Waddup CrowBloods!! SO this series will be on rotation with my other one I’m working on: The Sword. The Shield. The Diamond. (Steven Universe SI). So one week will be this fic and the next will be TSTSTD. Hope you enjoy!
Available on Pat. Re. On. : February 23rd
I messed up. I messed up badly. When Danny went in and nothing happened for a while, I was disappointed but not really surprised. Honestly, the Fentons were technically geniuses, but most of the things that they invent either fizzle out after a couple of seconds, or just don’t work at all. My hopes weren’t really that high, but they were still there. I was about to ask him if he saw anything or just to come back out if not, but then I heard it. The laughter.
Laughter is what was said, but it was more of a cackle. Not one of a cartoon super villain or of a mad scientist, but more...deranged. It was primal and terrifying. The type of laugh that immediately brought a shiver from my spine. I didn’t think it was him, not really. I thought he found someone or something in the portal and that he was in trouble. So I called out to him, screamed his name in concern. I could vaguely recognize Tucker doing the same, but I couldn’t really hear him. My body moved on its own and I found myself making my way towards the portal as fast as I could.
I was just about to step in, Tuck right behind me, when there was a flash of green light. The situation turned from bad to worse as we both were blown back by some type of explosion. It hurt, not anything specifically, but everything just hurt. It felt like a bomb went off in my face, and the next thing I know, I find myself staring at the ceiling. I didn’t know what happened, my thoughts were scattered, and I tried to rise from the floor. One problem though, a spike of pain filled me the moment I moved even slightly.
From my side, I saw my techno friend doing the same thing, but he seemed better off, already in the middle of getting up. He was behind me, so I guess it's expected, but I didn’t have time to envy him, because that’s when the screams started. I couldn’t think, and my body froze. I could only stare in horror at the portal as I realized where the explosion originated from and who was still in ground zero.
The flash of green light projected his shadow across the basement walls and my worry was only by my will to get up. I messed up. He needs help. He needs me. I need to get him out of there. My eyes refuse to even blink while I watch as his back arches in agony and his head tilts back. With each passing second, his screams call out to me. The pain, it hurts with each twitch, but I ignore it. It’s nothing compared to what he’s going through, and so I keep struggling.
My legs feel weak, like they’ll give out on me at any passing second. My arms aren’t much better, they can’t stop shaking. The pain is making my body spasm, and with each movement, it’s causing more pain. A never ending cycle that causes my entire being to scream at me to lie back down. To. Stop. Moving. But I can’t, not while he’s still in there. And finally, after what seems like more minutes than seconds, I force it to follow my commands. To get up and help its friend. To shut up and focus on the task it was given. To stop wasting anymore time and move!
But I was too late. The light faded into black and the screams stopped. Quiet. It was too quiet. One step. Then two. My mind was foggy and I couldn’t think straight. My thoughts were jumbled together and they all weren’t good. Thousands of questions went through my head, and none had an answer. What if I killed him? What if he’s still suffering? This is my fault, why didn’t I just leave the stupid ghost thing alone? If he’s still alive, will he hate me? Will he want anything to do with me?
And then, I heard it again.
That laughter.
That cackle.
And then footsteps, slow and sure. And there the monster was.
White hair.
Green eyes.
Smile twisted.
It took me a second, but I recognized it of course. How wouldn’t I. It was my best friend after all.
“....Danny?”
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School….fucking...school! How the hell did I forget that this was going to be a thing. Was I too blinded with the thought of being a super cool unstoppable half-dead hero that I didn’t realize I would still have to stare down the face of my worst enemy every single day. I didn’t even get to test out my powers or anything. After getting zapped, I could barely move without my soul feeling like it was on fire. Was this how OG Danny felt when he got his powers? Not to mention he had to go through it at least twice.
Honestly, I’m kind of worried that I’ve screwed things up with Sam and Tucker already. I didn’t realize it at the time, but from what Tuck told me on the way to school, I wouldn’t stop shaking and doing this weird giggle even after we left the basement. I don’t exactly...remember everything that happened, after I got to my room I passed out and now everything is kind of blurry. Obviously I tried to ask about the finer details, but they both seemed hesitant to talk about it.
