Danny Phantom: Fanning the Flames Remix
Verse 4: Phantom

(Fade in to the roof of Amity High with Prof. York, binoculars in hand.)

York: I’ve lived for 2 millennia now, longer than any mortal man should. The details behind my prolonged existence are a bit long winded, so let’s save that tale for another day. However, I think I’d like to tell you the tale of one of my most unique students, Danny Fenton, or as this world knows him as, Danny Phantom. And this tale starts on a rather odd November day…

(The door to the roof opens and Tucker joins the professor, with headsets and a soda in hand.)

Tucker: Made it! So, how are they doing?
York: Better than I anticipated. (York grabs a headset.) Of course, no one expects 3 different attacks in the same day.
Tucker: Or that Freakshow would be able to coordinate them so well.
York: Danny just took care of one ghost in the downtown financial area. Called himself Avarice.
Tucker: Wow, these ghosts are getting creative with the names.
York: And Dani just took care of Skulker at the museum. I also learned something very important: Don’t call her a sidekick.
Tucker: Ah, I take it Skulker is still removing pieces of himself from the wall.
York: Yes. In any case, they’ll be back soon. Meantime, I think we need to check up on our dynamic duo. (York takes the time to press the side of his headset.) So, how are things over at your end?

(Cut to the Amity Expo Center. Ember & Sam are currently in battle with Freakshow & Lydia.)

Ember: Oh smooth, all things considered. Real easy.
Sam: Your definition of ‘easy’ seems to be different from my own. And given Freakshow now has the Armlet of Prometheus…
Freakshow: I’d love to hear your witty banter with your colleague here, but I’ve got a lot of evil deeds to perform. Lydia, be a good little ghost & dispose of them!
Sam: Pale & baldy’s mine. Care to dance with Lydia?
Ember: Sure, let me take a shot at the walking canvas.

(Sam raises her hands. Several Will O’ The Wisps gather all around her in a circle. Raising her right hand, she directs several of them towards Freakshow, who leaps backwards in time to avoid the explosive spirits.)

Freakshow: You know what they say, fight fire with fire! (Activating the Armlet, Freakshow creates a wall of flames around himself to counteract Sam’s assault.) Now this I like!
Sam: Swell a closet pyromaniac.

(Freakshow waves his arm out and the wall of flames spreads forwards to Sam. Sam ducks behind a stone statue to avoid the attack.)

Sam: Alright. Fire spirits are a big no-no. So let’s try this. (Concentrating, Sam summons two ice sprites besides her.) Ok, plan B!

(Sam steps out from behind the statue & points towards Freakshow. The ice spirits each unleash concentrated ice mist blasts at him, but Freakshow senses the danger & quickly raises a fired shield to ward off the attacks.)

Freakshow: Really girl, I’d think a fledgling shaman like yourself could have come up with a better attack this time. A pair of ice sprites was the best you could conjure?
Sam: Funny thing about the ice sprites. They’re the distraction.
Freakshow: The what?

(Suddenly, vines wrap around Freakshow’s body & bind his arms together. He turns to see that they have come from various plants located in the botany exhibit across from their location.)

Sam: I kind of learned some time ago that I seem to have this rare little gift of retaining certain powers from ghosts I come into contact with. And funny enough, I got this power in addition to the whole talent to summon spirits at any time. Pays to be one with the Earth, you can say.
Freakshow: Enlightening. But I still have the Armlet, girlie. And unless these ferns of yours are of the fire resistant variety, you’ve got a huge problem on your hands.
Sam: You would be right, if I didn’t take the time to bind your arms. Long as you can’t move them, you can’t control any fire.
Freakshow: Good analysis, but one problem: It’s not just my limbs that can control flames. The Armlet can allow me to produce flames from anywhere on my body. I think a demonstration is in order.

(Ember materializes besides Freakshow & takes possession of the Armlet from his wrist. Lydia is dumped right alongside him, dazed.)

