Yeah…" Jack said, taking a bite of his steak before his eyes widened. "Oh my gosh… this is the most tender meat I've ever had…"
"So… still think Alicia's up to no good?" Maddie asks, hoping to hear him say no.
"I will withhold judgment until I see why she called up here." Jack said, still eating.
Maddie sighed in defeat.
"Fair enough…" She said before sipping her wine. "Still… looks like she said she's coming for us sometime soon."
"Let's hope Danny's new girlfriend doesn't distract him long enough." Jack said.
"A little odd how… lucky he's been with girls, lately, hasn't it?" Maddie asks.
"Ha! That's the ol' Fenton charm." Jack went. "It got me you, didn't it?"
"You're not wrong." Maddie said with a smile.
"Fenton? Here?" A man's voice went, getting their attention.
Jack and Maddie turned their heads, seeing who said that.
"Wait…" Maddie went. "Isn't that…?"
Back with Danny
He was halfway through eating his breakfast with Chloe
"So, you're not from around here?" Danny asks.
"No, I am not. I am… here for educational reasons." Chloe explained.
"So, how is it that you came here and why?" Danny asked.
"Do you recall Madam Dubois?" Chloe asked.
"You mean that lady from last night?" Danny asked.
Chloe nodded before she sipped her tea.
"My school had this contest for the chance to work as Madam Dubois' assistant and I won..." Chloe explained.
"For real?" Danny asked.
"Oui. I impressed her people with my skills in design. She is the costume designer for a stage presentation of Beauty and the Beast ..." Chloe said as Danny raised his hand. "Not the cartoon but the original tale..." She added.
"Oh." Danny said.
"Oui. I am quite certain… that… ze… assignments I shall receive, I will be able to exceed expectations to kickstart my career in costume design and get a letter of recommendation from Dubois." Chloe said.
Danny nodded, yet couldn't help but notice how inconsistent her accent is.
It sounds like her accent is supposed to be British, or that fake British in older movies, then she tries to sound French before going back to Britishy... He thought, but he didn't comment on it.
"Anyway, let's hear about you, Danny. You say wish to be an astronaut? Quite a fascinating career choice..." Chloe said.
"It sure is..." Danny said.
"I have a sample of my work online if you wish to see?" Chloe said.
"Sure." Danny went.
Chloe then held out her phone.
"Walla." She said proudly.
Danny observed drawings of dresses and other suits worn in provincial France.
"Uh… cool." Danny said.
"Not much of a fashion person, are you?" Chloe asks with a knowing smile.
"No, but I know it's something you clearly have a passion for. You don't need to know much about space to be friends with, just like how you don't need to know how to design games to be friends with Masahiro Sakurai." Danny said jokingly.
"Who?" Chloe asks.
"Uh… never mind. Anyway, it's something you love to do, so I get this is a big thing for you. So, best of luck." Danny said.
Hearing him say that brought a smile to Chloe's face.
"You have no idea what a relief it was to hear that. Outside of my family, everyone else I knew showed little interest or faith in me. Always going "Chloe, you're wasting your time and should stick to working at your dad's shop" instead of letting me want more out of life." Chloe said, speaking those words of mockery in a strangely accurate American accent.
Danny raised an eyebrow at that. He would have spoken about it before someone spotted him.
"Fenton?" A familiar voice was heard.
"Huh?" Danny went as he looked to the other side of the gate that separated the cafe from the street. He saw a familiar face. "Star?" Danny asked, surprised to see her here.
For some reason, she seemed a bit hesitant to see him.
"Uh...hi… Fen- uh… Danny." She said, looking shy for some reason.
"Hi… and you're here because…?" Danny asks.
"My mom insisted we take this trip. I didn't expect to see you here though." Star explained.
"Likewise… and you found out I'm here how?" Danny asks.
"Kwan...told me that you'd be here with… this girl..." Star said.
"Bonjour." Chloe went, though Star didn't respond to her.
"I wanted to say...thank you..." Star said, surprising Danny.
"What?" Danny asked, surprised to hear her say that.
"I said thank you..for...you know… what happened at the shelter..." Star said.
Danny blinked before realizing what she means.
"Wow...didn't really expect you of all people to say that to me..." Danny said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Me neither..." Star said.
"Well, glad you are okay..." He said with a light smile.
Star blushed slightly at that.
