Who was Cedric Devereux?
"I can't believe this…" Danny muttered.
Here he was, with his sisters and two best friends, and the rest of his family.
"Why exactly did you say yes?" Sam asks.
"Because I really wanted to get inside the Palais Garnier and Marie is insistent we do not sneak in." Danny said.
"Why?" Tucker questioned.
"Because she has too much respect for the Palais Garnier..." Danny explained.
"We didn't exactly pack for something like this…" Jazz said. "We came to prove or disprove a pelt, not to attend a show."
"And how exactly do we even find that thing?" Danielle asks.
"Well, if I could find the Beast while he's in human form…" Danny said before realizing something. "If I had the slightest clue what I'm looking for."
He facepalmed at realizing the only flaw to his plan before sitting on the bed
Things were tense as Danielle handed him a chocolate bar as a means to make him feel better. When he didn't take it, she shrugged and started eating it.
"Too bad we have no idea what The Beast's human form actually looks like." Tucker said.
"Yeah…" Danny said as he sighed before he realized something. "Didn't Frostbite say he had a name?"
"He did?" Danielle asks as her mouth is full.
"What was it? Cedric… something…?" Danny asked in recollection.
"Cedric Devereux, I think he said." Sam spoke up.
"I don't suppose that name means anything to you, Sam?" Danny asks.
"It's not like names from that era were all saved. If there was a guy by that name… he probably didn't get added to their census, assuming the records weren't damaged. So, I have no way of knowing if that's the Beast's real name, especially since there's no evidence the Beast was even human and I thought he was just a poor animal that was a victim to mass hysteria." Sam said.
"Maybe if we find Frostbite, he can give me an idea of how to find out?" Danny suggests.
Jazz's phone vibrated, causing her to pick it up and read what was on it.
"I think I found him…" Jazz said.
That caught the other four's attention.
"Wait… for real ?" Sam asks.
"Where?" Danny asks.
"With… Mom and Dad of all people…" Jazz said.
Elsewhere
A certain man walked down the street, walking in the direction of the Palais Garnier. He took out his phone, which was off, and placed it over his ear.
"Nothing yet." He said.
"Rex… why are you pretending to be on the phone?" Larissa asked from the tiny earphone in his ear.
"Because what you gave me is too small to pass off as those hands-free earphones." Razor responded.
"They're for covert missions and recon." Larissa said.
"I'm in the middle of a street in one of the busiest cities in the world. This is the worst place for stuff like that. I gotta use the phone…" He responded.
He heard a groan from the other side that caused him to smile, making him think she knew he was right.
"Please tell me you found someone who matches the clothes from the image we gave you? It's the only outfit he ever seems to wear when in public. Are you looking for him?" Larissa asks.
"No, I'm going to see a movie." Razor responded sarcastically.
"... just tell me if you see that outfit or not." Larissa grumbled.
"I don't s-" His head turned to the side, seeing something. "Wait… I think I spotted him."
He did indeed see a man in that same purple outfit and started walking towards him.
"What do you see?" Larissa asks.
"Very messy reddish hair. It's almost the same color as the Beast's russet fur." Razor said.
"Keep following him…" Larissa ordered.
"On it." Razor said, only to recall something from earlier. "So… anything on what actually put that puppy down?"
"We believe it to be a silver bullet, like in the movies. We'll be working on something to use on him later… just keep an eye on him." Larissa said.
Razor put his phone away, no longer pretending to be on the phone as he stalked this figure.
Elsewhere
The man known as Rich was a block away from a famous location in France.
The Chartes Cathedral is a beautiful, historic cathedral located in Chartres, which happens to be many miles from Paris.
However, he groaned in irritation.
"This had better work." He muttered.
One man approached him, a young woman with Brown hair, gray eyes, fair skin and an annoyed expression on her face.
"Sorry… your little gadget thing doesn't work…" She said with an American accent, holding up a strange device that looked like a PDA to him.
"Of course…" He muttered. "Well… a deal's a deal, right?" He asks.
"After the fun my brother said you were… I'm sure we'll be just fine…" She said as she wrapped her arm around his while adopting a flirty smile.
"Very well…your brother isn't as pretty as you though, Julia." Rich responded.
"Considering he checked Rennes-le-Château with you and saw nothing… I'm guessing what you're looking for wasn't there. Oh well, I'm sure you and I can have a little fun together…" She said before reaching for his mask. "So… mind if I get a good look at you-"
"NO!" He went suddenly, pushing her back before stepping back. Julia looked surprised before Rich laughed as a means to calm her down. "Sorry… but you know the rules… so long as you and your brother don't want to be caught for your crimes of art theft and scamming, no looking below the mask."
Julia raised an eyebrow before shrugging.
"Fine… I just hope you ain't ugly under that. Now…" She placed a hand on his chest. "Let's have us some fun…"
"Of course… this body could use some excitement…" Rich said.
The two of them walked together before, out of nowhere, Rich's arm seemed to be twitching, something Julia noticed.
"You okay?" Julia asks.
"Y-Yes… uh...nerves." He said, sounding like he was making it up.
Julia shrugged indifferently as they resumed walking.
On the rooftop of the hotel
Danny had a flat look on his face upon learning just where Frostbite had been the entire time.
"You're serious?" He asks as his sisters and friends also had the same look on their faces.
"You're the one who wants me to get along with a ghost!" Jack went as he and Frostbite stuffed pieces of cake into their mouths.
"I tried to convince them it was a bad idea…" Maddie said with a sigh and her hand on her forehead to soothe her anger.
"You had Frostbite with you the whole time?" Danny asks angrily.
"Well…Your mother wasn't keen on trying out bakeries around Paris. You try convincing people he's a cosplayer." Jack said as he stuffed cake in his face.
Danny groaned as he facepalmed.
"I'm going to forget that so long as Frostbite can help me with something." Danny said.
"Yhhshh…" Frostbite said with his mouth full of cake. "Hww cnn- hlld urp…" He swallowed. "How can I be of aid, Great One?"
"So… you said the Beast might be the soul that escaped? And that his name was Cedric Devereux?" Danny asks.
"Indeed." Frostbite said as he scratched his chin in thought. "I'm not surprised his name was not preserved… given the ego he was said to have, he's remembered for the things he did not want to be remembered for..."
"Any idea what he looked like?" Sam asks.