I wasn’t that worried at first but as the day has progressed I noticed they seemed to get less tense. It wasn’t that noticeable because I didn’t know them personally until just yesterday but comparing how they treated me when they picked me up for school to now is like night and day. I was in the middle of 4th period when I decided I couldn’t wait until school was over to finally start testing my new powers.
Nonchalantly I began to softly tap my finger against the desk while thinking. Okay, how the hell is this supposed to work. I very clearly got the powers but how to activate or control them is the question. The one power I could use right now, or at least try to, that wouldn’t cause a scene would probably be my intangibility. Disappearing from my seat while in the middle of class would probably cause a stir so invisibility is quickly out. Shooting out lasers I shouldn’t even have to explain.
My finger. I don’t even have to turn my entire body intangible, just my finger. I assume my powers work on Ecto-Energy right? Since it’s a type of energy, maybe I could feel it out. So, closing my eyes I begin to focus on moving a hidden power inside of me. The seconds passed and the clock ticked yet...nothing was working. Seconds turned into minutes and while the minutes didn’t turn into hours by god it sure felt like it.
“Mr. Fenton!” I hear and my eyes shoot open to take a look at the teacher I’ve basically been ignoring all class, my search gets interrupted, and Mr. Lancer does not look happy. “I understand that the tale of Moby-Dick is soothing, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t treat it as a bedtime story. Please pay attention.” And with that, I was promptly ignored again while I heard snickers and giggle from the children around me. It was a little embarrassing but I couldn’t find it within myself to care that much.
This school is seriously understaffed. Out of the 4 subjects I’ve been ‘taught’ today, 2 of them have had him as the teacher. What’s worse is, I doubt this is the last time I’m going to see him today. While I don’t really appreciate the interruption, I don’t seem to be getting very far with that method, so I might as well use it as an opportunity to try another one.
Through the very first episode of Danny Phantom, I remember our boy using his powers by mistake, so I’m obviously doing something wrong. This isn’t supposed to be hard, I’m just overthinking it. The powers obviously responded to his emotions, but I don’t want to go through random bursts of awkward situations my abilities can cause. I want control. Maybe I’m not exactly overthinking, but just thinking too much down the wrong path.
I close my eyes once more, this time intent on just finding the energy instead of guiding it. I quickly found myself in my pseudo-meditation zone and results were instant. It wasn’t really in any specific part of my body, but just sort of everywhere inside of me. I could feel this...weird feeling traveling throughout me. My thoughts turned to trying to force the energy to my finger again but I stopped myself.
I was thinking about this wrong again. It was obviously already there, I could feel it. Just like it was everywhere else. I just had to use it. How though? I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, and I don’t really have a trainer to tell me. I could always call Vlad and receive training from him but I’m not really sure how I feel about the Fruit Loop. Besides, OG Danny didn’t really need help with the basics. Maybe...maybe I just have to want-
It stopped. The tapping stopped. I look down at the desk and watch my index finger, still moving methodically up and down, but instead of making contact with the desk, it phased right through it. I tried to not make a scene, but the massive smile on my face couldn’t be hidden. If anyone saw me right now, I would without a doubt look looney, who the hell could be so happy at school? But I couldn’t find it within myself to care.
My attention was fully focused on the process, I just couldn’t believe my eyes. I was really doing it. I was really making my finger intangible. I only realized several minutes passed when I noticed something. I was getting tired, not too bad nor did I feel like I was going to pass out, but it was very noticeable. It was an odd feeling, because I was so excited it contrasted heavily with the fatigue.
So I stopped messing around and began testing. I turned it off with a simple thought and focused on the newfound energy within me. Reactivating the ability, I watched with fascination that the ecto in my finger sort of...depleted a bit, but nothing else happened. Even after a full minute passed. This didn’t make any sense. I was obviously using more energy than this before. Or maybe…
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
I slowly phase my finger through the table and realize my mistake. Intangibility had an activation cost, but didn’t actually drain anything more as long as it’s not in use. Interestingly enough, I stuck the appendix in and left it there, and it reacted like I thought it would the first time. It was still low, but now using the ability was actively draining me. After a while, I stop the process and begin to focus within myself.