"Oh...well, good to finally bring that up..." She said, looking shy again.
"Um... do you wish to join us?" Chloe asked.
Star saw her and saw that she was having breakfast with Danny. She frowned for some reason.
"Uh...I'm Star...and you are?" Star asked.
"Chloe Garnier..." Chloe introduced herself.
"I see you're occupied..." Star said to Danny before bowing her head and going
After Star left, Chloe noticed the look on Danny's face and decided to speak up..
"Is she your girlfriend?" Chloe asked.
"Maybe in another life... and if we were the only ones stuck on a deserted island..." Danny joked.
"Pardon?" Chloe asked.
"No, she's not. We are classmates but we aren't even friends. I don't even know her last name. She just thanked me since I protected her from...a wild animal that was gonna bite her.." Danny said, semi-lying as he couldn't share what actually happened.
"Oh, I see..." Chloe said.
"Yeah, didn't think I'd see her here of all places." Danny said.
"Is it a...good surprise or bad surprise?" Chloe asked hesitantly.
"Not sure...but at least she didn't diss me here..." Danny said.
"You say you're not even friends, why is that? From what I've seen, you've been quite amiable." Chloe commented.
"Oh… let's just say my school really embraces the elitism of athletes and cheerleaders." Danny said.
"Ah, one of those schools that fail to get students the support they need because it values their budget and meaningless sports trophies over doing their actual job?" Chloe asks.
"You know it." Danny said.
"Still… do you see yourself… drawn to her?" She asks.
Danny looked up in thought.
I did dream about her being into me… but she always thought I was a freak, so that's a pipe dream. He thought.
"She is pretty, but I doubt she'd be into me, even if we were the only ones on a deserted island." Danny said.
"I guess some girls can't handle a decent person… but some can..." Chloe said, becoming drawn to him as she smiled affectionately at him.
Danny noticed her expression and was surprised.
Am I doing the thing with Nat? He thought, surprised that his father's advice is still working.
"Heh… I guess. But I'm super clumsy and sweat a lot…" Danny went.
"Humble too." Chloe went in admiration.
Danny gulped quietly.
Oh wow… why am I now realizing how nice she looks when she smiles at me? He thought, sweating a bit.
"Dreadfully sorry again for last night. In the work I am doing, I'm told I have to be… uptight. It's a harsh business, after all." Chloe said.
"I noticed. But… I like seeing you like this, after hours." Danny said.
Chloe giggled in a cute way that made Danny's face turn red.
"Thank you for that, Danny." Chloe said.
"Sure." Danny said.
In a moment, the two of them were staring at each other for a moment, both finding themselves growing to enjoy the other's company. That was, however, until Chloe noticed that it was an hour since they started eating.
"Oh my, it's already late. I had promised my parents that I would get them souvenirs..." Chloe said, getting up.
"Oh… okay." Danny said in surprise but also disappointment.
Chloe stopped as she looked back at Danny.
"You know… we're doing the show tomorrow night. Will you come if you're still around?" Chloe asks.
"Really? When and where?" Danny asks.
"Palais Garnier, no relation." Chloe said. "I'll let them know you're a guest of mine."
"Uh… sure." Danny said.
"Wonderful." Chloe said with a smile as she nodded. "Oh right… number."
Chloe showed Danny her phone, prompting him to dial his number on it, which led to his phone ringing.
"There you go." Danny said.
"Oui. So sorry our date was cut short." Chloe said before pausing from what she just said.
"Date?" Danny asks in surprise.
"Uh… sure, why not?" Chloe asks with a blush on her face.
"Oh… okay. But next time, I'll pay." Danny joked.
"Of course. Until later." Chloe said with a wave before heading off.
"Bye!" Danny went, waving to her with a smile.
Once she was out of sight, Danny leaned back in his seat and smiled to himself.
I just had a date with a pretty girl whose accent slips up a lot but that part isn't important… He thought as he leaned his elbows onto the table and sighed happily.
This Chloe Garnier seemed to like him pretty quickly. Perhaps it was because he was chivalrous in returning her jewelry, or just that she doesn't know about his parents. Despite the respect he netted his family as Danny Phantom, he knew not everyone respected them that well. Still, Chloe seemed nice enough to him.
As he closed his eyes and imagined spending time with her again, he failed to notice someone sitting down where Chloe was. Only when he heard the sound of paper moving did he open.