"Not at all…" Frostbite said, much to everyone's surprise. "While we did see footage of his crimes, none of them featured him."
"Where did the footage come from?" Danny asks.
"His memories." Frostbite answered, surprising everyone.
"Memories?" Maddie asks.
"Yes. Some humans, those whose souls are to be banished, are to have their memories used against them as proof of their evils." Frostbite said before he snapped his fingers. "I just recalled something…"
Frostbite then pulled something out of his belt, looking almost like a VR headset.
"What is that?" Jazz asks.
"Ooh! The Ghost Zone's got VR?" Tucker asks eagerly.
"Actually this is a Memoria Videntium, which roughly translates to memory viewer . It's used to show memories of the guilty. This is an older model, used for individual viewing than for an entire group. I was given this in case it was needed." Frostbite explained.
"And… that's gonna have what I need to know about Devereux?" Danny asks.
"It will… This will show you his life. It will speed up or cut to parts… but it may take a while to find what you need." Frostbite said.
Danny took the headset with him and studied it.
"So… I just put it on and that's it?" Danny asks.
"It should be like that." Frostbite said.
"I'll head to the room and give it a watch." Danny said as he prepared himself.
Once he left, Jazz approached Frostbite.
"So… any chance you can get stuff for us? Marie wants our help but she doesn't like the idea of us being in Palais Garnier during a show without paying or being invited. She's got a huge love for the place." She said.
"Understood. It is my honor to allow the Great One, his family and his servants to take bare witness to a performance." Frostbite said as he pulled out the Infi-Map. "Take me and the Great One's home to retrieve the appropriate attire." He said before the map zipped him away.
There was silence for a moment as two in particular realized something.
"Did he just… forget he took us here without our consent?" Sam asks.
"I think he did…" Tucker said.
"Well. I think Danny's got a spare. I'll ask him for it. You can borrow one of mine." Jazz tells Sam before one thought comes to mind. "And if you make any "fixes" to it… you're paying for a new one." She warned.
Sam rolled her eyes.
"Come on, let's see what Danny's gonna learn going through this guy's memories." Danielle said.
"I'll wait here for Frostbite." Maddie said.
As the rest left to see how Danny's going, Tucker stopped Sam for a moment before holding his hand out in a "gimme" fashion. Recalling their bet, Sam rolled her eyes once more before pulling out a $10 bill and handing it to Tucker, who grasped it with a smile.
Inside the room
Danny observed the strange headset in his hands. He was about to look through the memories of a monster, including his human life and beast life. He felt a degree of fear, anxiety and discomfort.
"Well…" He took a deep breath, turning his head to see his sisters and two best friends in the room, being far too close for comfort. "Uh… can you guys give me space?"
"Sorry…" All of them said as they pulled away.
"Okay… here we go." Danny said as put the headset on. As he did, everyone got in his personal space again, though he couldn't see it. "Now…" He reached for the button on the side and pressed it, turning it on. "Show me what I need to know about Cedric Devereux…"
From Danny's perspective
It looked as though he was walking past several old looking houses, yet looked very new.
''Okay, this is weird..." He said out loud as he kept watching.
"What do you see? Do you see him?" He heard Jazz ask.
"No…" Danny said as he noticed whatever he was looking through was moving.
That's when a beautiful woman, one dressed in an old fashioned, pink dress and blonde hair spotted Danny, smiling at him.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Devereux…" She said, acting flirtatious with him.
"Bonjour Élise. Vous êtes toujours aussi belle." A voice coming from Danny said, looking at her as if checking her out.
"Huh?" Danny went.
The scene seemed to pause before text appeared before his eyes, which read AUDIO TRANSLATE ACTIVATE.
"Good morning, Elise. You're looking as lovely as ever…" The voice said, now translated to English.
"Any chance I could accompany you tonight for the festival?" Elise asks.
"I'm afraid I have plans with another… Maybe another time." He said.
Elise looked saddened before nodding in agreement.
"I see." She said. "Take care, Cedric."
"You as well, my dear…" The voice, Cedric Devereux, said to her before nodding and walking past her. Once she walked away herself, far past earshot, Danny heard a scoff from him. "Pretty, but oh so desperate… like most women. Maybe I'll pay her a visit… when I get bored of Anna. But for now… a greater prize waits for me."
"Wow… what a creep…" Danny muttered.
"Do you see him? The Be- I mean, Devereux?" Sam asks.
"I think I'm seeing the world through his eyes." Danny said.
''What does that mean?" Sam asked.
"Literally what I just said. I see what he sees..." Danny said as he continued to view the past.
"Now there's an advancement in filming technology." Tucker said.
"Shh shh…" Danny went as he resumed watching.
He saw a man coming in closer as Cedric came closer.
"Jean." He said to him, getting the man with dark hair and a slight tan skin to take notice of him.
"Bonjour, Cedric. How was the hunt?" The man, presumably a friend, asked in a curious way.
"My latest kill will be roasting on the fire..." Cedric said, sounding cocky.
Danny heard this and rolled his eyes.
"Geez, don't tell me he's another Skulker?" Danny muttered as he continued to view the past.
"Did you hear that young Miss Laurent has found a good man in Paulhac-en-Margeride?" Jean asks.
A rather mocking sounding chuckle came from this Cedric.
"My good Chastel, if she wanted a good man… she should have sought after me." Cedric went, his eyes closing and his head turning making it clear he's being very smug and thinking highly of himself.
"I somehow hate this guy more…" Danny muttered.
However, once his eyes opened, he then saw several young women all waving at him.
"Hi Cedric…" All of them went.
"Ladies." Cedric went bowing to them quickly as they giggled and left. "Do you see that, Jean? They can't stand to not be seen by me. I'm the best hunter, make the most money, and I have slain some of the most dangerous animals around. I'm the town hero and all of them want me." He said.
"It helps, old friend, that you're the most respected man in all of Le Besseyre-Saint-Mary, all of Gévaudan." Jean said, looking much more calm and civil.
"A shame you never got the kill for that deer like I did. Then again, you don't have the same muscles that I do." Cedric said, clearly insulting him but making it sound like a joke.
As Danny shook his head in distaste, Jean laughed at it.
"So, any woman in particular you fancy to be your wife?" Jean asks.
"Indeed." Cedric said as he pointed out. "I have my sights set on that one."