There, I noticed even more fascinating things about my new power. It seems the energy passively regenerates but that’s not the important part. The moment I started my meditation without any other distraction, I noticed that the regeneration practically doubled in speed. I was seemingly topped off within a single minute. If I can figure out how much energy I have, what each of my abilities cost, and the variants of each, I could treat this as a game and give numerical values to each.
I would never have to guess how much fight I have left, and can judge a situation whether to fight or retreat. After all, although everything sure looked like a cartoon, I live here now, and I don’t think I have OG Danny’s protag powers that’ll help me survive everything. Fighting ghosts are dangerous, and I have no interest in becoming a full ghost anytime soon. Before I could begin more testing however, the bell rang.
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During lunch I met back up with Sam and Tucker and we sat at a table all by our lonesome. Which was completely fine with me, because I couldn’t wait to tell them about the powers and maybe even how they worked. At this point, sure they’ve seen the transformation, but besides a change of outfit, nothing really happened. The moment we all set down, I moved in as close as possible and began my tirade.
“Guys! Guys! You won’t freaking believe this. It’s going to Blow. Your. Mind.” I tried to whisper, really, I did, but honestly although it was in a hushed tone, it was still pretty loud. I don’t think anyone heard though, it's a highschool lunchroom after all. The place is louder than Hiroshima on a bad day. I got 2 weird looks, one curious and one worrying.
“Danny, is this about what happened last night? Your suit inverted and your hair turned white. Not to mention your green eyes and the…” she lists off changes before stopping hesitantly. Maybe I imagined it, I mean it’s possible but I don’t want to become that one clueless protagonist in every story, so I’ll stop that train of thought right there. I didn’t imagine anything...she shivered in fear.
“The laughing.” Tucker finishes while looking into my eyes. It’s not like I’ve been here for long, but it’s the most serious I’ve ever seen the guy. And that might be counting every episode I’ve watched of the show, which is all of them. With all of my excitement, I forgot that these two still had some reservations about yesterday. Without remembering what happened, I can’t even understand why. What did I do? And why is my laughter such a horrible experience?
“Yeah...yeah it’s connected to what happened. Will you guys just tell me what happened? Why are you freaking out so much? I was just chuckling a bit right? What’s the big deal?” I ask, looking at both of them. This conversation isn’t going how I planned, which means it’s off track completely. The sooner I figure out what happened, the sooner we can focus on what’s really important. My powers.
“It wasn’t just a laugh. It-it was a cackle. Deranged...evil. You came out of that portal with smoke coming off your body and looking completely different. Your eyes seemed to...to glow? And then you started. You started and you just wouldn’t stop. And we didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know what to do. I thought you were going to hurt someone, or yourself, or parents, or sister, or-”
“Someone.” Tucker finished for her with a sigh. “Look man, it was just freaky. One moment you're crazy and then next there’s a ring appearing around your body and you're back to normal giggling like a japanese school girl. Now I found that part funny but Sam is having a little trouble getting over you. You got hurt dude, and she thinks something changed inside of you...and she thinks it’s her fault.” he explains. Which causes me to turn to my other best friend with a worried expression of my own. Her head swerves away to avoid my gaze.
“Hey, you know it’s not like that. I went in there willingly. In fact, I fully supported the decision. Besides, look at me! Ha! I’m fine- no, I’m better than ever. You didn’t force me to go in-” I try to explain further, but I’m interrupted by her stare as she finally looks me in the eyes. I can see tears. It hurt more than I thought it would.
“No...no. I’m the one who suggested going in there in the first place. Nothing anyone says will change that. I put you in danger. I made you crazy. You-!...Danny you could have died. You could have died and it would have been all my fault. Because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Because I couldn’t leave things alone. Because I thought-”
“Because you wanted to help support my dream.” I add, this time me interrupting her. “You’re right. When I went into that machine, I did change. Everything did.” I exclaim while reaching across the table and holding her hand before looking around and making sure no one was too close. After confirming that we were sort of secluded, I turned back to my friends and slowly pressed my free hand onto the table. At first I saw confusion in both of them, before it turned to shock as they watched my hand go through the table.
