DP Justified

After rebuilding trust in the Ghost Zone, he found a publisher willing to publish his work. Even though he learned his lesson about messing with the ghost boy during the Truce, he found himself really liking to write about him. So he turned to fiction with a main character who was a thinly veiled version of Danny. The series? The Phantom Chronicles.

From his friends to the people at Amity High, everything was ripped off and dramatized. Danny had no idea why his senior year was so full of drama either, but he chalked it up to teenage hormones. Ghostwriter had upped his skills of subtlety, which meant his reading voice was not heard over the characters. He also minimized his manipulation of events and just set up scenarios, letting them play out for themselves.

The most popular plots - according to the reader survey - are: 1. ghost fights 2. having Danny solve other students’ love troubles 3. having Danny solve other people’s drama in town, from murder mysteries to who stole the cookies.

Ghostwriter runs a reader contest, and whoever wins gets to be the next ghost Danny fights in an intense plot-filled battle. With profit from the series, Ghostwriter has quickly landed a spot on the Ghost Zone’s up and up list and moved his lair to the rich and powerful section. He even has a wife now.

It is only natural that Ember became a fan of the series. She sneaks and buys the books, and pretends she doesn’t, but everyone knows. Everyone. She is also one of the main ones sending passive aggressive letters to Ghostwriter, demanding that he adds more Ember battles and match making scenarios. She is especially excited once reading the teaser that Danny will have to help Pointdexter get a date in the next installment. She is also kinder to Danny and his friends than usual.

If a ghost and the possessed person are on a similar wavelength aka they have an emotion in common, the ghost can overshadow them for a longer period of time. For example, Sam would be more easily possessed or controlled by a ghost with darkness, animal, or plant related powers.

Ghosts can overshadow other ghosts, but for only short periods of time...unless the ghost is mentally weak. Spectra is actually a natural at this, but prefers to break down her victims from an outside perspective, so she can see them squirm. It is easier to overshadow a “clone”, or division of a ghost, than the ghost’s real body because clones have a minuscule mental capacity.

The more times a person is overshadowed, the less resistant they become. Jack is particularly weak.

When someone is overshadowed, they don’t realize they are not in control, at first. To some victims, the events play out as a dream, which they have trouble remembering when the ghost comes out of their body. This phenomenon is very common with the people Danny overshadows.

1. Turner Syndrome. Ah, the classic. In this top class and scientifically justifiable theory, Dani only inherits the X chromosomes from Danny, hence her instability and short stature. While she wanders the world for a while, eventually Danny - with his responsibility - will drag her back into someone’s care, whether it would be his parents or even himself as a legal guardian.

2. The 50-50. Because Vlad has a strange romantic streak, he uses Valerie to not only harvest DNA from Danny, but also from a female that was most likely to have her DNA on his clothes - Sam. Either way it makes for one awkward situation, but of course Vlad wasn’t going to let anyone find out how his “child” was created anyway.

3. The Weird and the Wonderful. Vlad had no idea why Dani was the most stable of his clones. The other unstable clones, including the “perfect son” that perished in that fateful episode, were unmistakably clones of Danny. But although Dani and Danny share common interests and look similar, is there really any proof that Dani is actually Danny’s clone and not Vlad’s clone? No. This is Turner Syndrome, but with Vlad’s DNA instead of Danny’s.

“Yes!” Jazz cheered. She had finally defeated a ghost by herself. Well, just with her parent’s weapons, but even they fought as a team. Today she took down Kitty, who was busy stealing makeup from the store, as well as breaking perfume bottles. Once she captured her with the Jack-o-rang, she looked closer.

Kitty...didn’t look well. Her eyes were sunken, her hair didn’t look like it had been groomed in months, and her makeup looked like it had been put on like a five year old. Not to mention all the scratches on her arms and legs....

“Let me get my stash,” Kitty growled, fighting her restrains. She started foaming at the mouth.

Jazz took out a notebook. “This is clearly a case of drug addiction. I have to study further.”

She sucked Kitty up into the Thermos to bring her back to the lab. After releasing her, Kitty kept asking for some sort of stash, so Jazz untied her hands. She then desperately reached for her purse and pulled out what looked like glowing grass. She stuffed a bunch up her nose and heaved heavily, before rolling on the floor.

Jazz grabbed a sample while Kitty’s mind was in who knows what land and stuck it into her pocket.

“Jazz? You home yet?” Her little brother called from upstairs.

She went up and opened the door.

He and Tucker were working on homework, from the looks of it.

“Hi Jazz,” Tucker explained. “We can’t figure out this one math problem for trig. These triangle formulas are really throwing us for a loop. Think you can help us?”

“Think?” She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “Sure I can help, as long as I’m not doing the problem for you like last time.”

Danny dropped his pencil and stared at her, with drool coming down from his mouth. “Danny, are you asleep already?” Jazz chided, but Danny approached and sniffed around her.

“What...is that smell?” He asked, then started feeling her pockets. “I can’t even think straight.”

After thinking for a moment, she pulled out the grass. “This?”

Danny leapt for it, but Jazz pulled out the Thermos and sucked the grass inside. “Just great. Whatever it is, it affects halfas too. Are you sane now?”

“I...” He looked confused. “I just blanked out there. I’m not sure what happened.”

“Don’t worry, your big sis has it covered! Sorry to sound like our parents but...you need to come to the lab.”

Danny and Tucker followed her, and she showed them Kitty, who was currently passed out in the corner. She looked dead.

“If you don’t want to be like her Danny, we’re going to attempt to make this grass have a connection with something you really, really hate.”

“Like homework?” Tucker suggested.

“Like Brussels sprouts.”

“Eww,” Danny said, sticking out his tongue in disgust.

“And meanwhile, Tucker, I need your help to study this ghost and this grass’s drug-like effects. Maybe we can wean her off?”

Tucker wiggled his glasses. “I’ve got an A in Chemistry, so I think I’m ready to be a scientist.”

Danny cringed. As a big sister, she needed to help him with his grades. At least that would help him focus more on saving people.

...

It took a few weeks, and various combinations of baking the grass together with things Danny hated for him to stop losing his mind every time it was around. Of course, she and Tucker had to collect the stuff - the location coming from Kitty - in order to have enough for the study.

After doing combined research with Sam’s help, Jazz found that methodone, the same medicine used for opioid addicts, could be applied to this after exposure to ectoplasm.

With Kitty, they decreased her dose gradually and replaced the grass with the harmless lemongrass before her cravings decreased enough for her to resist normally.

It was time for the survey.

“So,” Jazz said to Kitty. “How did you become addicted to this...ghost nip, shall we say?” Kitty chewed on a strand of lemongrass in thought. “Johnny gave it to me. Spectra diagnosed him for his anxiety, and I’ve been having trouble sleeping, so he told me to try it. It made me feel good, even just having it by my bed at night.”

“I can’t get over the fact that ghosts sleep,” Tucker said.