Danny was then shown the image of another young woman. Unlike the previous ones, she wasn't even looking in Cedric's direction. She was a beautiful young woman with black hair, Brown eyes and dressed in an old fashioned green dress. She was also looking into her basket for something she bought, paying no mind to Cedric. However, he seemed focused on her.
"Catherine?" Jean asks, surprised to hear that.
"She's the one. The lucky girl who will be blessed by the great lord to be my wife." Cedric declared.
"But sh-" Cedric was about to speak when Catherine approached.
"Bonjour, Jean." Catherine said, smiling at him and nodded before going on.
"B-Bonjour, Catherine…" Jean said with a shy smile.
She carried on, not paying attention to Cedric. He pushes Jean aside to approach her.
"Hello Catherine..." Cedric was heard saying.
"Bonjour Cedric..." Catherine said with a tired sigh, only for Cedric to rudely take her basket from her. "Cedric, may I please have the food I bought back?" Catherine asked, trying to sound patient.
"I could… or I could treat you to dinner tonight. Considering the butchers are willing to serve my kill to me for free, I can get you a taste of it..." Cedric said, sounding cocky again.
"No thank you." She said, trying to reach for her basket.
"I insist…" Cedric said, keeping it out of her reach.
However, Jean took the basket out of his hand and offered it to Catherine.
"Here you go. I understand that you have parents to feed." Jean said quickly.
"Thank you, Jean." She said to him with a nod.
Cedric's eyesight tilted to suggest he's glaring at Jean. He then directed his attention towards Catherine.
"Well… once you've fed them, my deer will be waiting for you." Cedric offered.
"Again, no thank you." Catherine said quickly and impatiently before walking away.
Catherine soon left, but Cedric's gaze was still on her.
"You cannot deny me forever, Catherine." Cedric said under his breath with a sinister tone.
"Okay, getting even creepier vibes than before...and this guy almost turned me into shredded beef last night..." Danny said
With the rest, watching Danny.
"So, anything we should know?" Jazz asks.
"So far, I'm getting this dude was the cream of the crop and his ego was as big as France itself. Like if Vlad and Dash fused together... apologies for the terrible image in your head." Danny responded.
"Apology not accepted..." Sam was heard, sounding irritated to have that thought in her head.
"It looks like he's friends with a guy named... Jean Chastel." Danny said.
"Jean Chastel? That's the man who shot the Beast." Sam said.
"You're seeing his life?" Jazz asks. "What year is it?"
"I don't know..." That's when he noticed text to the top left. "Wait... I see something. It says... October 1738."
"What's going on now?" Danielle asks.
"Looks like Cedric and Jean are both into some woman named... Catherine." Danny answered.
"Catherine?" Sam asks. "Catherine Fontanille?"
"Uh... maybe? Why?" Danny asks.
"That was apparently the name of Chastel's wife." Sam responded.
"What's going on now? When does he actually become the Beast?" Tucker was heard saying.
"Let me keep seeing and hearing what's going on, maybe I'm seeing this part for a reason." Danny said.
30 minutes later
Danny was now sitting on the bed with his legs crossed, resting his elbows on his knees as he propped his head up with his hands.
Everyone else was doing their own thing. Jazz was reading a book, Tucker was playing a game, Sam was taking a nap, and Danielle was sipping a drink.
"Want some peach and strawberry shake?" She offers Danny.
"Yeah… so far… all I got is that the whole town loves this guy… and yet somehow, despite how conceited he is, he hasn't looked at a mirror in the entire time I've watched this." Danny said as he took off the headset.
As he took a glass and chugged it, Jazz lowered her book to look at her brother.
"So, what have you learned?" She asks.
"From the looks of it… he's the son of a hunter, he's also an only son and abandoned his parents after he got big, everyone says he has red hair, he's in his early 30's at the latest, and he's so great and tough that even a big male deer couldn't survive a fight with him. He's about… 6 ft and everyone says he has blue eyes. Plus, it looks like he's so rich that it looks like he has the best house in the town." Danny responded.
"He sounds… so humble." Danielle said sarcastically with an eyebrow raised.
"... and obnoxious." Danny muttered as he put the VR set back on.
From Devereux's view.
He was walking towards the door, turning to see a mirror that was on the wall to his left.
"Good to know my hair is perfect… Catherine will love it." He said before going out.
"Are you kidding me?!" Danny went in frustration.
"What? What happened? Is he already growing dog hair?" Tucker asks.
"No! The one time I put this thing down… and he looked in a mirror while I wasn't looking!" Danny went.
"Oops…" Danielle was heard going.
"Where's he going now?" Jazz was heard asking.
"Looks like there's a dinner being held at his lodge. He's been trying to get this Catherine lady to spend time with him, but she keeps finding some excuse to avoid him." Danny said.
"Basically, every time Vlad invited Mom and Dad over when he was mayor and Mom would find some excuse not to go… right down to faking us having rats so that she would get Dad to make traps." Jazz said.
Danny then noticed that Cedric was looking down at himself, admiring his clothes, which were an old time French military uniform, red in color with gold highlights and a blue sash.
"An important heirloom from my days as a dragoon in the Land Army…" Cedric said to himself, pleased with what he wore.
"Land Army? What's the Land Army?" Danny asks.
"It's another term for the French military." Sam explained.
"So what's a dragoon?" Danny asks.
"A cross between a dragon and baboon." Tucker went in a joking manner.
"It's a soldier who uses a type of gun and tends to enter the battlefield when he rides on a horse." Jazz explained.
"I'm guessin' he mustah been in the army…" Danielle said, her voice sounding muffled.
"Why does she sound like that?" Danny asks.
"She brought a bag of cookies from downstairs." Jazz said, followed by the sound of her taking the bag from her sister.
"Hey!" Danielle went.
"So… while I'm curious what's going on with this thing off… shh." Danny went to everyone as he kept watching.
"Sorry…" All of them went.
"So… let's see what Soldier Boy is up to…" Danny said quietly as he saw Devereux exit his lodge.
"This is Catherine's lucky day." Cedric said with a satisfied tone in his voice.
"Oh, you're gonna finally accept she's not into you and move on?" Danny quipped, despite knowing Cedric can't hear him.
Outside the lodge was a party, but not just any party.
He saw what looked to be a venue, rows of seats and a buffet that looked like it had a wedding cake of all things.
