Chapter 7: A Girlfriend to the Rescue
"Honestly, Ms. McLain." Vlad said. "I don't know what's harder to believe: you being Skulker's girlfriend; or witches being real and keeping him captive."
"If ghosts can be real, why not witches?" Ember asked. "And besides, for all his flaws, at least he's not obsessed with another guy's wife."
"Burn." The leader of the ghost vultures said.
"Silence!" Vlad commanded and shot an ecto-beam at the vulture.
"Anyway, I need your help against dipstick and his witch girlfriend." Ember stated.
"Is Daniel finally dating Samantha?" Vlad asked with a smirk.
"That goth?" Ember scoffed. "I mean a literal witch."
"Should I be worried about this girlfriend of Daniel's turning me into a frog?" Vlad jokingly asked.
"It'd increase your chances of being kissed by a girl." Ember snarked.
"I hope she brings mouthwash." Another ghost vulture whispered.
"I need your help in rescuing Skulker." Ember said.
Vlad thought it over. "I could overshadow a witch into turning Jack Fenton into something so disgusting Maddie wouldn't want around."
"Another you?" The third ghost vulture asked. Enraged, Vlad shot an ecto-beam at him. "Totally worth it." The vulture commented.
'Plasmius will probably bite more than he can chew but I still can use the distraction.' Ember thought.
Meanwhile, the Fentons were having a conversation of their own. "Danny, you should invite Sabrina over." Jack said. "You already visited her."
"What if she's afraid of coming here?" Danny asked. He really didn't want Sabrina meeting his parents again.
"Tell her your father and I will protect her from any ghosts." Maddie answered.
"Don't worry, little brother." Jazz said. "If Tucker didn't weird her out, our parents have no chance."
"You're right, Jazz." Danny agreed, remembering how Tucker had taken an interest in Hilda.
"Why does it seem like Tucker did something weirder than we're used to?" Jack asked Maddie.
"I don't think we want to know, Jack." Maddie replied apprehensively.
"Me neither." Jack said.
After this conversation, Danny called Sabrina. "What do you say, Sabrina?" Danny asked.
"My aunts are still worried that your parents are hunting witches in addition to hunting ghosts, but I'll try to convince them." Sabrina replied.
"Oooookay." Danny said.
Days later, Sabrina was in Amity Park. "Remember, Danny, people in Amity Park might know that ghosts exist but I'm not ready to let them know the same applies to witches." Sabrina said. "So don't expect me to openly use my powers against them."
Someone then approached the happy couple. "What's a cute girl like you doing with a loser like him?"
"Beat it, Dash." Danny ordered.
"Fenton, if you know what's best for you, you'll..." Dash was saying until he tripped on his shoelaces.
"Learn how to tie your shoes." Sabrina said as she pulled Danny away. "Is that one of the bullies you and Tucker wanted me to turn into frogs?" She asked Danny.
"Yes." Danny answered. "Did you..."
"What that Dash and the Witches' Council don't know won't hurt them." She answered. "Or us."
"I like the way you think, Sabrina." Danny commented.
After escaping from Dash, Danny and Sabrina went to Fentonworks. "Good to see you again, Sabrina." Jack said.
"Likewise, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton." Sabrina replied.
"Sabrina, do you and Danny want cookies?" Maddie offered.
"Yes, Mom. Thank you." Danny replied as he took a cookie.
"Thank you, Mrs. Fenton." Sabrina added as she took another cookie.
Suddenly, they heard the doorbell. "Are we expecting another visitor?" Jazz asked.
"No." Jack replied and the other Fentons agreed with him. He went to check and it was Sam. "Is Sabrina there?" The goth girl asked.
"Sabrina, this is my other best friend Sam Manson." Danny made the introductions. "Sam, this is my girlfriend Sabrina Spellman." He said, not knowing how Sam felt hearing Danny describe her that way.
"Nice to meet you, Sam." Sabrina said, trying to be polite.
"I've heard about you from a mutual friend," Sam commented. "Gem Stone."
"Ugh." Sabrina reacted. "Gem isn't exactly a friend of mine. And you must be rich for Gem to consider you her friend."
'I won't deny that Gem gave me that impression,' Sam thought. "I don't like to talk about it, but yes." She admitted it.
"Who's Gem?" Danny asked in confusion.
"A former classmate of mine." Sabrina answered. "She's a spoiled brat who thinks her family's money places her above other people."
"True, it does sound like the impression I had of her." Sam conceded. 'And it explains why my parents wanted me to befriend her.' She mentally added.
"Then why did you bring her up, Sam?" Danny asked.
"No special reason." Sam quickly lied.
"Sam, you'd better not be here to interfere with Danny and Sabrina." Jazz scolded the goth.
"Jazz, why do you think she'd do that?" Danny asked, still oblivious to Sam's feelings.
"Little brother, you're so clueless." Jazz commented and their parents nodded.
"Danny, how about you show me more of Amity Park while Sam and Jazz chat?" Sabrina suggested.
"Good idea, Sabrina." Danny replied.
Danny took Sabrina to the mall. Their first stop was the food court, where they had lunch. "That was a good meal," Sabrina commented. "Now what?"
"Do you like arcade games, Sabrina?" Danny asked. The two of them played a racing game. "Ha!" She exclaimed. "I win!"
"We paid for three races, Sabrina." Danny pointed out.
Two races later, Sabrina was happy for her overall victory. "One out of three wasn't bad." Danny said.
As they left the game place, they chanced upon Tucker. "Hi, guys." Tucker said.