Kitty continued. “But after that, I really couldn’t control the dose anymore. When I have too much, I really lose my mind. I don’t even remember what I did before I ended up here. And Johnny...I haven’t seen him in weeks.”

The group looked at each other.

Jazz nodded. “It’s time for us to help you.”

They ventured into the Ghost Zone with the Specter Speeder. It was tragic how widespread the addiction was. Shady ghosts were hawking the stuff, and countless ghosts were just floating aimlessly. A new ghost lair had popped up just to bury dead ghosts.

Dead ghosts, now that was a strange topic.

She wrote it down to research later. For now, they were on a medical mission. Danny and Kitty split up with them to recruit Walker, who was apparently struggling to get a handle on the drug trade, while Jazz and Tucker delivered medicine and trained other ghosts on medical care. They ran into Technus, who quickly developed a machine to mass manufacture the medicine.

It was time to rendezvous with Danny.

...

She wasn’t surprised that Spectra was behind the whole thing. Walker and Danny had teamed up to beat her up, and she was currently in a jail cell in the ghost’s infamous prison.

Jazz sat down with a notebook.

“Ah, I bet you want to know my motivations,” Spectra said with a smile.

“Prison suits you,” Jazz replied. Apparently Spectra’s fellow prisoners were letting her know what they thought of her. A number of her teeth were missing, and she had a bald spot.

“Simple. With misery creates power. I was top dog here, top dog. Before you and the stupid ghost boy ruined my plans, again.”

“Why did you make your own kind your enemy? You usually just pick on humans.” If she had caused an epidemic in the human world, it would have been truly disastrous.

“I happened to come across it after following that vampire ghost. He’s one of us, but he’s not. He doesn’t live here in the Ghost Zone. I know the psychology of addiction. It almost had me myself, but I am stronger than that. Not everyone gave into the ghost nip, you know. And what a pity. I wonder how Danny Phantom was able to resist. His misery was always the sweetest.”

After collecting her thoughts on paper, Jazz went out and informed Tucker and Danny.

“You think Vlad’s addicted right now?” Tucker said. “I mean, he’s already nuts, but we should still help him, right?”

“Right. Let’s check it out...Kitty?”

She flew up to them with tears in her eyes. “Johnny’s dead. I...It was too late. He’s already fallen apart.”

“When ghosts die...” Jazz wanted to continue but trailed off. She wanted to satisfy her curiosity so badly.

“Yes, we turn back into ectoplasm. We were happy together. This thing tore us apart. I...I can’t live alone!”

Jazz embraced her. “You can do it. We believe in you.”

It was hard to leave her there in such an unstable condition, so they asked Ghost Writer to look after her, then sped off towards Vlad’s portal entrance.

There, she was not expecting what she saw.

Vlad Plasmius floated in front of the TV with blank eyes.

“Vlad?” Danny said, as they slowly walked in front of him. “You haven’t been popping up lately. Have you heard of that...grass stuff?”

“Oh, that.” Vlad looked down. “I ran out a long time ago. But look at me now. I don’t seem to have a human form anymore, my boy.”

“...” Jazz couldn’t say anything, and apparently neither could Danny. They decided to just sit next to him.

Tucker wordlessly left the room, then came back a few minutes later. “Nope, no body anywhere. You can’t have just died like that. Don’t give up hope.”

Vlad sighed. “I sleep, I eat, and I wake up. It’s been a week, and now...I’m relieved, actually. No more do I have to pretend to be somebody.”

Jazz got out her notebook and jotted down notes. “Don’t worry Vlad. And I’m sure Danny will help too. Whatever happened to you, we can reverse it. Together.”

Danny wordlessly put a hand on Vlad’s shoulder.

Tucker chipped in. “Hey, even I’ll help. I’m pretty good with computers.”

“Really good,” said Danny. “He might even give you some ideas, DALV Corp. CEO.”

Vlad cracked a smile.

Addictions can tear us apart, but the aftermath can still bring us together, because we can heal together.

After the GIW almost arrested his parents and scared him into getting rid of his ghost powers, and he still managed to save the world...the last thing he expected was an apology, and a condition.

Currently he was sitting in the living room with the GIW, Sam and Tucker, Jazz, Valerie, and his parents. Why they wanted even Valerie to come was beyond him.

He was trying to keep a low profile. Ever since his secret was revealed, they had to install steel blinders on the window to stop the paparazzi. Sam’s parents even chipped in to send him personally to school, even though they probably still had it in for him for dating their daughter. Well, he couldn’t say he never caused trouble, but still.

“We, the GIW, sincerely apologize for making your life difficult,” said the two black and white agents. What were their names again? These two had personally chased him and shot at him on countless occasions.

“Well, thanks. I guess I accept.” If anything, since they were government agents, they probably didn’t even need to apologize. They could have just sent a letter.

Jazz spoke up sternly. “There’s something you want, isn’t it.”

“The United States government agrees that Danny Phantom should be a secret of state. We have already dealt with the other countries, and are currently dealing with this one now.”

Maddie gasped. “Dealing with, you mean-”

“Like Men in Black!” Jack finished.

“We wiped their memories, yes,” The black agent answered. “I trust you all will keep this little secret between us. But as a matter of trust, you all need to join the organization, as a matter of course.”

“We’re independent scientists, so I don’t see how we can join,” Maddie said.

“We have grant money,” the white agent said.

“We’re in.”

“Mom,” said Jazz. “You can’t cave that easily.”

“Well, honey, grant money puts food on this table. And after this summer you’re heading to college. I’d prefer not to have to take out loans.”

Jazz looked down at the table.

“Um,” Valerie started. “We’re in high school. I don’t think we qualify to be government agents.”

“The government makes exceptions,” said the white agent. “Officially, you will be “interns”. And if you join us, Danny Fenton, also known as Danny Phantom, you come under our protection. We will not harm you, nor your friends, in any way. Once again, we apologize for not trusting you at your word, and realize that we did more harm than good.”

“Oh, you realize that, huh,” Sam said, raising an eyebrow.

She beat him to it.

“I guess we have to join then,” said Danny after a moment of silence. “Glad to be working with you?”

The agents passed out badges. “We, agents 9 and 11, will be your superiors. And of course, our superiors will be your superiors. Report to us for your training after school. You will be escorted to and from school and will not be home until this training is complete. It will be approximately three weeks. Additionally, we have upgraded our skills so do not underestimate this training.”

“Right...” Hopefully they weren’t so bumbling.

The agents continued. “We will notify your parents, Ms. Manson, Mr. Foley, and Ms. Grey. To them, this is a special study camp. Never reveal to any other students or mention in public that you are intern special agents. With that clear...”

They took their coats off their chairs and put them back on, then walked outside.

“Good day.”

They stared at the door, and then each other.

“I’m kinda worried,” said Valerie. “You think our fighting skills will dumb down from this training?”

“Who cares,” Tucker said, leaning on the table with one elbow. “We’re all secret agents!”

Dani growled at the man in front of her from her prison cell.