"There he is!" One of the many guests, a chubby man, called out.
"Monsieur Devereux!" Many of them went.
"Cedric! Dear Cedric! Marry me!" One woman said.
"No, me! I don't want to marry into the Boulet family!" One teenage girl called out.
"No, me! I'm a better cook than she is!" Another said.
"I'll have as many sons as you want!" Another woman said, pushing her away.
Cedric chuckled to himself, seeing everyone there.
"Thank you all for coming to the most important night in all of Le Besseyre-Saint-Mary!" Cedric said, presenting himself to all as they applauded him.
"We love you!" One person went.
"I know." Cedric said with a smug tone.
"Okay… I can't believe I'm saying this but… when does he turn into a monster so people can start shooting him?" Danny asks, bored to be watching this.
"I would like to thank you all for tonight isn't just any night… it's my wedding!" Cedric called out as the men applauded and the women weeped. "But first I need… propose to the woman who loves me most." Cedric said, playing it off as a joke. The crowd, saved for the weeping women, laughed along with him. "Now..." Cedric held out a ring in his hand. "Will Catherine Fontanille step forward and accept this great blessing?"
The crowd applauded, all of them for Catherine. However, seconds passed and Catherine herself did not appear. The applause soon died down as Cedric's head tilting forward seemed to indicate anger.
"She's not there." Danny said.
"Who?" Sam asks.
"Catherine, the lady he's into." Danny answered.
"Where is she?" Cedric questioned. When no one answers, his fists clenched. "WHERE IS SHE?!"
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, no answer seemed to be found.
"Dude arranged a wedding that night to someone who only sometimes speaks with him, and only when he starts the conversation… and he's surprised she's a no-show? Granted, I saw him invite her, but he just left without hearing her response." Danny said.
"That so?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, I remember how it happened. So, he sees her and he just said to be there as it'll be important… that's it." Danny said, recalling something he saw moments prior to taking off the headset.
"Don't tell me she's taking this chase too seriously?!" Cedric shouted as he stormed his way through the crowd, pushing people left and right. "Out of my way! My future wife must be at home! Jean! Help me find her!" Cedric ordered, only to pause and look around, not seeing Jean anywhere. "Jean?! Jean Chastel?!"
Elsewhere, away from Danny and the rest
Razor followed the man with messy red hair and purple suit to the Paris Metro. He made his way in, looking left and right as he saw people entering the train, taking off. Still, no sign of the man he followed.
"I lost 'em…" Razor complained.
"You lost him?!" Larissa complained over his small earpiece. "How could you lose him?!"
"It's not like he looked like an edgy teenager's recreation of Scooby-Doo right now." Razor grumbled back to her.
"He can't have gone far, keep looking." She ordered.
As he grumbled and shook his head, Razor turned and headed out. As he did, he did not see someone standing on the opposite side of the train that was now leaving, who used the many people as a distraction as he used his inhuman powers to climb up the walls, hang from the wall as he made his way to the other side without being spotted.
He scoffed in satisfaction at Razor not seeing him.
"Now… I may as well wait for this little showing… time for some cooked meat." He said to himself before going.
Back with Danny.
Danny sat up straight, watching the scene of Devereux reaching the house that likely belonged to Catherine and her family. He slammed his fist into her door repeatedly.
"Catherine! I know you're in there! Why are you not at my party?!" He shouted angrily. As she did not answer, he continued to bang against the door, not caring if he damaged it. "Catherine?!"
The door swung open. To his displeasure, it was not Catherine who answered, but her father.
"Monsieur… Devereux?" The kindly older man asks, coughing a moment. "How may I help you?"
"You can get out of my way!" Cedric snapped, pushing the sick old man aside. "Where is your daughter?!"
''Pardon?" The old man questioned, taken back by his rudeness but soon started coughing and nearly fell to the ground.
Cedric was surprised but not sympathetic, while Catherine rushed over to help her father and noticed him.
"Cedric?! What are you doing here?" She asks angrily.
Cedric was heard chuckling with lecherous intent.
"Isn't it obvious?" He said as he walked towards her. "I did not see you tonight at my party… the one I personally invited you to."
"I have bigger things to deal with! My mother has passed away." Catherine said.
"Oh, is that so?" He asks, not remotely sympathetic.
"What do you mean "is that so"? My mother was sick and is no longer with us!" Catherine shouted violently.
"And… is this illness the same reason your father is… this?" Cedric gestured to her father, who was still on the floor.
"Catherine… help me, please." He said weakly.
As Catherine went to aid her father, Cedric stepped in her path.
"Catherine, my dear… Why do you cling to him? He is clearly a dying old man. Think of a younger, livelier one." Cedric says to her.
"Excuse me?!" Catherine, clearly insulted and appalled.
"I have a special surprise for you. One that will limit chances of you becoming sick too because of this old man's foolishness costing you your mother." Cedric said with callousness. "We should probably kill him before it spreads…"
"What was that?" Catherine questioned, her voice going from horrified to enraged.
"Come to my lodge, Catherine. All you have to do is say yes, and your father won't be put to death, as to ensure this horrid curse that has taken your mother won't spread..." He said, being cruel.
Catherine's response was to slap him across the face, something that caught him off guard. As he was reeling, she pushed him out.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She shouted before shutting the door.
As Cedric was heard huffing, he turned his head to see someone familiar coming to the house.
"Jean?" He asks.
"Oh… hello, Cedric." Jean said, sounding angered to see him there.
"Why are you here?! Why are you not at the wedding I've arranged?!" Cedric questioned.
"It was obvious she'd never come, even if you weren't plotting to make her marry you on the spot!" Jean said. "I put up with your condescending attitude… but not this."
"And why not?" Cedric questioned.
"Because Jean and I have been seeing each other, that's why!" Catherine opened the door widely, glaring intensely at Cedric before looking to Jean more sweetly. "Did you bring it?"
"Yes. I brought the extra fruits and a recipe for a soup my mother made that should help." He said.
"WHAT?!" Cedric shouted.
"It's my grandmother's old lettuce soup recipe, one that is said to help with any sickness." Jean said.
"No, not that! You two are seeing each other?! Since when?!" Cedric furiously demanded.
"Since a week before your little… party that he warned me of." Catherine stated.
"Why was I not informed of this?!" He asks.