“Dude...dude how are you doing that?!” Tuck whisper-shouts while looking back and forth from me to my hand. I chuckle at his reaction before looking at Sam for hers. Covering her mouth in shock, she leans back a bit. If I didn’t tighten my grip she would’ve pulled away, and if she did that I don’t know if I could fix this. I can feel her shaking. If she got up and ran, that may have been the end of everything. I needed to keep her here. I needed to make her understand. I scared her…
“Look at me. Sam look at me!” I say forcefully to get her to focus on me. She hasn’t looked away from my hand since I showed her my power, even when I stopped. “This…I don’t know how and I don’t know why, but the explosion did more than just change my clothes. It made me more. It turned me into this sort of half ghost. It gave me powers. It’s amazing. I feel amazing. And this is all because of you.”
“Ghost...A ghost. I killed you. I really-”
“NO!” I shout, forgetting about my volume for a second. A few heads turn but I pay no mind, at this point her tears flowed freely. “I’m still here. I’m still alive. The only thing that’s changed is me gaining these abilities. This is a good thing. I can help people. Save people. With these powers I could become a hero. So please...if you’re going to take responsibility for anything, then do so of everything that we’ll do together.”
“We?” she asks softly. I give her a nod and a gentle smile.
“We. Can’t become a Hero alone now can I? I need my team. My friends by my side to have my back when I evidently do something stupid and need saving. So? Excited? Are you in?” I ask with my hopes up. She doesn’t get a chance to reply however because I feel an arm around shoulder and find Tucker beside me.
“Damn right! We’re officially a superhero team! A badass one too!” he yells, not hiding his voice at all. I contemplate shushing him before casting the thought aside. Yeah people hear, but I doubt it’ll cause too many problems. At worst people think we’re a couple of loser weirdos, but I’m pretty sure people already think that anyway. So no harm no foul. My attention turns back towards my goth friend when I feel a squeeze.
A nod.
A smile.
I like it…
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Things were going well. Too well apparently, because it wasn’t that soon after that things began to fall apart again. I should’ve known, my luck isn’t anywhere near good enough to end a crazy day on a positive note. I mixed things between me and the Team Phantom, I comforted Sam and got her to accept what happened, and best of all I feel like I’ve gotten closer to both of them. By the end of the day, they began feeling less like friends I’m supposed to be associated with because I’m now Danny Fenton and more like people I want to be my friends.
However as we were leaving the school and made it to the sidewalk to go to my place for a hang out session, we were caught. By Dash-fucking-Baxter. I didn’t even notice because I was focused on making genuine friends out of my childhood heroes that the fact the area became eerily quiet escaped my notice. I only realized too late that I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings when I felt someone grab my shoulder.
I turn around in confusion and hear Tuck groaning in annoyance from beside me. There he was. He was big, bigger than one would realize from the outside looking in. He had blond hair and dark blue eyes. Muscular and fit, he ‘s wearing the standard uniform of the jocks: a red-and-white letterman jacket, with a black t-shirt underneath and dark blue jeans and white shoes. It hurt my very soul to do it, but as he stood in front of me, I understood. I understood why he was so popular, so well liked by his peers and envied by the rest.
He exuded a confidence that only someone at the top of their hierarchy could. Handsome and strong, the fact that he was also the star of every physical sport team in the school, not just football. If I was still in my old world, as long as I wasn’t the one being bullied, I don’t think I would have stopped his abuse either. I cared much to stick up for people who at least didn’t try to stick up for themselves. I’m just not a natural born hero, it’s something I have to strive for. And I wouldn’t want to be on this guy’s bad side. Unfortunately, it seems like I already am.
“Where do you think you’re going, Fen-Turd? I heard you and your little girlfriend got into a lovers spat in the lunchroom today. Apparently there were waterworks and everything. Just because you’re being a crybaby more than usual doesn’t mean you can just walk away without permission.” he says with a laugh and I see his little crew follow from close behind.