He was dressed in a suit, as usual, and was eating a steak. This steak, however, was different in that it was glowing green.

“Ah,” the man said, exposing his fangs. “Are you hungry? I’m sorry, want a taste?”

He cut a square and walked over to the cell, sticking it through the bars. She knocked it away in disgust.

“How can you eat ghosts, Vlad? When did this...happen to you?”

“It’s no different than normal meat, my darling little badger.” For some reason, he started calling her that again. He hadn’t since...she called him Father.

A crumpled form in the corner spoke up. “What are you doing this for? Let us go!”

“Ah, Valerie. Don’t worry, I have no interest in human meat. You should try this too. Fresh from the hunt. This ghost had the power to switch human body parts. It was no friend of yours. In fact, I only eat predators these days.”

“A...” Dani took a moment to throw up.

Valerie exclaimed, “You eat humanoids?”

“Like I said, it’s perfectly normal. You don’t know what you’re missing. The taste of it on your tongue, the exuberance you feel, the power flowing in your veins-” Vlad was simply glowing until Valerie cut him off.

“I don’t care if you get a power up from these things or not. You’ve gone too far, Vlad. And you can’t kidnap us, people will find you!”

He snapped his finger and a ghostly clone pushed Valerie from behind right into the bars.

“Are they, really? Vlad reached through the bars and stroked her chin. “Maybe for you, my dear, but not for this street urchin. And besides, didn’t you two barge into my house talking about how you wanted revenge? After all I did to help you with your revenge, Valerie, I’m hurt.” He turned to Dani. “You should be grateful you get to live in the first place, Danielle. I made you.”

Dani wiped her mouth and went right up to the bars to stare him down, even though her courage was shrinking with each passing second. “Technically, without stealing Danny’s DNA you wouldn’t have been able to make me in the first place. And I was never the one you wanted. I was a mistake. Somehow you made a girl instead, and all the boys kept dying because they were less stable than I am. Than I...was before Danny saved me. We’re here to severe this bond, Vlad. And yet, you’re doing even worse things. Do you even have a heart anymore?”

“Ah, yes, of course I do. You know, this tears me apart more than you know. I’m doing this for your sakes, ladies. And I’ve always had such sympathy for you, my daughter.”

“I am not your da-”

“Unloved, unappreciated, without a home. We’re more alike than you know. And yes, if you can’t come to my side alive, then I shall have to kill you. I’ve always been curious about how your meat tastes.” Vlad wiped the drool from his mouth and Dani shuddered.

“Wait!” Valerie said, pushing away Vlad’s clone to wrap Dani in her arms. “I won’t let you do this. I am her family. Danny and his friends are also her family. She is not alone. Don’t you dare lie to her.”

Dani sobbed. After being on the streets for a few months, she had run into Valerie again, who insisted she stay with Valerie and her dad. It didn’t take long to convince him either. She was officially Valerie’s sister. But what Vlad did to warp her mind all this time, she couldn’t escape from it and frequently locked herself in her room to escape. Valerie thought confronting Vlad and giving him a good pounding would set Dani free. But this...was such a mistake. Did eating ghosts make Vlad stronger?

“Are you even half human anymore?” Dani cried to him.

Vlad looked down at himself and then back up. “Looks like it.”

“But, you have claws, and fangs, even in your normal form! Are you addicted? You’ve got to fight it!”

He reached over with one clawed hand before gripping it with the other. “Ah, that’s the problem. Once you start you can’t stop. Anyway, it’s time.”

“No!” Valerie cried. “I won’t let you.”

She got up as Vlad’s clone approached. She wrestled the clone before another one appeared, throwing her back and pounding her with fists.

“Leave her alone!” Dani cried, blasting at the clone. It blocked with a shield. The other clone pushed her down and kicked her until she coughed up blood. Then she felt a prick in her arm. Soon her vision blurred.

“Don’t worry,” Vlad said. “You won’t lose consciousness, but I have dulled the pain. I’m not heartless, honest.”

“Leave her...” She heard Valerie’s groans as a clone picked her up and put her on a table. With a shock, she was forcefully turned into her ghost form.

Vlad stood over her, leering with a sick look on his face while picking up a scalpel.

“What shall I have first...I suppose I’ll start here.”

She could only watch as he slit her upper arm. It was surreal, watching herself bleed without much but a dull sensation in her head.

It was only when he started slicing muscle that she screamed. He punched her.

Then, all of a sudden, arms reached behind Vlad and snapped on a belt.

Vlad elbowed behind him, and tried to tug it off. He looked low on energy.

“Who?” Vlad whirled around. “Why didn’t the security system notify me? Daniel? I thought I took care of you-”

“It was your plan, wasn’t it?” said Tucker, who looked a little scared standing there, even though he adopted a power stance. “Drugging Danny. He’d been sleeping all day. I’m so glad Valerie at least left a message on his phone, but no, no one counts on  me, do they. And by the way, your security is a joke.”

“T-Tucker...” She could barely hear Valerie’s voice from the cell. “You...”

“Yes, I, Tech genius, has arrived! And I thought ahead too. I’m aware of what I can and can’t do. And right now, I can beat you.”

Vlad struggled to get up. His fangs and claws were still present. “Oh yeah? You and what army? You admitted to me that Danny Phantom is out of order, didn’t you. What can you, a spineless, no powered, geek, do to me?”

Tucker stared. “I can do this, you piece of trash!” He punched Vlad with enough force to knock him down. Vlad tried to sit up, but Tucker got on top of him and pounded him again, and again, and again.

“Don’t touch my friends, and don’t touch my Dani!”

“...My?” She managed to say.

“Hey, you’re cute. You didn’t know? I’ve been hitting on you for a while. But don’t reject me right now.”

She looked down from her position to see Vlad’s face unrecognizable. It was satisfying.

Valerie hobbled over to them. “Finally, with the clones gone I could pick the lock. Dani, you’re hurt!” Valerie grabbed a tablecloth and wrapped her arm in it.

“Oh, don’t worry Val, I’ll heal.” She tried to laugh.

Tucker and Valerie unbuckled her from the table and then fought over who was going to carry her. Tucker eventually relented and let Valerie have the honors.

She smiled. Before this, she didn’t really know how loved she was.

When they were moving to leave, a ghost in a fedora came out of the portal.

“You rang?” said Walker, staring right at Tucker.

Tucker pointed to the sorry state of Vlad on the floor. “Isn’t this guy committing some ghost crimes or something that you can take him in for?”

After eyeing the room, including the trash can full of rotting ghost corpses, and the presence of the transformation ghosts have when they become cannibalistic, he nodded. “Sure he is. Thank you for the report. We’ll have to take him in for intense rehabilitation. Once we drain him of his powers, he’s looking at a 5000 year life sentence.” With his powers, Walker generated a chain that wrapped around Vlad, then he dragged him into the Ghost Zone. He poked his head out of the portal again briefly. “Make sure you follow the rules, stay out of trouble, and eat your dinner on time.” Walker then left.