"Because it was none of your business!" Catherine shouted as she opened the door, motioning Jean to enter. "Please come in…" She said sweetly to him.
As soon as Jean entered, the door slammed shut. Cedric was left furious.
"You dare to steal MY prize?! You, Jean Chastel, will die for daring to get between me and the most beautiful woman in all of Gévaudan! Do you hear me?!" Cedric shouted, furious and humiliated as he stormed away.
"Wow… this guy's making Vlad look like a saint." Danny commented as he kept watching.
"That sounds… hard to believe." He heard the voice of his mother say.
"Maybe, bu- wait a minute…" Danny said.
Taking the headset off, Danny saw that his friends and sister were no longer in the room. Instead, he saw his mother, with his dress clothes, in her hands as she set them down.
"Where's everyone else?" He asks.
"Getting a quick bite before they have to change. We're going with Star and her folks once you're done. So, anything on Devereux?" Maddie asks.
"I'm learning so much… except for what he looked like." Danny said.
"Hmm… I'm going to assume the "makes Vlad look like a saint" comment suggests he's far from a decent person, even by the standards of France back then." Maddie said, rubbing her chin.
"Yeah…" Danny said, putting headset on and groaning loudly. "Are you kidding me?!"
"What?" Maddie asks.
"He just left his mirror! I missed another chance to see his face!" Danny went.
"Oh… uh… oops." Maddie said apologetically.
"Wait! He's going back to check his hair… I think he just said he wears it in a ponytail. This is my chance!" Danny went, fists balled up in anticipation.
"Wonderful!" Maddie went, getting in closer with anticipation herself. "So, what's he look like?"
"Hang on… he's bragging about how Catherine should marry him. Dude likes to hear his own voice…" Danny said with a groan before raising his head up. "Wait! He's about to walk to the mirror! This is it!" Danny went, smiling in relief.
However, that's when Jack Fenton made his way in as loudly as he could.
"Maddie! Danny! Check this out!" He went, pull the headset off quickly.
"Dad! No!" Danny went.
"Look! They have a duck and king crab dinner tonight!" Jack went, showing the menu to Danny.
Danny made a flat face as he tried to reach for the headset.
"Dad! I need that!" He said.
"You kids and your video games these days…" Jack chided as he held it up out of Danny's reach.
"Jack, that's the thing he needs to see the Beast's human face." Maddie said with an angered look on her face.
"Oh… right…" Jack said, realizing he forgot as he lowered it and let Danny take it.
"Okay…" Danny slipped the headset on. "Now let's s- EVERY TIME! EVERY TIME I ALMOST SEE IT, SOMEONE MAKES ME TAKE THIS THING OFF!" Danny went, his arms extended outward before pulling the headset up to glare at his father.
"Uh… oops?" Jack went with an apologetic shrug.
Maddie groaned loudly as she started to push her husband out.
"We'll give you some time." She said before she closed the door behind her.
Danny inhaled through the nose before putting the headset back on.
"Who does she think she is, huh?!" Cedric shouted as threw his drink aside in the tavern he was in. "I offered her a chance to be my wife and have my kids… and she chooses to babysit her weakling father over coming to marry me!"
"Uh… another one, sir?" The man who served him his drink suggests.
"No, I'm too angry for that." Cedric said angrily as he got up and stormed out. "I'm going to have a word with her for refusing to even talk to me since last month!"
"Last month? How much did I miss?" Danny asks. Text appeared in front of him briefly, saying December 1738. "Huh, so it's not flowing in normal time? I guess it's just showing the important bits. Which is great, because I do not want to see this guy go to the bathroom."
Danny then saw Cedric leave the tavern and make his way to Catherine's house. Again, he pounded his fist on the door like before.
"Catherine! Enough of this! Accept that you're meant to be my wife! Every woman in town would kill to be in your place!" He shouted.
"Then marry one of them instead!" He heard Catherine shout at him from behind the door.
Many villagers were watching the entire incident. All of them whispered amongst themselves how Catherine was being foolish to refuse the hand of such a great soldier and hunter. The women were swooning over him, all of them entranced by his good looks.
Cedric only scowled at all of them as he looked at the door once more.
"I want the best woman! I want you!" Cedric shouted.
"You're too late." He heard Jean inside.
"Jean?! What are you doing in there?!" Cedric questioned angrily.
That's when the door opened and Catherine stood before him, showing something on her hand.
"This is what he's doing here." Catherine said, showing a ring on her finger. "He proposed."
Though there were many onlookers who seemed accepting of this revelation, Cedric scoffed at this.
"What a stupid joke. Marry him?!" He gestures to Jean.
"It's no joke." Jean insisted.
"I'm not talking to you!" Cedric snapped at his former friend.
"Do not talk to my future husband like that." Catherine insisted angrily.
"No! I am your future husband! Not stop this silly game and accept the gift of giving me sons this instant!" Cedric shouted.
"Cedric, enough! You are just making a fool of yourself right now." Jean said. "I suggest you leave, old friend."
"YOU AND I ARE NOT FRIENDS! YOU HAVE STOLEN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN THE ENTIRE PROVINCE FROM ME!" Cedric shouted furiously.
"This looks oddly familiar…" Danny muttered.
"Enough!" Catherine approaches Cedric and slaps him, much to the shock of the village. "Leave! This instant!"
Something inside Cedric snapped. It seems that the constant rejections, especially now in public, and to be slapped by a woman in front of the entire town was the last straw for him.
That's when he backhanded her.
"WHOA!" Danny went as the audience gasped.
"YOU DARE HIT ME?! ME! CEDRIC DEVEREUX?! FINEST DRAGOON IN OUR PROVINCE! IN FRANCE?!" He shouted as she was on the ground, reeling from what he just did.
Before he could hit her again, he noticed something in the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw Jean pointing a blunderbuss at him, finger at the trigger.
"Because we're old friends, not that you care, I'm letting you off with a warning. If you hit her again… I will shoot… and I don't care if I am sent to prison." Jean warned him.
Cedric froze. Soon, he walked away, a scowl on his face. He was walking while noticing the crowds were watching, many looking less than pleased at him. Some were outright scared of him now, evident as the women who swooned for him were now hiding behind other people, eyes filled with shock and horror.
"MOVE!" He shouted, causing them to part.