He saw someone sitting where she was with a large newspaper.
"Uh… hello?" Danny asks.
"Around here, they say bonjour, kid." The familiar voice of Rich went.
"Rich?" Danny asks in surprise. "Wait… you're here, this close?" He started to smile. "I'll finally get t-"
Rich lowered his newspaper, only to reveal not a face, but a face mask with a large pair of red goggles, covering his face in its entirety.
"You were saying?" Rich asks.
"Uh… never mind." Danny went, enthusiasm leaving him before the realization of Rich's presence got to him. "Wait… did you… arrange for my family to come here?" Danny asks.
"Not at all… your aunt did. She and her… new business partner." Rich said.
"Business partner?" Danny asks before pondering. "If this person's got a lot of coins in their pockets, I'm seeing how she could afford our stay."
"Indeed, but that's not necessarily why I'm here. Someone is after her partner and is after what your aunt plans to show you at the same time." Rich said.
"And what they're after is…?" Danny asks, motioning for Rich to continue.
"Truth be told… not sure what it is, only that it's pretty risky. You best make sure no one else can take it. Pretty sure the higher ups of the MIB want it too." Rich said.
"Which is why you're here." Danny reasoned.
"Indeed." Rich said. "So… who's the latest in your harem? After the rockstar that tried to break your skull a few times?"
"Hardy har har…" Danny went in sarcasm.
"Well, in any case… let me at least give thanks in advance for locating what you're going to find. Rest assured that I'll make sure it goes where it belongs." Rich said as he reached into his pocket.
"What's that?" Danny asks.
"Pardon." Rich went to a waiter passing by. "My young friend here will take a slice of your finest chocolate cake. I know it's early, but not too early."
"Oui, monsieur." The waiter said.
Danny raised a brow at that, but smiled when the dessert showed up.
"Thanks." He said politely.
"Don't mention it. On me, Kid." Rich said as he pulled money out.
However, his hand did not open to let the money down. Instead, it seemed to shake as if it was acting on its own will.
Rich then grabbed his wrist tightly, forcing his hand down before it opened and left the money there.
Danny raised an eyebrow at this as Rich laughed it off.
"Sorry… arthritis." Rich said before getting up. "Remember… try not to break or lose anything you find."
With that, Rich left, leaving Danny confused as to what was going on.
30 minutes later
Danny decided to take his slice of cake to go.
Deciding he wanted to get a higher view of the city, he took his slice to the top of Notre-Dame. There, he saw much of the famous city, from the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre.
"Hmm… it is a nice view." He said to himself with a smile before his ghost sense went off. "And I'm not the only one to think that…" He said, standing up and becoming alert.
Looking around, he soon saw a figure sitting several feet away. It was a woman, one who dressed in18th century attire for a French aristocrat, namely a blue dress with many white frills, complete with wig.
She took a bite of a cake she had by her side. She then moaned in delight.
"So tasty…" She said to herself before glancing at her side to look at Danny. "Delicious, eh, Danny?"
"Y-Yeah…" Danny went, seeing she wasn't attacking him.
"It's no wonder people think I said for those I thought beneath them to let them eat cake…" She said, taking a bite.
"Let them eat cake?" Danny asks, scratching his chin. "Where did I hear that?"
"Probably history. Seeing as how you're speaking to the Marie Antoinette." She said with a smile.
Danny raised an eyebrow.
"Wait… the lady who wrote about the caged bird singing?" He asks.
"That's Maya Angelou. I was the queen of France who was beheaded." She said with a light smile, motioning the idea she was chopping her head off with her finger.
"Oh… uh… sorry?" Danny went, unsure how to properly apologize for that.
"It's alright, Danny." Marie assured with a wave of her hand.
"Oh… oka-" Danny then paused, realizing what she called him. "Wait, how do you know my name?" He asks quickly.
"Your exploits in and out of the Ghost Zone are legendary, even to ghosts out here." Marie stated.
"Oh… I see…" Danny said, sitting back down.
"So, how do you like Paris? Charmant, n'est-ce pas?" Marie asks.
"Uh… neat." Danny said.
"Oui. The city of love, perhaps you'll find a future Mrs. Phantom here?" Marie asks with a cheeky smile.
"Heh… maybe not… but I'm here for… family business." Danny said.
"Oh, what's that?" Marie asks.
Danny thought for a moment, wondering how she'd react if he told her why he was there.