“Well, well, well,” Tucker said, facing Valerie who now had Dani on her back. “This is why you never should go anywhere without having a backup plan, wouldn’t you say.”

“Oh boy,” Valerie said, rolling her eyes. “I sure learned something today. And how did you call Walker anyway.”

“Oh, after some misunderstandings, apparently he’s my grandfather?”

Valerie blinked. “O...kay. Now let’s get home before my dad finds out.”

Dani managed a smile. “I love you guys.”

I really, really am loved, aren’t I?

His secret was out to the world alright, he was sure of it. But somehow, when he woke up the next morning, even his parents didn’t remember there was an asteroid in the first place. The only thing different was a mysterious machine in Antarctica had appeared overnight, and there was a strange conspiracy going around about ghosts being aliens.

Either way, after thinking about it, he was much better off without worldwide attention. He was having a hard time living normally with just four people knowing his secret, namely his sister, his best friend and girlfriend, and Valerie.

And after confirming with him, they too were confused that no one seemed to remember.

“I’m telling you guys,” they heard Wes, a kid one grade ahead of them that was on the Casper High Basketball team. “That nerd kid Danny Fenton is actually Danny Phantom.”

“Him? Are you getting high again, Wes. Lay off the munchies.”

“It’s not...” He spotted Danny and rushed over to him. “Hey, kid, tell them the truth!”

“Uh.” Danny didn’t know what to say, but he wondered why this guy remembered when no one else did. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Wes’s friends laughed and went off.

“Just great!” Wes tore off his baseball cap and threw it down. “You made me look like a complete idiot. Why does no one see it?”

“Do you remember the meteorite?” Tucker asked, and Sam leaned in.

“Meteorite? What meteorite.”

“Why do you think he’s Phantom then?” Sam added.

“I’ve seen it...I’ve seen you transform. That day when the ghost came into the gym. I’ve done a lot of research. My friends won’t believe me! You’re an alien, right?”

“Since when are ghosts aliens?” Danny said. He couldn’t believe this guy.

Wes pulled out a book titled “Aliens are Coming: The Conspiracy No One Wants You to Know.”

“It says here that after the world is exposed to ecto-cosmic radiation, it will use the memories from this event to power some kind of device that primes this planet for takeover. You know, that machine in the Arctic?”

“That thing? That was just for making the earth intang- I mean-”

“You see? You know what it’s for! You really are Phantom, aren’t you?”

“Look Wes, can you promise to keep a secret? I can’t exactly protect this town with fans going crazy on me.”

“You...you’re really.”

Danny flashed his eyes green briefly. “Yep, congratulations.”

“I was right? I was right!”

“You’re loud,” Sam said, putting a hand on Wes’ shoulder.

Tucker loomed over him - well, as best as he could since Wes was at least 6 feet tall. “Now that you’re in on it, you have to hang with us now. And any blabbing will get you sent straight to a ghostly prison.”

“G-ghost prison?” Wes said.

Danny was sure they were enjoying intimidating one of the popular kids.

A week later, they had gotten to know Wes a bit more, as well as some of his wild theories on aliens.

“I think they kidnapped Mayor Masters,” Wes said over fries. “Don’t you think so? Why else would he have disappeared. Plus, with that meteorite you guys said everyone forgot about, our memories have probably been absorbed and somehow you guys were protected.”

“Maybe it’s because we sleep with these Fenton Headphones?” Tucker said, showing off the device from his pocket. The three of them made it a habit ever since Ember’s mind control messed with their heads, but slacked off until Nocturne’s takeover.

“...Can I have some? They might prevent the aliens from getting inside my head.”

“Right,” Sam said, rolling her eyes. “I’m sure Danny’s parents would love to make you some for the low price of $39.99, tax not included.”

“Take my money!” Wes took out his wallet.

“Hold up there,” Danny said. “Money can wait. Anyway, I kind of am worried about Vlad. You know, this whole time he was acting kind of...erratic up till the meteorite.”

“He must have been controlled by the aliens to bring down the meteorite!” Wes insisted.

“That idea’s totally not out there,” Tucker said, before taking another bite of his burger.

“He must be in space. Danny, let’s go look for him.”

“...Why?”

“You said you were worried about the old fruit loop,” Sam said, prodding him with an elbow. “Go ahead on a little space trip. I won’t miss you too much. We can talk through the coms anyway.”

Tucker added, “I can update that space ship your dad used last time with a wider space map and get it hooked up to our system. We’ll guide you from down here.”

Danny smiled a bit. He still had his astronaut helmet in his room.

Here we go again, Houston!

On Saturday, Danny and Wes flew up to the rock Vlad was apparently abandoned on. There were signs of a struggle, and a picture of Maddie left behind.

“He was taken after all!” Wes cried from the ship, viewing from the camera attached to Danny’s space helmet. Danny flew out and picked up the picture. Surprisingly this rock was big enough to have a gravitational pull. On the back of the picture there was a hastily scribbled note.

“Daniel, if you’re seeing this...I was wrong. I have a tracker. Please, save me, if you have a heart.” Hidden in the corner of the frame was a memory card.

Always pulling the purse strings. Why do I care about this guy anyway?

It wasn’t just that he pitied him, but he knew that Vlad wasn’t all evil, even though he said he was.

“Rescue mission!” Wes cried out like a mantra.

“Space! Trip!” Tucker cried from over the com.

“As long as you’re back by Monday?” Sam added. “And besides, you can use some blackmail on Vlad, and he’ll owe you big time if you save his butt.”

“Okay fine,” Danny said, flying back to the ship. “We’ve gotta try to get back by Monday. Wes, did I ever tell you how much I like space? Oh, this is gonna be great.”

He was excited already. He couldn’t wait to use the ship’s features to take pictures of the asteroids. But what about the Milky Way? What would he do if he saw a black hole? He wondered if they led to the Ghost Zone or let him time travel.

Tucker poked fun at him over the intercom. “Did you switch to space mode again? Come on, I like Super Danny. Hero Danny. Stop it with the glittery space mode.”

“I don’t sparkle like a vampire when I think about space, I have acne, not freckles, and I don’t have an obsession! Let alone two.” Danny yelled.

“Ow, loud,” said Sam.

Tucker didn’t know when to quit. “Don’t you have three? One being this lovely lady over here.”

“Ghosts have obsessions?” said Wes, interested.

“Not me, at any rate! It’s just a joke Tucker likes to pull on me,” Danny said. “I’m kicking your butt when I get back, Tucker.”

“But I’ve gotten faster at running...” Tucker chided. “Ow!”

“I kicked his butt for you, so get a move on!” Sam said.

“Love you too,“ Danny said, then sat back down in the pilot seat.

Wes pulled out his mp3 player and played “The Final Countdown”.

“Now we’re talkin’!” Danny exclaimed while Wes started jamming out. He inserted the memory card and the system drew up a navigation plan. Apparently it would take them a day to fly to Vlad’s location, wherever he was. And if Wes was right, they might would run into aliens.