Ember: Sometimes, it helps to keep info like that to yourself. It makes defeats like this less common.
Sam: Honestly, I never thought I’d spend my lunch hour doing things like this. I guess the police can give you a nice cozy room to spend the night.
Ember: I don’t suppose you have a spare thermos for Lyds here do you? The girl’s not the type to adapt to handcuffs.
Sam: Oh, right. I got this. (Sam fishes out a small, rectangular piece of paper with some writing on the front. Then, kneeling down, she places it on Lydia’s forehead & does a small prayer. Within seconds a blue light envelopes Lydia.)
Lydia: …thank you… (Lydia fades away.)
Ember: She talked. I kind of figured her for the strong silent type.
Sam: I still can’t believe that actually worked. I was just winging it.
Ember: The sutra you used? Yeah, it works provided you’ve got enough spiritual harmony to activate it.
Freakshow: What did you do to my ghost?!
Sam: I helped her pass on o the next life.
Ember: She kind of figured that if we took care of Lydia, you’d be less likely to pop up every few months. Meanwhile Tattoo Girl gets some well deserved peace. Sucks to be you now.
Sam: Looks like busting out of prison will require you to do it the hard way. Say hi to those Guys in White while you’re in there. (Sam & Ember leave the arena.)
Freakshow: Well this can’t get any worse. (A puppy walks by & sniffs around one of the vines wrapped around his legs, then lifts one of it’s hind legs.) In hindsight maybe I should just shut up.

(Back at the roof, Tucker & York wait for the others to arrive.)

Tucker: Wow, 15 minutes. That’s a new record!
York: You’ve been keeping track?
Tucker: Gives them a sense of self importance, you know. Danny better hurry though, Lancer’s test starts in 15 minutes!
York: Ah, here they come now.

(Danny & Dani, flying at top speed, race towards the roof of the school. At the last second, Dani gains a burst of speed and lands on the roof first, pumping her fist in the air as she lands.)

Dani: YES!! Beat you!
Danny: Damn it!
Dani: You owe me a weeks worth of tacos for this one!
York: Man, I tried to warn him.
Tucker: Evidently we failed to warn you about Danny’s competitive side.
York: Yes you did.
Danny: Here, take good care of this! (Danny tosses the thermos over to Tucker.) Today’s ghost went by the name of Avarice & tried to rip off the gold depository. Believe me I have enough money problems as it is. Now all I need to worry about is Lancer’s test.
Tucker: No pressure dude. It’s not like the school trip to go to Japan is on the line if you get the lowest score.
Dani: We can save that speech for Dash.
York: Oh don’t worry. With my tutoring capabilities, he’ll manage at least a C+. Of course, slipping subliminal messages into his iPod can be considered a bit unethical.
Danny: Says the guy who lies about his age.
York: Touché. Ok, change & get to class.

(At this point in time, as the two begin to revert to their teenage human forms, Star opens the door leading to the roof.)

Star: Hey Tucker, Valerie’s having a party this weekend to celebrate—OH MY GOD!!!
Danny: STAR!
Tucker: YIKES!!!!
Dani: …yikes?
York: …shimatta…
Star: What the…Danny, YOU’RE DANNY PHANTOM?!
Danny: Well, when you put it like that, yes.

(Star looks dumbstruck and stays that was as Valerie rushes in behind her.)

Valerie: Guys, heads up! Star is headed this way right—oh. Never mind. Just how much did she see?
Star: The part where two energy rings surround them & they change into their human alter egos.
Valerie: So, everything.
Tucker: Yeah.
York: Might this be an inappropriate time to suggest a memory wipe? It’s perfectly harmless and everyone leaves happy.
Tucker: No, no that’s ok. I think she deserves to know the truth.
Valerie: And we need all the allies we can get. She can keep a secret, trust me.
Tucker: Although I’m not sure how we’ll be able to explain all this. Two years of supernatural adventures can’t be summed up so easily in one day.
Danny: Don’t worry Tuck; I’m sure you’re up to it. Star, nice to see you, I’ll fill you in on some of the finer points later. Valerie, we have a test right now.
Valerie: Shoot, you’re right! Hang in there girlfriend, this will take some getting used to. (Danny & Valerie leave the roof.)
Star: Ok Star, relax. Take a deep breath…Tucker, Danny’s been the ‘Ghost Kid’ for a while, right?
Tucker: Yeah.
Star: But what about Danielle? She a cousin or something?
Dani: I’m sort of Danny’s ‘sister’ actually. A clone to be precise but Mr. Overprotective here says biologically, I’m more of a sister than cousin.
York: You’re still mad because I gave that boy the evil eye, huh?
Star: Clone?
York: Vlad Masters, Valerie’s former secret benefactor. That’s his department.
Star: She was right. This will take some adjusting.
Tucker: Babe, we have 45 minutes. We’ll break it down gently.