"Man… I can't believe I have more respect for Vlad at this point." Danny muttered
"He's turned her and the whole town against me now…" He heard Cedric say under his breath. "I'll make him pay for this…"
Danny saw he was going to his house.
"Maybe now I'll get a chance to see his face." Danny said, seeing Cedric go inside and walk near the mirror.
That's when he heard a knock at the door.
"Danny?" Star's voice was heard.
Danny slouched as he took the headset off. He then pretended to look at a watch he did not wear.
"And… mark." He muttered before putting it down and going to answer the door. "Yes?"
He saw Star, who was looking surprisingly nervous right now.
"Uh...hi..." She said, almost looking shy.
"Hi?" Danny asked, wondering what she was doing there.
Okay, how's your chance to talk to him about that night... She thought, figuring she should break the ice and tried to talk to him as she entered his room.
"Are you playing some kind of video game?" Star asks, seeing the Memoria Videntium.
"Huh?" Danny saw what she was pointing at and cleared his throat. "Oh! Uh… y-yeah! Yeah… I am."
"Huh…" Star went, surprised to see it. "Can I see what you're playing?" She asks, reaching for it.
"NO!" Danny went, reaching for her hand and blocking it from touching the headset. Seeing Star raise an eyebrow, he laughed nervously. "Haha! I mean… it's… pretty violent. Super violent. You probably won't like it."
Star blinked before shrugging.
"Okay." She said quickly.
"So… uh…" Danny went, his hands at his side fidgeting nervously while wondering how to get her to leave. "You need anything?"
"Just thought I'd kill some time and see what you're up to." Star said before her face turned a bit red. "So… that Chloe girl is working for the costume designer, right?"
"Yeah. So?" Danny asks, wondering what she's getting at.
"Just… wondering… if your tastes really changed since that goth girl Manson?" Star asks.
Unfortunately, Danny thought she was mocking him.
"Well… you can keep making jokes at me about how much of a loser I am, because I don't think she and I are gonna stay friends now. For the record, I like girls of all kinds… just not mean ones." Danny said with his arms crossed.
"I… wasn't thinking that." Star said with a somewhat regretful look on her face as she mentally stated herself. "So… umm… I thought maybe we could… talk."
"Okay, what is this about?" Danny asked.
"Excuse me?" Star asked.
"Why are you here?" Danny asked.
"To… talk..." Star said.
"Then talk to Kwan." Danny said flatly.
"He's… napping." Star said.
Wonderful… Danny thought bitterly. I need to get back to seeing Devereux's face. I gotta get her to leave.
"So, what now?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" Star asked, confused by his words.
"Is this whole "you trying to be nice to me thing" a permanent thing or are you gonna go back to acting like I don't exist when we get back home?" Danny asked, getting straight to the point.
Star was silent upon hearing that.
I actually didn't think of that? How would everyone react if they knew I was trying to be nice to him? She mentally asked herself this. She could see where he was coming from but she was still upset he was giving her the cold shoulder. I mean...I know I was kinda mean to him before...but I wasn't THAT bad, was I? Why can't he just be thankful like that time I said hi to Nathan that one time? She thought, upset with this.
"What's with that look?" Danny asked since Star was glaring at him.
"You're the one giving me attitude..." She said, pouting at him.
Danny rolled his eyes.
"Need I remind you...before this trip, the rare times we ever actually spoke to each other, you either ignored me or called me a loser and or freak either behind my back or straight to my face..." He pointed out.
Star looked away, knowing he had a point.
"I can't argue with that..." She said.
"I just wanna know what your goal is here..." Danny said.
"Goal?" Star asked.
"Are you talking to me and going to show me respect now because you wanna try to be friends now or is this just a temporary thing so that you can get it off your chest and go back to looking down at me?" Danny asked.
"Excuse me?" Star questioned, getting upset. "You know, you should show a little appreciation for someone wanting to talk to you."
"Considering Chloe, Nat and Sally May… don't bother asking who the last two are, didn't have a history of insulting me or calling my family a bunch of ghost hunting freaks, wanted to get to know me and didn't give me trouble, you aren't exactly winning points here." Danny said.
There's Ember, who did try to kill me a few times… but that's kind of a weird exception because she knows what I do for a living. Danny thought.
"Oh? And what? I'm supposed to dress like I'm French and adopt a weird fake accent?" Star asks with arms crossed.
"You could try to look at yourself and see just why you're not exactly someone I'd take to prom." Danny said, gesturing to her.
"What's wrong with me? Am I gaining weight?" Star asks, feeling self-conscious.
"No… You're… well, beautiful. But that's the problem, you're too focused on looking good and spending your time with popular friends who probably only hang out with you for your status, that you don't get how you usually are to others who aren't the same status as you. You're too busy being the satellite that an actual person." Danny said.
Hearing that, Star snapped.
"There's nothing wrong with who I am now and I don't have to change to make anyone happy." Star insisted with her arms crossed.
Danny looked at her with an eye roll.
"Sure, what with your "charming" personality..." He said sarcastically.
Star looked offended.
''Oh, shut up Fenton. You don't know a thing about me..."Star said.
"True...and I can counter that you don't know a thing about me either..." Danny said.
"I know your parents were ghost hunting loons until they started working with Danny Phantom, now it's a thing where we can't make jokes about them anymore." Star snapped.
"Oh… and I suppose that's a good reason to let you in?" Danny asks.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Star questioned.
"If I recall, I didn't invite you here...you showed up and decided to talk with me because you got no one else to talk to..." Danny argued.
"Well, excuse me for trying to at least be sociable with you..." Star countered.
"Look, I don't wanna fight as much as you probably don't..." Danny said, already wanting her gone so he could get back to Devereux's history..
"It's not like I wanna be your enemy or whatever..." Star argued.
"And I don't wanna be your enemy either...so, why not compromise? We don't have to be friends but we don't have to be mean to each other either. You can just not get involved with Dash or Paulina decide to be pains and I won't look at you as Paulina's pretty satellite. Deal?" Danny suggested.
"Fine with me..." Star said, deciding that was probably the most realistic option here.
"Fine, then I guess we talked enough..." Danny said.
"Fine!" Star said, arms crossed as she headed for the door.
"Yeah, bye." Danny said.
Star headed towards the door, only to pause as her foot reached outside his room.
Star thought to herself. Her back was turned so Danny couldn't see the hurt look on her face.
Why do I feel so hurt about this? Is it because… I really do want to get along with him? She thought.