Who cares. Space Trip.

“Why don’t you go with your Aunt Alicia to see your sister, sweetie?” Danny’s mom asked him.

Aunt Alicia was visiting them from Arkansas. She hadn’t done that in forever, not since her divorce at any rate. Maybe that meant she was withdrawing from her hermit stage and felt more social. Everyone was proud of her. But...

“The thing is mom,” he replied with a shrug. “I kinda had something planned with Sam and Tucker...”

His mom’s look was not allowing him to say no, so off he went.

Although Aunt Alicia had an old clunker trunk for a car, the ride was pretty smooth. Jazz’s school was about an hour away so they had plenty of time to catch up. Not that he wanted to catch up.

“So, kiddo, how’s your love life?”

“Ah, it’s good. Dating my best friend, you know...”

“My ex-husband was my best friend. Piece of trash he turned out to be. Cheating on me with some scamp woman who flirted with him at the supermarket. So what if she’s thinner and younger than me? He’s not that great of a catch either!”

“Uh...” Okay, scratch that topic. “Jazz seems happy in college. She texted back about which dorm she’s staying in. I brought the map so once we get off the freeway I’ll tell you where to turn.”

“Such a responsible man you’ve turned out to be. I’m proud of you. Now if you can just bring up your grades...”

“My mom says too much,” Danny grumbled. “I’m up to a B- average this year. I’m working on it. I haven’t even been in detention this whole year.”

“Working hard!”

When she wasn’t negative, Aunt Alicia was really nice and knew how to cheer a person up. It was too bad she lived so far away. Maybe when she cheered up, she could move closer.

They parked in the dorm parking lot and were starting to walk in when Danny rushed ahead.

“I’ll see you there, Aunty. I’m going to surprise Jazz first!” He said with a smile and rushed ahead. Once in the building, he went behind a shelf and went ghost, then flew intangibly to Jazz’s dorm room. Luckily she didn’t have any roommates he had to worry about, but he still had to check if she was alone first before spooking her. She was an adult after all.

He looked around in the room. Jazz was busy typing on her laptop, with a pile of open books on her desk. No one else was in sight.

From behind her, he reversed his intangibility and whispered, “Boo.”

Jazz screamed loudly. Unfortunately for him, she opened a drawer and pulled out a thermos - a model he had not seen before, and his parents designed the thing!

“Take this, ghost!” She yanked off the top and sucked him in before he could say a word. “...Danny?”

“Um...hi Jazz?” He hoped his voice could carry from this thing. He really hated feeling disembodied, which is what happened when he was compressed in the thermos. “Can you let me out?”

“...That’s the thing Danny. I’ve been working on updating this thing to increase its ghost holding capacity, and durability. I didn’t actually work on how to release the ghost yet?”

“Then why did you freakin’ use it, Jazz!”

“Sorry! You know, it’s your fault you snuck up on me, you know.”

“Hey, how was I to know you renewed your deadly suck-your-little-brother-in-the-thermos powers. Now I’m stuck in here. I’m...gonna feel sick.”

“I’ll work on it, I promise-”

There was a knock on the door, so Jazz opened it.

“Aunt Alicia, how are you?”

Sadly, he couldn’t see through the thermos, but they probably hugged. Jazz was always a huggy person.

“It’s good to see you again. I thought Danny was supposed to be here first?”

“Oh, he was really exited to see the college, and I told him about the college tour, so he just rushed off! I guess it’s just you and me.”

“Oh, that’s too bad. Well, I wanted to treat you to lunch, and catch up.”

Jazz whispered to him, “Once I get a chance I’ll work on it.”

First Jazz showed her around campus for a good thirty minutes. Then they sat in at one of her classes on “Man and the Evolution of Technology”. He was getting a cramp, and he couldn’t even feel his leg. In fact, he felt like it wasn’t even there anymore.

They went to get hamburgers at a diner. He could smell them! At least she ordered him something to go.

Finally, she banged the Thermos a few times in the bathroom and he was finally able to come out. He was so out of it he reverted to his human form, leading to some ladies giving them looks.

Jazz as usual gave a wonderful excuse to try to protect him. “Ah, my little brother was feeling ill so I dragged him in here. I can’t exactly nurse him in the men’s now can I.” She laughed awkwardly.

Danny just busted out of there.

Aunt Alicia was surprised to see him burst out from the restroom hallway. “How’d you know we were here? Well since you are, you might as well have a seat, huh.”

Danny just stared at Jazz, who shrugged.

Yep, should have just stayed home. She’ll be the death of me one day.

Danny sighed.

He and Tuck were just as surprised that their first year of high school would end with Dash, their number one bully, becoming Danny’s good friend. Somehow Jazz let his secret slip, and it was all downhill from there. Dash started actually being nice, and not shoving them into lockers. Then Dash actually asked to hang out with him after school sometimes, him, the school loser! Once Danny and Tucker got to know another side of Dash, it wasn’t so bad hanging as a group sometimes. Dash even said hi to them at school. He still insulted them with nicknames though, but they insulted him back, and it was all good.

Of course, sometimes Tucker and Dash just couldn’t get along, so Danny was forced to mediate.

Today, his dad decided to drag all three of them on a fishing trip to lecture them about puberty and dating. At least he wasn’t alone with his dad, but then again, now his friends would hear the embarrassing things his dad liked to say. Either way, he was at a loss.

Nah, I have to stay positive. It could be fun this time!

Nope, he knew he was fooling himself.

“Now, boys,” his dad started, in the tone he used when trying to sound like he was imparting some great wisdom. “When you start dating, and I don’t care who it is, you have to treat them well.”

“No duh,” Dash said, only to get a glare from his dad. “I mean, yes, I agree.”

“In this day and age, if the other person wants to pay for some of the dates, or all of them, just let them. This does not make you any less of a man! In fact, when I was dating your mother, Danny, she had a side job at the lab while I, sadly, could only afford peanuts.”

“You mean you mooched off mom, Dad?” Danny said, not surprised. His mom must have really been in love to date and marry the man-child that was his dad. He still loved him though.

“Wow, goals man.” Dash said. He would be impressed by that. Danny would not have been surprised if Dash mooched off of all his friends, including Paulina. He was already mooching off Danny and Tucker for soda at the Nasty Burger, not that it was that pricey. And he was rich so he really had no excuse.

“I’d totally be down if a girl wanted to treat me,” said Tucker, who had pulled out his PDA to take notes.

“Don’t take my dad seriously guys,” Danny whispered.

“No, no, this is good stuff,” said Dash.

“And if you do get a date,” his dad continued, probably pleased at the undivided attention he was getting, “please encourage them to join the Ghost-keteers. You can get date night and fight night in one night!”

All three groaned.

Danny put his hand on his dad’s shoulder. “Dad, are you still trying to sell that? No one’s going to join.”

“Really?” His dad looked like a sad five year old.

“I’m sorry I have to break it to you.”

He looked like he was going to cry.