(45 minutes later.)

York: So that’s it basically. Any questions you have?
Star: Danny & Danielle are half ghosts, Sam Manson is a shaman in training, ember McLain is working with you, you’re a 2100 year old mage, Vlad’s a former villain, the world will face a global threat in a few months & you’re all in training…but Danny STILL hasn’t gone on a proper date with Sam?
Tucker: I know. Weird,  huh? I think those two are just afraid of commitment.
Dani: I think Sam’s gotta grab him, pull him into the nearest classroom & snog his brains out.
Star: God, I wish. Ever see how she looks into his eyes, I swear that’s just what she’s thinking.
Tucker: Yeah, and if you suggest anything like that to them, they freak out. And what’s with Ember?
Dani: Oh, not you too.
Tucker: It’s a valid concern.
York: So much for the adjustment period.
Star: Professor, I live in Amity, a town where ghosts and other supernatural insanity is routine. This kind of thing is normal for me.
York: I noticed.
Star: And I think it’s sweet of me to vouch for me like that. (Kisses Tucker on the cheek.)
Tucker: It’s been  kind of getting harder to explain our sudden disappearances. Coming up with 4 different alibis is tough work. (Sam enters the roof area.)
Sam: There you guys are. What are you doing up here?
Dani: Long story short: Star’s in.
Sam: Star knows? Tuck, you told her?
Tucker: It was an accident!
Sam: I thank you. So, how much did they tell you?
Star: Everything up to the fight they had with Vlad. So, where’s Ember? (Ember appears from Sam’s amulet.)
Ember: Wondering when you’d catch on. Welcome to the party. Get one more person to join & we have ourselves a pretty nice baseball team.
Star: I’d pick your brain about certain details, but we’ve got to get downstairs fast. Our tests are starting soon.
Sam: Oh, right! Almost forgot about that! (Sam tosses York the Armlet.) Wish us luck! (Star, Sam & Tucker race downstairs.)
York: My imagination or do they seem a bit over energetic?
Ember: Hey, a trip to Japan is on the line here. You give people enough incentive, they can do anything. But there’s another reason.
York: Sounds exciting.
Ember: No, it’s the complete opposite of that. It’s gonna be the 6th month anniversary tomorrow so things around here are gonna seem a bit uncomfortable.
Dani: I don’t like where this is going. Something bad must have happened to get you to say that.
Ember: Uh huh, none of us really like talking about it in the Ghost Zone either. Just make sure you keep an eye on those two. While you’re at it keep an eye on Dash as well. (Ember disappears.)
Dani: Any clues?
York: I’m in the same boat as you. (York’s cell phone rings.) Uh oh, business.

(Later on, Dani is walking the halls to her class when she sees Kwan at his locker.)