"Well?" Danny asks impatiently, wanting to get back to what he was doing.
"I… uh…" Star went, thinking of things her mother said and thinking of what she actually thinks of Danny Fenton.
That's when she turned around and ran to Danny.
She planted her hands on his face and pulled him in to kiss him on the lips.
Danny froze up, the world ceased to exist. A blush did appear on his face though.
Star stopped the kiss and pulled back before running out of the room in almost alarm. She even slammed the door shut.
Danny stood there, frozen in place. He had completely forgotten what he was doing before his eyes rolled to the headset.
"Oh… uh… r-right…" He went, slowly going to pick it up.
He looked back to the door, wondering if he should talk with Star before deciding to continue with what he was doing.
However, he momentarily reached for his lips and touched them before shaking his head clear and putting it back on.
"Well…" Devereux said as he left his house, holding a blunderbuss in his hands. "After a good 5 minutes of making sure how good I look in the mirror…"
"Of course…" Danny muttered bitterly.
"... time to win Catherine over." He said.
"What's he up to now? And why does he have that thing in his hand?" Danny asks, dreading what's to come.
With Star
She was blushing and pressing her fingers to her lips as she looked back at the elevator she just left..
I can't believe I did it. I mean...I guess he always was kinda cute...did I really hate him or did I just use all the reasons to make fun of him to hide what I thought? She thought, having a lot to think about now.
She opened the door to her room where, to her lack of surprise, her mother and Kwan were there.
"Well?" Stella went, excited to hear what her daughter had to say.
"Did you tell him that you're sorry and you wanna start over and offer him a shot at being in the A-List so Dash and the rest can stop picking on him? They said they'd let him in so that they could get closer to Phantom." Kwan said, gesturing to his phone.
"... not exactly." Star went.
"What do you mean?" Stella said, her smile fading.
"We kind of… argued." Star said.
"Oh…" Stella went, sounding very disappointed to hear that.
"What happened?" Kwan asks.
"Well… he pointed out that I've never given him the time of day and that, until recently, the only times we've ever spoken were me being rude to him. He's not wrong… I've even called him a freak to his face once." Star said, looking to the floor in shame.
"Oh dear…" Stella went, slouching in disappointment. "This is my fault… I shouldn't have been so… eager to spend the money your father makes and go out with my girlfriends. I'd have helped make sure you were with… nicer people." Stella said before her eyes darted to Kwan. "Not you, Kwan… you're… decent." She said, unsure how else to describe him.
"Thanks." Kwan said with a smile, not seeing how she spoke as a problem.
Star kept looking away before her mother noticed how red her face looked.
"Did you go out in the sun? Why is your face so red?" Stella asks.
Star, seeing Kwan on his phone, gestured for her mother to come outside with her. Stella, despite what had just happened, followed her. Once Star closed the door, she whispers to her mother in the hallway.
"So… you know how you accused me of liking Fenton?" Star asks.
"Yes?" Stella responded.
"I… think you're right… I buried it under all the insults and mockery." Star admitted, looking away and being sheepish as her arms swung behind her.
"What happened?" Stella asks.
"I…" Star's shoulders had risen as she closed her eyes. "I kissed him." She confessed as Stella remained silent, much to Star's surprise and discomfort. "Mom?" She asks as she opened her eyes.
That's when Stella smiled.
"You did?" She asks, getting quite eager to hear about it. "What happened next? What'd he say?"
"I don't know… I did it as a surprise as I was leaving and… left before he could talk." Star said shamefully.
"So… you DO like him?" Stella asks.
"... I guess I do." Star admitted.
"Well… why not sit next to him? You two can talk during the show." Stella offered.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Star said quickly and bluntly.
"I beg to differ. Besides, I made the right call dating someone of a more modest background… you liking such a boy shouldn't be so troubling." Stella insisted.
"Great…" Star muttered, fearing that her mother's idea would backfire.
Back in Danny's room
He sat on the bed with a haunted look, judging by his mouth hanging. His sisters and friends entered the room.
"See? He's still here. I told you bringing him some food was a good idea." Danielle said.
"I never said it wasn't… just that you and Tucker wanted to get more for yourself outside the hotel." Jazz pointed out.
"That place has no snacks we want anymore." Danielle and Tucker defended themselves in unison.
Sam rolled her eyes before seeing the look of Danny's hanging mouth.
"What happened?" She asks as she approaches him.
"So… Chastel proposed to Catherine, she said yes, Devereux backhanded her for rejecting him again and now the town is starting to not like him anymore." Danny responded quickly.
"Huh… how forward thinking of provincial France." Sam said.
"So… why did you look like something awful happened?" Tucker asks hesitantly.
"Because… he went to their house to threaten them with his… wonder bus?" Danny asks, gesturing holding a gun.
"Blunderbuss." Sam and Jazz corrected him.
"Right… anyway, he threatened to shoot Jean… but…" Danny went, pausing as he saw what was going on. "Hold it…"
From Devereux's perspective, the door to Catherine's home was opened as she was seen on the floor, crying. Jean was pointing his own blunderbuss at him.
"Look what you did!" Jean shouted.
"I was aiming for you! Not my fault that old fool got in my way!" Cedric stated, unsympathetic to what he's done.
That was the last straw for the town that was watching. Suddenly, he was being booed the villagers, even the women who once desired him greatly.
"Murderer!" One man shouted.
"Get out of the village!" One young woman shouted.
Cedric was vibrating, indicating he was angry, very angry.
"YOU DARE TO TURN AGAINST ME?! OUR COUNTRY'S BEST DRAGOON SOLDIER AND THE FUTURE HEAD OF WHAT WILL BE FRANCE'S GREATEST FAMILY?!" He shouted, aiming his blunderbuss at them.
As the townsfolk panicked, the sounds of other guns were being clocked. Devereux turned his head, seeing that other members of the French military were on horses, aiming their guns at him.
"Devereux…" What appeared to be the leader said with a very disappointed look on his face.
"Sir… allow me." One younger soldier with dark blonde hair had his horse get closer.
"Is that you Duhamel?" Cedric asks, recognizing the younger soldier.
"We had been informed to recruit the best dragoons for the war still going on. I was here on this journey to Le Besseyre-Saint-Mary to leave you be as, from what you said when last we spoke, you'd be busy starting a family. I see that's not what you did." Duhamel said.