"Uh… Antoinette?" Danny asks.
"Hm-hmm… Marie." She said graciously.
"Marie." Danny said politely. "What do you know about… the Beast of Gevaudan?"
Marie stopped eating her cake, pausing a moment.
Danny started to fear he said something wrong, ready to apologize before Marie huffed a laugh.
"A creature this world is better off without." She said with a smile.
"So… it's not a ghost or something? It's gone?" Danny asks.
"Oui. His soul was so vile that it's probably banished to the Unworld already. Granted, I don't pay much attention to politics, here or there, so I don't know for sure. I know there's a banishment going on, but I doubt it's him as his soul should have gone ages go." Marie said.
"Oh… I see." Danny said.
"Why do you ask?" Marie asks.
"My aunt asked us about it before she called us over here." Danny said.
"Well… whatever it is, I'm sure it's not the Beast himself." Marie said.
Danny's phone went off, causing him to answer it.
"Yes?" He asks.
"Where are you? Your aunt is coming within 20 minutes." Maddie was heard saying.
"Sorry, Mom. I'll be there soon." He said.
"Okay, hurry." Maddie insisted as she hung up.
"Ah, family?" Marie asks.
"That's them. So, I better get going. Bye, Anto-Marie." Danny said as he waved to her before taking off.
"Au revoir, Danny." Marie said, waving to him.
Once he was gone, she took a deep breath.
Speaking of the Beast seemed to have soured her mood slightly.
Even as she took a bite, the expression on her face did not change.
"The word is better off without that monster…" She said to herself.
At the Hotel
Danny had arrived within 5 minutes, getting to meet up with his parents in the lobby.
Made it. He thought hurriedly as he saw them several feet away.
"Your aunt will be here soon!" Maddie called out with a wave.
Before Danny could continue walking, two people got in his path.
"Hey there." Kwan said with a wave as he and Star approached him.
"Oh uh…" Danny went, eyes darting to them and his parents repeatedly.
"Hey there. I see you're not with that girl, so… mind if we talk?" Star asks nervously.
"Uh… actually, I can't. I gotta go." Danny insisted as he slowly circled them.
"Look, Fent- Danny." Star said, getting his first name without a hint of disdain as he usually does. "I get we're the last people you wanna speak to, s-"
"Actually, I have nothing against Kwan." Danny admitted.
"Wait, you don't?" Kwan asks in surprise.
"No. I get you wanna fit in with the popular kids like I wish I did. Plus, as Sam herself has told me, take away Dash and you're not a bad guy. I don't hate you." Danny admitted.
"Really? Neat." Kwan said in relief.
Star felt a bit of comfort, thinking Danny would be willing to talk to her.
"Oh, so does that m-"
"Again, I can't stay." Danny cut her off before making his way to his family.
Star felt a bit hurt by his acting this way, something she never thought she'd feel when it came to Danny Fenton.
"Why? Do you not like me?" Star asks.
"Yes and no." Danny stopped in his tracks and responded flatly. "Yes, as in I think you're pretty. No, as in I don't like how you've acted." Danny said. They were unaware Chloe had re-entered through the lobby doors. "You called me a freak around Valerie, then when you saw I was there, you acted like you were gonna apologize before deciding not to and saying you meant it. Why exactly would I want to be around you?" Danny questioned harshly.
"B-But you saved me from being bitten when Paulina went crazy from some curse?" Star question.
"I didn't save you to get on your good side, I just didn't like the idea of people hurting people, even if it's you." Danny said flatly.
Star was speechless, unsure of how to properly respond to that.
"We also used to hang out with your friends before we decided that two of us are still cooler than them…" Kwan said as Danny turned his direction to him, making Kwan flinch for a moment. "Which… in hindsight… might not have been the best way to put it."
"No duh." Danny said flatly.
"W-What if… we put in a good word for you in the A-List?" Star offered.
"No thanks." Danny said with arms crossed.
"You don't wanna join the cool kids anymore?" Star asks in surprise.
"I stopped wanting that a long time ago. Truth be told… none of you are cool." Danny said flatly. "You guys have always been rude, snobbish and just in general unpleasant to even be in the same town with you guys. You looked down on me and think I want to spend time with you after that? Kwan, I'm fine with, just not you." Danny said flatly.
"You don't think we're… cool?" Star asks.