Kwan: Oh hey, you’re the professor’s daughter, right?
Dani: Huh? Oh yeah, I’m Danielle. Just Dani will do.
Kwan: Lancer’s looking for him right now. I think it has something to do with the test results.
Dani: I kind of figured that. Lancer’s been dropping hints about wanting us to score as high as we can.
Kwan: I think making us read ‘The Tale of The Genji’ in period robes was pushing it. Anyway, if you see him, let him know.
Dani: Kwan, wait up, I have a question. What happened here 6 months ago?
Kwan: 6 months ago? Strange, I thought you knew by now.
Dani: I’ve been busy, don’t really get too many chances to mingle.
Kwan: In that case, I’ll fill you in. Danny got into a real bad fall in the BMX track at the mountains a few miles from here. He got hit on the side of the head by a rock and fell off his bike over the side of the rail.
Dani: Whoa. He survived that?
Kwan: Yeah, but he broke his arm and got hurt real bad. Worst part is I saw who threw the rock.
Dani: Dash I presume.
Kwan: Yeah. I should have stopped him sooner when I had the chance. After that, well, things kind of changed.
Dani: It certainly seems that way. I mean I heard Danny got hassled a lot, or just had people snickering behind his back. All I ever noticed when I watch him is people either saying hi, waving or giving funny looks. And Dash, he just seems to have people stare funny at him too.
Kwan: Throwing a rock & nearly making someone lose their life isn’t exactly what some people would find funny. After that, Danny had changed a bit. He became quiet for a few days, and when he came back to school. He blew up at Dash and a lot of kids. It was just surreal seeing it happen. I mean he even tore into Paulina & he was ga-ga over her. I never thought he had that kind of anger in him.
Dani: No, it doesn’t sound like Danny at all.
Kwan: You never know. I mean, I visited him at the hospital and it looked like some bad stuff was getting to him. He looked like something really heavy was on his mind and it hurt just to think about it. I hoped my apology helped a little bit,  but then again…
Dani: I think when you get picked on and laughed at for as long as he did, some kind of bad mojo builds up. I’m surprised, Sam & Tucker never brought it up.
Kwan: Tucker wasn’t here when it happened. Sam though, I think it affected her the most since she was the one who got to him first. Well, that and the fact that she totally loves him.
Dani: Oh, seriously.
Kwan: You think those two will ever go on a proper date?
Dani: Vegas odds are 500:1

(Later on, at the teacher’s lounge.)

Testlaff: What’s eating you? You look like you just received a cup full of sewage.
York: I’ve been called away for a bit of an emergency in one of the company’s labs. Looks like it’s facing a critical shutdown.
Testlaff: Just how critical?
York: Oh, just a bit of a spatial warping problem that could transform part of Baltimore into a medieval quagmire.
Testlaff: Oh, that’s pretty bad. Good luck with that.
York: Since  won’t be here for the rest of the day, give this to Dash. (York hands over the results of the test Dash took.)
Testlaff:  Oh my God, he passed?
York: Yes, barely scraped a 75%. That’s good.
Testlaff: I guess the training regiment you have can wield results. Still think you’re a little too hard on him.
York: You make your gym class students run 2 miles everyday.
Testlaff: Hey, it builds character. Endurance is a plus too.
York: Oh yes, there is something I’ve been meaning to ask. Apparently, there was an incident with Danny & Dash a while back.
Testlaff: Oh yeah, the 6th month anniversary is tomorrow. Was that ever uncomfortable.
York: Just what happened?
Testlaff: It’s kind of hard to explain every detail. The boys, well they never did get along. Dash has always been the most popular, the most gifted athlete we had and Danny…
York: Average.
Testlaff: In a nutshell. And given how much his athletic achievements have contributed, we may be guilty of looking the other way from time to time. The incident though, it almost cost us our jobs.
York: I take it this was extremely serious.
Testlaff: Here’s the file, you be the judge.

(15 minutes later.)

York: This is more serious than I thought.
Testlaff: Yeah, I guess you understand the Baxter-Fenton situation a bit more.
York: Not only does it clarify the policy changes, it helps to make me understand why they let me come here.
Testlaff: If you want more answers, you can talk to the parents.
York: That may not be a good idea. It’s too soon to bring this sort of thing up, especially with Jack.

(At the homeroom, Danny is slumped in his chair as Sam jostles him awake.)