“Dude, you can’t be so mean to your dad, man,” Dash lectured. “I’m sure you can do some advertising, and maybe make it into a Phantom fan club. I’m sure lots of people will join then!”

You mean, you’ll join, Dash.

“But it’s an exclusive club, only for the most dedicated ghost fighting heroes!” his dad said passionately, raising his fist. “Not just anyone can join.”

Tucker chimed in. “So, that’s very simple. On the first day, we’ll have them take a survey. They have to agree to one week of intensive Fenton training. And put uniform sizes of course and preferred ghost fighting gadget. Once they pass, they become official members! With official uniforms. Of course, anyone that fails can try again next year.”

“That’s...” His dad took a moment to think. “That’s brilliant! Great idea, Tucker.”

“Anytime.”

He did not want a bunch of fangirls - and fanboys - at his house, even if they didn’t know he was Phantom. Oh, he got an idea. “Dad, Jazz would make a great club president.” If Jazz was in charge, he could rely on her to reign in the fans and keep him and his secret relatively safe. As it was, people kept flirting with his ghost half with the mantra, “It’s not gay if it’s dead,” when he kept telling them he wasn’t dead!

Heck, even the Box Ghost says he’s not dead, and Plasmius has fans but doesn’t get any of the harassment I get! I told them I’m into girls but they don’t care...

He had to quickly abandon the idea of a ghost phone when all his voice messages were of the inappropriate sort. Good thing Jazz screened his phone for him; she was scarred for days even after burning the phone and canceling the subscription.

“Great idea! Jazz is the responsible type. The ghost-keteers will be in safe hands!”

Danny sighed. “What about fishing?”

“Oh, sorry son. I’ve kept you all waiting.” He opened the case that contained the fishing rods and passed them out, then instructed them on how to put on the bait, let out the reel, and reel in once something bit.

An hour later:

“How’s it going, kids?” Jack asked next to a bucket full of junk. “I’ve got all sorts of treasures so far. An old boot, a rare gold watch, and some kind of message in a bottle.”

“So you’re a treasure hunter now, Dad?” Danny replied sarcastically.

“You are, Mr. Fenton?” Dash replied, excited. “Cool!”

“I am, aren’t I?” His dad rubbed his nose with pride.

Danny felt a few drops fall on his nose. He looked up. The weather was starting to get bad. But if it was just sprinkling, there was no real reason to stop early, was it.

“So far,” Tucker said, peering into their buckets. “It’s Dash 1 guppy, Danny 0, me 3 catfish. So far, I’m on top!”

Dash attached another bait onto his hook then threw it back in. “Just you wait, nerds, I’m not about to throw the towel on this race.”

Danny sighed again. “Now why’d you have to rile him up, Tuck?”

“Because competitions are fun? And besides, you’re dead last. Ch-ch-chicken?”

“I am not a chicken.” He shoved a worm onto his hook and accidentally pricked himself. At least it didn’t go in. His dad sucked at first aid, and Tucker wasn’t any better. He quickly put a waterproof band-aid on his bleeding finger then threw the hook in the water. As long as the wound wasn’t infected it would heal quickly enough.

After a few minutes, the line grew taut.

“I think I caught something,” he said, growing excited. At this point, he would even be happy if he caught a boot.

“Well, reel it in,” Dash said. “I’ll even help you pull if you need it.”

“I’m fine,” Danny said. Even though Dash knew his secret, he still insisted on treating him like he was weak. Well, he was actually pretty weak if he wasn’t using his ghost energy as a boost.

He was unprepared when the line pulled suddenly, and because he held on so tightly to the rod, he was yanked off the boat. He let go of the rod. The rain grew fiercer and the waves started to move, pushing him to and fro.

“Danny!” his Dad yelled. “It’s okay, I’ll come save you.”

“No, need, I’ll do it!” yelled Dash.

Tucker held them both back. “You guys will just make it worse. Danny can handle it, right...Danny?!”

Something grabbed his head tightly, covering his eyes, and pulled him under the water rapidly. The cries of his friends and dad faded, and it was too dark to see. Something gripped his neck and he let out a gasp, unfortunately inhaling water. He kicked out madly and panicked, struggling to calm himself.

I can handle this. A water ghost? If it’s too dark to see...

He activated his ghost powers and elbowed out, hitting a soft form. The grip loosened and he turned around with glowing eyes.

In front of him was a girl with black hair coiling around her like seaweed, and glowing purple eyes. Seaweed was wrapped around her form, and the hook from his rod was clearly stuck in the side of her neck.

At least he knew why she was trying to kill him now.

He didn’t have time to think. He had to get away and get some air.

He shot out an ecto blast at her, but a black scaled tail shot out from behind her and knocked it away.

...Tail?

Just great, and just when he had enough with ghosts. The question was, was she a mermaid or a ghost mermaid?

While he was in thought, she gripped his neck again, and he felt like his powers were getting sucked away. In moments, he lost his ghost form. He could barely maintain his glowing eyes, and he could feel his consciousness fading.

If I fall asleep here, I’m a goner!

He couldn’t panic. What was the best way of startling a girl? He grabbed her face and kissed her, then received a punch in his gut.

I should have seen that coming...

Well, at least he died trying.

...

He woke up in a cavern who knows where with a purple eyed girl staring down at him.

He quickly backed up and looked back from a safe distance. He ascertained that he had his energy back, so if needed he could fight against the mer-lady...

For some reason, she had legs. That, and the only thing censoring her was her hair.

“Um,” he started. “Thanks for not killing me?”

She blinked, then crawled over to him.

“What do you want?” Then again, if she had the ability to absorb his powers, he didn’t know if he had a chance. “Are you a ghost or a mermaid? Or both? What are you?”

“First...” Her voice was so striking that he couldn’t help but stare. “Can you get this thing out of my neck? It hurts.”

“R-right.” He reached over and made the hook intangible, pulling it out easily. The line had long snapped, but he had no time to worry about the fate of his dad’s rod right now. He then reached in his pocket for a band-aid. He was glad this vest had waterproof pockets.

She reeled back at the band-aid.

“Relax, it just seals the wound. It might not last too long underwater, but for now, right? I won’t hurt you.”

She narrowed her eyes,  but tilted her neck to allow him access.

He stuck it on then sat in front of her, staring. “Why were you trying to kill me earlier?”

“You were clearly trying to kill me earlier, were you not?”

“I was just...fishing? Not for you, of course. Whatever you are.”

“Mermaid.” She looked down at her knees. “Not sure what a ghost is.”

“Eh. Someone with my powers”- He harnessed energy in his hands, then let it disperse-” and bleeds green, can float, disappear, and fly, all the time. Me, I’m just half ghost. Kinda like you, half fish.”

“Half fish? Never heard that before, but I see what you mean.”

“Well, personal question really...Do mermaids, can they transform like that? I mean, your tail to legs on land. That’s really nifty.”

She looked away. “Only after they’re married. It’s a survival thing.”