"Not in the slightest. Remember, my dad's best friend was a supervillain who tried to take over the world and he was the most elitist of elitists and the most self-centered of all people." Danny pointed out with as much Distaste as he could give in his voice.
"I suppose someone like him gives you a valid reason to not like people of higher status than you…" Star admitted sheepishly as she tried to avoid eye contact.
"He never had a chance to look back at his life and make a change, but you do. You could look at yourself and change for the better, be more than just Paulina's blonde twin… but right now? I'd rather not be around you." Danny said as he resumed going to his family.
As soon as he left, Star felt hurt by his words, looking to the floor in depression.
"Ouch…" Star said.
"That was hurtful… I respect his honesty, but it was hurtful." Kwan said with a nod.
With a bitter sigh, Star motioned for Kwan to follow.
"Come on… my parents are expecting us." She said in a low voice.
As they left, Chloe had watched the entire thing before looking away in slight confusion
"Change? For the better?" She asks under her breath before walking away.
As he approached, his sister saw the whole thing.
"Wow… I didn't think you'd be that kind of heartbreaker." Danielle joked.
"Hilarious… but I've never had a good relationship with her before." Danny said in a deadpan tone.
"And yet you're into Ember now. I could be wrong and you've developed a new way to fight ghosts by wrapping your tongue around hers." Danielle points out with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
The entire family rolled their eyes, save for a slightly snickering Jazz.
"Ignoring that…" Danny grumbled.
"We actually saw her parents in the restaurant upstairs. They apologized to us profusely for all the trouble their girl causes or doesn't stop." Maddie said.
"Well… we already knew of them because they were among the people who sued us for that fire hydrant incident." Jack said sheepishly.
"You mean sue you for that?" Maddie asks with slight annoyance.
"Heh… yeah…" Jack said.
Before anyone could say anything else, a certain someone stepped through doors and spotted them.
"Maddie!" Alicia called out.
She approached them as everyone sans Maddie tries their best to look polite.
"Alicia!" Maddie said, looking happy to see her.
"I see Mom's not mad at her anymore…" Jazz said under her breath as she saw her mother hurry over to hug her sister.
"Those two were always so close… even as Maddie changed and she didn't." Jack said under his breath.
As that was done, Maddie motioned for them to follow.
"Come on, our ride's here." She said.
As they exited, the Fentons were surprised to see a large minibus waiting for them.
"Y'all pack everything I asked for?" Alicia asks.
"I did." Maddie said.
"And… is he coming?" Alicia asks, looking around as if looking for someone.
"He?" Jack asks.
"Heh… uh… Danny Phantom." Maddie said, getting everyone else to send her curious looks. "Alicia said we might need his help…"
"Really? First time I've heard. I'm sure you two had a nice talk…" Danny went, unamused that she just sprung this up now.
"Heheh… right…" Maddie said.
"Well, let's get a-movin'." Alicia said impatiently as she went inside the vehicle.
"I noticed she hasn't said a word to the rest of us." Danielle said with an angry pout.
"Do you want to talk to her?" Jazz questioned.
"No… just pointing out how rude she is." Danielle said.
As everyone nodded, Maddie sighed bitterly.
"Let's just go."
With that, she and Jack grabbed their gear as the family entered the vehicle.
Special thank you to Flower Princess11.
Now we've introduced Chloe, who will be a big part here.
So, before I go on to responses... I have something I wanna address.
So, for many of projects, I have used Strong as Star's last name. I was gonna do the same here. However... some recent controversy with Tara Strong has made me change my mind.
I have two options. Either we go the route of Gwen Stacy as have her last name be another first name, or we swap Gwen's initials and go with a G word as her last name.
Let me know what do you think? I am open to other options for her surname.
Also, yes, parents. They're together in this take.
RonaldM40196867: No. No spoilers. No spoilers. Pretty sure he met them off camera in the series since he dropped off Vortex there. No. We'll see why they're in France. No.
Fiction Realm: Thanks.
Invader Johnny: They will soon.
pokemon fan 1991: Well, as we see from my poster I use as a cover, it's reddish.
danifan3000: Well, it was shot with a silver bullet, one that was probably blessed.
Luiz4200: Probably not.
Total: We shall see...
Leonardo: No crossovers.
Daniel6: Cyka?
SoundVenom: We shall.
IrishKatana: Already picked what's next. Sorry.