Kwan: the asian, sometimes genuinely nice, athlete. If Dash wasn’t around, I think the guy would be just a normal nice guy. In fact, in the alternate timeline, didn’t he become a scientist or something. He must be smart too. He just cares a little too much about what others think.
Paulina: She’s the Dash of the cheerleaders and the undisputed leader of the girls in the popular clique. And I can see why Danny liked her, the latina looked positively gorgeous and if her personality didn’t disgust me, I would definitely shoot my shot. Unfortunately I would very quickly get tired of her so she’s a no go despite how pretty she is.
Star: She’s Paulina’s second, like Kwan is for Dash. Everything that can describe her superior could be the same for her, though I dislike her just slightly less than Paulina just for the fact that she’s not all that bad. Just really annoying.
Valerie: I feel mixed feelings about the girl. She obviously has the capacity for kindness and can be sweet, but that doesn’t change the fact that before she became unpopular she’s a horrible person. It doesn’t help that being one of the only black girls in the school means she's the only person who looks like me. Well… who looked like me.
“Look dude, now isn’t the time. I have things to do today.” I say with annoyance and shrugging his hand off my shoulder. Pissed. This guy immediately pissed me off. I can’t do this bullying shit, it’s just not possible. I have too much Pride. He looks at me, shocked for a bit, before he starts to laugh like he heard a joke. Which just pissed me off even more.
“Right, right, I got practice soon, thanks for remembering my schedule for me Fen-Toenail. I’m hungry.” he states while grabbing my arm, and I wait a little bit for more, that's all he says. I raise a single eyebrow in confusion before replying in a slightly confused, yet irritated, tone.
“What the hell does that have to do with me? Go eat then.”
“I agree, I should go eat. It should be around…$20. Have to get something for my friends too. So-” he reaches out his other hand, palm facing up. Is...is the fucker serious right now. He wants me to give him twenty fucking dollars. Is he insane? Before I could tell her exactly where can stick his hand, he said something else that made me snap. “Now.”
It was simple really. Wasn’t even that bad. But something about how he said, did something to me. Like he was so far above me, that he couldn’t even imagine me refusing him. Like it wasn’t even a possibility. And I couldn’t hold it back. The anger. The anger that formed from deep within my chest. I only noticed me gritting my teeth when I found it hard to speak. Yet I tried anyway. One last attempt to get past this peacefully.
“Huh? Hurry up, I don’t got all day.” yet he didn’t hear.
“I said...let me go. You. Bastard!!” And the next thing he knows, his head snaps sideways. I put my whole body into that swing, and it didn’t even make him take a step back. Now I’ve gotten into plenty of fights in my old life, so I know how to throw a punch, but not only is this body scrawnier than what I’m used to, it doesn’t help Dash towers over both my bodies. And just because I’ve gotten into fights doesn’t mean I have training or know martial arts or any of that bullshit. Personal strength plays a lot into who’s the victor usually and I no longer have much. So DPS will be my go to here.
Before he could get his bearings, two more hits connected against his jaw. I couldn’t get a 4th one in, he finally got over his disbelief and realized what happened. With fury he swung and right at me which made me duck and dive into his midsection. If I could just get him off his feet, I may stand a chance, but even when I threw myself into him, he only took a couple of steps back. Wait, no, not a couple of them, but a single one. The bastard only needed one single step.
I realized my mistake in trying to sack a football player very quickly and knew things were going to quickly turn bad for me the moment my plan failed. A fist finds itself in my gut and it literally takes my breath away, but I hold onto him. Not because I had any further plans but because if I didn’t, I would fall to my knees...and it would be over. Strong. Too strong. I won’t win. I hear screams from behind me.
“Stay back!!!” I shout at both Tucker and Sam. I can’t see them but I know they’re trying to reach me, Kwan the only thing stopping them. I can’t drag them into this, I couldn’t accept the damage to my Pride but no matter what they shouldn’t get involved. I tried to force my legs to stop shaking, to get some air in my lungs for my next attack, but I didn’t get the opportunity. Dash interlocked his hands and swung down on my back. I dropped.