“Married?” He didn’t know why but he kept thinking she was pretty. It wasn’t a surprise; even though she looked his age, mermaid culture was probably different, and it would only be natural that she was taken-

Why am I thinking about hitting on a mermaid I just met! Weirdo, stop being weird!

“It’s your fault I can’t go back now,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“Wait...what?” He was confused. “Was it the hook thing? I’m-I’m really sorry...” Yep, he would ruin someone’s life without trying. Even though the Cujo thing wasn’t entirely his fault, he still cost Valerie’s dad his job and ruined her life. Was he just a loser?

“Not that, the kiss! You mean you don’t know?” She hobbled over to him and slapped him. “You have to take care of me. I can’t even use these things.” She pointed to her legs. “The blend-in-with-humans class isn’t even taught till 17! I’m not ready for this.”

He wasn’t ready for this.

“Uh...” He took off his jacket and handed it to her. “For now, tie this around your waist. And we can see about getting out of here. You know. Like so.”

He indicated where and she tied it. Then he picked her up and flew her back to the boat. It was empty.

He later found his dad, Dash and Tucker enjoying snacks at the hotel they were staying the night at. It took him forever to explain the girl as someone he saved from drowning, and even then no one believed him except good old Dad. After giving her some clothes to wear that he had purchased from the souvenir shop, he had to spill the beans to his friends once his dad was asleep.

“You’re a mermaid?” Dash said, then shook the girl’s hand. “It’s like a storybook! What’s your name.”

“Hey, I wanted to hit on her first,” Tucker whined.

“Sam,” she said, rolling her eyes. “And you all?” She was clearly not excited to be there. Apologizing clearly wouldn’t help at this point.

As usual, Tucker spoke for them all. “I’m Tucker, the cool kid.” He wiggled his glasses. “Dash here is our star athlete, and Danny is the superhero with ghost powers. I...assume he’s already told you that.”

“Right. Danny.” She glanced quickly at Danny then focused on Tucker again. “And what are you eating?”

“A meat pizza.”

“Meat...how cruel.” She looked at him with pity.

“Hey, I’m a carnivore. Guess you’re not one of those man-eating mermaids?”

“That’s what you humans think of us? Disgusting.”

Dash waved a hand. “Hey, don’t worry, you only see those mermaids in horror movies. You know movies right?”

She gave a blank stare.

Dash and Tucker gave each other a knowing glance. “We have a lot to teach you.”

Danny pulled her back to him. “Hey you two, don’t corrupt the innocent!”

Tucker silently opened a laptop and loaded the “Undersea Monster” movie.

It’s only on these things that these two agree.

   It was that time again, not that Paulina Sanchez was looking forward to it or anything. Some of her cousins were cool and all, and her aunts and female relatives liked her fashion advice. The problem was that the places they picked for meeting were always extremely awkward.

   Last year was the Chinese Food Buffet. The year before was at her house, in the backyard, with a live mariachi band (not that she hated mariachi music or anything; in fact it was pretty cool). Five years ago it was in Brooklyn, NY, at the park near her cousin’s place, which was a small store with an apartment complex above it. Renting out the apartment rooms was where they made most of their money, so she wasn’t sure why they still maintained the store except for nostalgia. Of course, compared to her family, they weren’t that rich.

   This year, her grandpa wanted to - no, insisted - upon meeting at a burger place, so her father suggested Nasty Burger. Cringe. That girl she used to be friends with, Valerie, worked there. She did not want her to see her act in a non-popular way with her family. No.

   But her father, as usual, never listened to her complaints when it came to the family reunion locale, and all the others agreed. So, Nasty Burger it was.

   The family rented out the whole place, so she didn’t have to worry about her friends at school running into her today. She greeted her aunt Mari with kisses, her Grandma with hugs. She was momentarily the center of attention, with everyone complimenting her on her beauty and perfection - well, maybe that was just her female cousins.

   Her favorite cousin was Gaby, who was already a career woman, working successfully at a fashion magazine. In fact, she was one of her style icons, and Paulina wasn’t afraid to admit it. Her brother Alex, though, helped run the family store and always read mysteries.

   If he likes them that much, he should write them himself.

   Not that she would say that aloud. He was nice enough.

   “Lina!” Gaby said, and they exchanged kisses.

   “Gabs, I love your outfit today. It’s casual, and chic!”

   “Not so bad yourself. Hmm, looks like everyone else has ordered and I’m starving. How about you?”

   “Same.”

   “So, dating anyone?” Gaby asked as they walked up to order.

   “Not yet,” Paulina said, sighing. “I’m currently enjoying my wide range of admirers. If I picked someone, they might be hurt and never talk to me again!”

   “Ah, youth,” Gaby said, shaking her head. Paulina figured she was jealous, but she wasn’t surprised. She was the object of envy everywhere. “Well don’t wait too long, but of course there’s always college.”

   “I know, right? I’m so excited! There’s only a year to go and there are so many schools with sports teams.”

   “Aiming for a scholarship?”

   “Of course. My grades aren’t that bad. Right now, I’m around…3.0?” Of course, she had her bestie Star to thank for that, since she was too busy studying style trends in class to pay attention.

   “I don’t see how you do it. Keep it up, girlfriend.”

   The cashier girl was turned around, so Paulina focused on deciding what to order. The Junior Mini Nasty Burger sounded appealing, but she got that too often these days and needed a change-up. Recently they added salads to the menu, and the chicken Nasty salad sounded perfect, at only 120 calories.

   “Excuse me, I’m ready to order,” Paulina said to get the cashier’s attention.

   The one who turned around was not who she was expecting.

   “Sam?” Paulina said with a gasp.

   “Oh boy, not a face I wanted to see,” Sam said in a droll voice.

   “Friends?” Gaby said, pointing to the both of them.

   “No,” Sam and Paulina replied.

   “Oh.”

   “Anyway, where’s Valerie?” Paulina asked, looking around. It was too bad her wish for Valerie to be gone was activated, as she preferred her to Sam. She was just too negative and boring, even though her looks weren’t that bad. If only she wore the right makeup…

   “She begged me to take her shift today because she’s sick. Me? Serving meat?”

   “Well it’s a good thing you don’t work in the kitchen.” She’d hate to get grass again. It was low calorie but what was the point of low calorie if it didn’t taste good? Bad tasting food made her looks worse because of stress.

   “That’s…true. Well, what would you like to order?” She looked surprised at Paulina’s wise words. Maybe I’m getting through to her after all?

   “I would like to get the chicken Nasty salad please.”

   “Why chicken? What about the bean salad?” Sam twitched.

   “But I don’t want the bean salad. I want the chicken salad.”

   “Oh, that’s too bad. One…chicken…salad.” As she typed the code into the cash register, she glared at Paulina like she wanted to drill a hole into her or something.

   Paulina simply smiled. Smiles always overpower darkness, just like Papa always says.

   After they paid, Paulina turned around to see Alex there.

   “Hey, isn’t this that goth girl you talk about that goes to your school and knows a lot about ghosts, and that ghost boy?” Once Alex was excited about a topic, he never stopped.