"Nice to see you, Tuck." Danny replied.
"Better you than Dash." Sabrina commented.
"Oh, you met him?" Tucker asked and then whispered. "Did you turn him into a frog?"
"You already know how I feel about it." Sabrina answered.
"No harm in asking." Tucker shrugged.
"You wouldn't be so sure about that if you'd asked the Witches' Council, Tucker," Sabrina commented.
"I'd rather not know," Tucker replied.
"Wise decision." Sabrina agreed.
"Well, I don't want to ruin your date any further." Tucker said. "Bye."
"So what do we do now?" Danny asked.
Sabrina noticed a famliar wisp coming from his mouth. "Now you go ghost." She said.
"BEWARE!" The ghost said as he phased his way from the floor. "I am the Box Ghost, master of all thi..." He then took a look at Sabrina. "Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh! That's the witch Skulker warned us ghosts about!" He screamed and flew away.
"I hope all ghosts are that afraid of you." Danny commented.
"Not if one of them decides to tell the mortals about me." Sabrina whispered.
"Who'd take the Box Ghost seriously?" Danny dismissively asked.
Meanwhile, at Fentonworks, Sam was trying to get Danny's family to tell more about Sabrina. "For the last time, Sam, we find nothing wrong with that Sabrina girl." Maddie stated, tired of Sam's desire for Danny.
"Mrs. Fenton, don't you find odd that a beautiful girl likes Danny?" Sam asked.
"More beautiful than you, you mean." Jack said.
Their conversation was interrupted by the Box Ghost. "Hurry! Send me back to the Ghost Zone before that witch catches me!" He pleaded.
"Which witch?" Maddie asked and quickly regretted using those two words together.
"The one dating your son!" The Box Ghost screamed.
"Danny's not dating Paulina." Sam protested.
"Not her." The Box Ghost said. "A literal witch. I'm talking about the blonde dating him. Sabrina Spellman!"
"Nonsense." Jack replied with a frown. "Just because 'spell' is part of her name it doesn't mean she's a witch. What comes next: suspecting Danny Fenton and Danny Phantom are the same because of the name similarities?"
"Just send me back, please." The Box Ghost said.
"Whatever." Jack shrugged and led the ghost to the portal.
"Could you believe that ghost?" Maddie asked. "Expecting us to think witches are real."
"I might as well check John Fenton Nightingale's notes." Jack commented.
"Good idea, Mr. Fenton." Sam agreed, hoping it'd distract them from figuring out Danny's secret.
Meanwhile, back at the mall, Danny and Sabrina stopped in front of a shop where Danny intended to buy a game. He was about to enter when he heard his phone ring. "Sam?"
"Danny, you probably won't believe it but the Box Ghost showed up at your home and told some story about your girlfriend being a witch and not the kind I say Paulina is." Sam said.
"Really?" Danny asked, trying to sound convincing. "Where would he get that idea?"
"Maybe he thinks Sabrina is Gem Stone's friend." Sam suggested.
"Or Paulina's." Danny joked, partly for the joke and partly to keep Sam from knowing the truth.
"Probably." Sam agreed.
After that phone conversation, Danny spoke to Sabrina. "What happens now that Sam knows the truth?"
"Well, she didn't believe him so it's probably no harm done." Sabrina replied.
Danny was worried about the 'probably' but decided not to say anything.
Their conversation was interrupted when Sabrina's cell phone rang. "Aunt Zelda?"
"Sabrina, is Danny with you?" Zelda Spellman asked urgently. "I need to talk to him!"
Sabrina handed the phone to Danny. "Is there a problem?"
"Danny, does the name Ember McLain mean anything to you?" Zelda asked.
"She's one of my ghost enemies, Zelda." Danny replied, worried that someone would ask about Ember.
"That's what I feared," Zelda commented. "Ember McLain is going to be performing in the Netherworld, and I don't think it's a coincidence that it's happening so soon after Skulker's capture."
"I feel the same way," Danny replied.
"Unfortunately, we can't just do anything to her without catching her breaking Netherworld laws," Zelda stated. "Your help would still be appreciated, though."
"I'd be happy to help," Danny replied.
Meanwhile, at the Manson Mansion, Jeremy Manson was making an announcement. "Good news! I've bought a vacation home in Greendale! This will give us an excuse to get closer to the Stones, and if that doesn't work out, we can earn some extra income by renting the house out!"
"Hooray." Sam said sarcastically.
"At least the rent will make this not a complete waste of time and money," Ida commented.
"You never had any faith in my business acumen, Mother," Jeremy complained.
"You never gave me a reason to." She replied.
"You'll eat your words when our friendship with the Stones increases our status at the country club," Jeremy declared.
"We'll be on Mars before that happens, Jeremy." Ida replied.
"Good one, Grandma!" Sam exclaimed in approval.
Meanwhile, in the Netherworld, Ember was practicing. "Ember, are you sure Skulker is worth this?" Kitty asked. "You could have a better boyfriend. Or be alone."
"That advice goes for you too, Kitty." Penelope Spectra commented.
"Stay out of it." Johnny 13 ordered.
"You're not the boss of me." Spectra replied.
"Please remember that we're here to free the Skulker." Ember pleaded.
"That's why you're here." Kitty corrected her. "I'm here because I wanted to see a new environment."
"I'm here for Kitty." Johnny 13 added.
"And I'm here to see if I can hurt the Phantom." Spectra said.
"This is going to be a long night." Ember muttered.
End chapter
Answer to guests: I hope this update is good enough.