"Did a war happen at some point in the late 1730's?" Danny asks.
"A few." Sam and Jazz both responded.
"He's being recruited by someone named Duhamel, someone younger than him." Danny said.
"Josh?" Tucker asks.
"Uh… no. That's one of the men who failed to hunt and kill the Beast. Captain Duhamel." Sam said.
"He's not captain yet… and it's still 1738. You said the Beast attacked in the 60's, so he's got time. Anyway… looks like Devereux's being drafted." Danny said.
"For real? He's still not turning into a werewolf yet?" Sam asks.
"And how much more is this thing gonna show you?" Tucker asks.
From outside of Danny's perspective, with everyone else in the room.
"I wish I knew…" Danny said. "Any chance I can just skim through the war stuff?" He asks the headset, as if it would answer him. Suddenly, what he saw made his jaw drop. "Seriously?!"
"What's wrong?" Sam asks as she and the rest got closer.
"It's cut to a few years later, it said July in 1745." Danny said.
From his perspective, he saw it cut straight to 1745, where Devereux was in a war, aiming his weapon and firing at soldiers from afar.
"What are you seeing now?" Sam asks.
"He's on a battlefield. Was there any war France was in during 1745?" Danny asks
"War of Austrian Succession, and King George's War." Sam answered him.
As Danny heard that, he heard Devereux laughing in an unhinged way.
"Dude's… having fun…" Danny said with an uncomfortable voice.
20 minutes later
Danny was still on the bed, eating a burger from the bag Danielle and Tucker brought him before finishing and moving onto the fries.
"Ketchup?" He asks before reaching into the bag.
"To be without it would be a crime." Danielle said with a smile.
Danny put a ketchup coated fry into his mouth as he chewed. Little did he know, everyone was now watching him. His sisters, his friends, even his parents, were all in the room and watched what he was doing with interest.
"What's happening now?" Jazz asks.
"It's cut to 1760. It's the middle of some… seventh war?" Danny asks.
"The Seven Year War?" Sam asks.
"Yeah." Danny said.
"Looks like you're getting close to when the Beast made his first known kill." Sam said.
"Who was it?" Maddie was heard asking.
"A girl named Jeanne Boulet." She answered.
"Boulet? I think I heard a 14 year old girl saying she'll probably marry someone by that name." Danny said.
"Really?" Sam asks.
Danny nodded before he sat up straight.
"Oh… wait… something's happening." He said.
"What?" Everyone asks.
"He's being discharged. Can't imagine why not… Not only was he having too much fun with this… but he's been picking fights with other dragoons." Danny answered them.
From Devereux's perspective.
"Duhamel? Come now! Convince them they're making a mistake!" Devereux questions him
"It's Captain Duhamel, now." Duhamel answered, a look of disapproval on his face that has aged considerably. "And I supported this idea. You've become far too violent, too temperamental, too arrogant. We can't have you on the field anymore."
"Are you insane?! Or are you jealous that I've made the most kills on the field?!" Devereux questioned, his voice sounding deranged.
"That is not something to take pride in. You have no idea how much I wish we could all go home." Duhamel said, his face making it clear he was tired of all the fighting.
"You've grown soft…" Devereux said.
"And you've grown to be… less of a man." Duhamel said, turning his back to him.
"Excuse me?!" Devereux questioned.
"Cedric… you've been taking your anger at that woman rejecting you years ago and your village casting you out on the battlefield, you've been taking too much enjoyment out of harming others, even if they are the enemy." Duhamel said as he glanced over his shoulder.
"This is war! We're supposed to destroy the enemy!" Devereux shouted angrily.
"You are no longer part of this war." Duhamel said as he began walking away.
"DON'T YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME!" Devereux shouted, pulling out a knife before Duhamel turned around, aiming his gun at him.
"Leave… now." Duhamel ordered.
The scene goes to static before it cuts back to the village of Le Besseyre-Saint-Mary, reading October 1761.
Danny could see people sending dirty looks at Devereux, clearly unaccepting of his return.
Devereux paid them no mind as he returned to his home, which was in poor condition. Dust, broken glass, vermin and paint faded. Clearly, the lodge was no longer taken care of as the crown jewel of the village.
Cedric still got in and looked to see how dusty, dirty and inhospitable his home had become. He walked towards the mirror.
"There's the mirror!" Danny went. "Maybe now I-" Upon closer inspection, the mirror was dusty and cracked, making it difficult to see a reflection. "Oh… never mind…" Danny muttered in disappointment before Devereux punched the mirror, breaking it to pieces.
It then cut to night, Devereux was watching people outside his window from his second story floor. He saw the girl who said she didn't want to marry into the Boulet with her husband, passing but as their daughter picked up a rock and threw it at his window.
"Bad man!" She went.
"That's right, Jeanne." Her mother said as they walked away.
"Jeanne?" Danny asks as Devereux walks away from the window, fuming with rage. "Was that th-"
"OUTRAGEOUS!" Devereux kicked his bed, breaking it in half due to how it's aged. "I was the most beloved and respected dragoon in the village… in Gévaudan! Chastel turned them against me… took her… then the army turned on me just because I'm too good at what I do! This is unacceptable! I'll make them pay! All of them…" He growled in anger as he slammed his fist into the wall, breaking through it.
"Yep, getting major Vlad vibes here." Danny snarked.
"Cedric Devereux?" A new voice asks.
"Huh?" Danny went as he saw Devereux raise his head.
"What's going on, Son?" Jack asks.
"Someone new is here…" Danny said as he saw Devereux raise his head, seeing someone at the doorway that led to outside his room, wearing a robe that had a hood that covered his face.
"Who are you?" Devereux asks.
"Someone who knows your hate for your fellow man… and can help you." This man said.
Special thanks to Flower Princess11.
RonaldM40196867: Because she's their friend. For now. She doesn't know Danny's part ghost. To see Danny. You'll .
Invader Johnny: Yup.
Luiz4200: And... he's dead.
danifan3000: Again... he's dead.
Daniel6: He is not.
Leonardo: I did... but any crossover platform fighter not Smash isn't exactly that engaging for me.
Guest: 1. We'll see her again later. 2. Maturity. 3. Yup. 4. Maybe? 5. Not if they're the villain. 6. We shall see. 7. Yes. 8. Thank you.