   “You want to know about ghosts?” Paulina said, getting excited herself. “I’ll tell you all about my ghost boy.”

   “You talk about me?” Sam said with a surprised look. “And I mean, this doesn’t even sound negative.”

   “Girl,” Paulina said with a flick of her hair. “If I’m going to talk bad about you I’ll do it to your face. I’m not rude.”

   “That’s…still rude,” Gaby said.

   “I’m just being honest and expressing my feelings!” Paulina insisted. “That’s what people like about me.”

   Alex put a notebook on the table. “If you know about ghosts, have you heard of Ghostwriter?”

   “Sure I have,” Sam said, eyeing the notebook. “He taught my boyfriend the meaning of Christmas two years ago, apparently.”

   “Really? So it’s true that ghosts live in some kind of alternate dimension?”

   “The Ghost Zone, as we call it. Why do you ask, and how have you heard of Ghostwriter? I don’t think he’s ever even left his lair, for the most part. He doesn’t cause much trouble.”

   “I wonder if it’s the same ghost I know then. The thing is, when Gaby and I were kids, we and a group of friends would solve mysteries with him. He and his messages could only be seen by kids, and he couldn’t talk or hear, only read and write.”

   “The Ghostwriter I know talks just fine. There’s another Ghostwriter?”

   “Look here.” He opened a notebook to reveal case notes dated in the 90s. “He was a good guy. Hearing about the ghost boy being a good guy, and people being able to see ghosts in this town, I had to come to this year’s reunion. Too bad I couldn’t make it last year. If this town is something special, I’d want to see him again, and thank him for being a friend. And all his help…”

   “The last time we saw him, he still lived in the words of this notebook,” Gaby said. “I wonder if he feels lonely. We probably got too old to see him. We still write to him though. You and Lina are still young though. Maybe you two can talk to him?” She pulled a felt pen out of her bag and sat it next to the notebook.

   Paulina looked warily at the notebook and felt pen. “This feels like that thing in middle school where two people grab a pen and see what it writes. Goth girl, you probably know what it’s called.”

   “That was a stupid game, and I think it’s off topic,” Sam said, turning to a blank page on the notebook. “Sure, let’s write I guess.” She picked up the felt pen and wrote “Are you Ghostwriter?”

   Paulina looked expectantly at the page, somehow hoping a sexy ghost would pop out. Nothing happened.

   “Alex, are you messing with my young and easily influenced mind again?” Paulina said with a pout.

   “No, I’m serious.”

   “But, seriously, nothing-”

   “Paulina, look!” Sam said.

   She turned back to the notebook. The words were glowing and started moving on the page. They formed a glowing orb with two arcs on top.

   “Looks like some kind of wifi icon, Sam,” Paulina observed.

   “You’re…right on about that.”

   “Of course I am, do you think I’m dumb or something?”

   Sam’s blank stare answered that question.

   “Hey! Why are you so mean?”

   Words formed on the page to read:

   “Hello, children. Sam, lover of ghost mysteries. Paulina, a friend of the people.”

   “And how does he know that?” Sam asked, while Paulina just nodded in agreement.

   “I see it too!” Alex said, while Gaby wiped a tear. “Why didn’t he say anything all this time?”

   Paulina opened her hand and Sam passed her the pen. Paulina wrote, “Gaby and Alex value your friendship. They want to solve mysteries with you again. Is it okay?”

   The words reformed to read: “Of course. I would love to.”

   “Aww,“ Paulina squealed. “I love a good ending, don’t you?”

   Sam offered a slight smile.

   After that, Gaby and Alex gladly told Paulina more about the Ghostwriter, and their middle school adventures, over the meal.

Sam was there to support Spike, and read her new poem in public for the first time, and the boys were there to support her - although they looked like they had better things to do. She even had them wear black T-shirts to blend in! After the poetry readings, the management let new indie bands play a few songs, and there were usually freebies given out afterwards. Danny didn’t need convincing for the music, but Tucker on the other hand...let’s just say she had to promise something that would make her hurl. But she wasn’t going to think about that right now. This meant a lot to her - getting to share her favorite place with her two favorite people.

A young lady with dark blue hair and a nose piercing got up on stage, along with a drummer and a guitarist. She took the mic with a prosthetic right hand.

The host of the event introduced the act as “the Lame Drains”.

“Hey, so who’s ready to rock?” The woman screamed in a familiar voice, flashing her tongue piercing.

Sam, Danny, and Tucker immediately looked at each other.

“Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?” Tucker said. The two nodded.

“I don’t think we’ve ever seen Ember’s human disguise yet,” Danny added. “But let’s hope she doesn’t make trouble...”

The song was pretty catchy, but the vocals were identical to Ember’s music, though much less self-centered. The song was about a boyfriend who spent all the money on drugs and everything was in ruins.

After the song, the group handed out mp3 download codes, so the trio went up.

...

“Have I heard of Ember?” the woman said in response to Sam’s question with a laugh. “Sure, and lots of my fans compare me to her. It gives me a certain spooky appeal, that I might be a ghost.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. “Maybe we’d get along? Honestly, it’s kind of weird though. She reminds me of myself when I was in high school. I had just lost my boyfriend and times were hard. I ended up even...having those kind of thoughts and set my room on fire. At that time, being in a band was still a pipe dream, after having lost my right arm in an accident with him a few months before. I could never play guitar again, but I always wanted to be that kind of rock star. You know, 80s style. After surviving though, I met these guys. I wonder if this Ember ghost had a similar background to me.”

The drummer showed off his phone with a smile, pulling up a picture of a girl with a blue ponytail. “This was Leslie Lane in high school for the school talent show. If I were to say anything, I’d say maybe Ember McClain, before she died, was jealous!”

“Hey, I was the weirdo. No one even paid attention to me back then...well, except you guys. Too bad I didn’t know you both sooner.”

“If you guys promise to buy the album, I’ll send you this picture if you want.” The drummer and “Leslie” fought over the phone.

 Sam wasn’t sure what to say. “Um...sure?”

...

“Leslie Lane? Doesn’t strike a chord,” Ember said, before blowing a bubble of chewing gum. “Are you trying to distract me, dipstick?”

Danny showed her the picture. “Maybe this has something to do with how you died?”

“Died? Let me get this straight, ghost brat. I have never died, I was born like this...this girl looks exactly like me, except she’s human. What gives?” Ember snatched the phone, looked at it, then threw it away.

“Hey!” Danny barely caught it, and the two proceeded to fight.

Well if ghosts weren’t dead, what tied their dimension to Earth’s? Did it have something to do with the emotions they ran on? What about the Lunch Lady, Desiree, or even Poindexter?

To find out, he knew they would have to get to the bottom of this mystery.

(the headcanon: There are ghosts that are born from strong emotions because of the two dimensions - the Earth Solar System and the Ghost Zone - being interconnected. Not all ghosts come from emotions, as many are born in the ghost zone. Why the two dimensions are connected is a mystery)