Sam: Yo. Rise & shine! The nightmare’s over.
Danny: Oh thank God! I never thought I’d be so sick of Richard the Lion Hearted.
Sam: Lucky you. My deep dislike of German Fascism increased a mere 200% this week.
Danny: The feeling is shared. Where are the others?
Sam: Scattered all over the place. The two lovebirds went off to the Nasty Burger. Care to join them?
Danny: Tempted, but I’ve got things to do. Maybe tomorrow instead.
Sam: Yeah, sure…Danny, something’s bugging you. I know.
Danny: I guess you can say that. It’s been 6 months since you know what. I thought I was  fine during my last training drill but, well, it almost happened again.
Sam: You don’t mean…
Danny: It was my right hand. I felt the energy building up again & I was barely able to stop myself. What surprised me was that the professor didn’t even notice it. Then again, he was too busy casting a fire spell to see.
Sam: I don’t think we can hide this forever from him. Kwan just asked if Dani was asking about what happened a few months ago.
Danny: Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to the professor about this soon. But for right now, I just need to be on my own. I’ll fill you in later. (Danny pats Sam on the shoulder and smiles.
Sam: Yeah, you do that. I’ve got some training of my own to do. (Danny nods, rises from his seat and leaves the room.) Ah, men. So, how much did you hear? (Valerie steps out from behind the skeleton.)
Valerie: How could you not notice me cleaning this damn thing?
Sam: Danny never notices much when he wakes up. You could practically juggle mummified cats next to him.
Valerie: I’ll take your word for it. In any case, don’t take what he said too personally.
Sam: Huh? What do you mean?
Valerie: Danny thinks he’s protecting you by not letting you get too close to him. He probably figures whatever is hurting him could hurt you too.
Sam: You seem pretty sure about that.
Valerie: Well, I had gone through the same thing myself.
Sam: Oh right, I remember.
Valerie: Danny will find a way to open up, I’m sure of it. It’s not like he’s killed anyone & the guilt of that one act messed with his mind & made him question himself.
Sam: …well…
Valerie: Sam, I was joking.
Sam: Sadly, I wish I wasn’t.

(On the streets of Amity, Star & Tucker walk to the Nasty Burger.)

Tucker: My mind…drained…
Star: There there. (Star pats Tucker on the back.) Just a few more blocks & a burger meal will make you forget all about trigonometry.

(In a flash, Prof. York appears before the two.)

York: Ah, there you are!
Tucker: GAH!!
Star: A little warning next time!
Tucker: You couldn’t just run like every other teacher?
York: I could, but teleportation spells are more practical.
Star: This aspect will take some adjusting.
York: Anyway, Tucker, I’m leaving Amity for a bit. Seems like one of my labs has an emergency & I need to get there. This means someone has to look after the mansion & the lab there.
Tucker: So you’re asking me?
York: Pretty much. Also, keep an eye on Dani, I think she’ll eat the snack bar into oblivion if I don’t keep her appetite in check. Also, I need to ask you 3 some questions before I leave.
Tucker:  Sure…wait, 3?
Star: There’s only two of us.
York: Oh, I forgot. Tucker, take out your PDA.
Tucker: Sure, but why?

(As Tucker withdraws his PDA from his pockets, a red light on it blinks. A miniature portal opens & Sydney Poindexter materializes.)

York: Hello!
Sydney: Professor, good to see you!
Star: Since when can your PDA summon ghosts?
Tucker: It can’t! Wait, when we first met, you asked to see my PDA!
York: I knew there was something I forgot to mention. Then again it was a rather busy day.
Sydney: Perhaps we need to have this conversation somewhere else.

(At the Nasty Burger, the 4 are seated in a corner booth.)

Star: This is new.
Tucker: Yeah, no one’s freaking out about the fact that a teacher, two students & a ghost are sitting down & having a meeting.
Sydney: That would be because of your PDA. It’s been fitted with a unique ecto-concealment chip that masks the presence of anyone or anything with ecto-energy within its field. It also has the ability to summon a ghost as long as it’s registered in the PDA’s ghost roster.  
York: I asked Sydney to be your familiar, of sorts.
Tucker: I’m a techno geek, we’re not especially known for mystical abilities.
Star: Clearly, you have never heard of Shadowrun.
Tucker: How do you…
Star: Cousin Ralph is an RPG fanatic.
Tucker: Never mind.
Sydney: The technology you have in your PDA is of my own design. Unlike Technus, I try to put my tech skills to more practical use.
Star: Ok, explain why you need to see all of us, professor.
York: I need to know precisely what happened 6 months ago. The school files only glanced over the basics, but I think something more happened.
Star: Oh…that.
Tucker: I wasn’t here when it all went down.
Sydney: I was part of it actually. I’m surprised Danny or Ember never told you guys about it.
York: I would have asked her, but she’s not available at the moment.
Star: From what I know, Dash did something really stupid & Danny got really hurt because of it.
Sydney: The truth, though, is that Danny did not get his injuries from the fall. He got them from a very big battle. And it was bad.
Tucker: Just how bad was this one?
Sydney: Bad. Real bad. The one Danny fought, he actually destroyed a ghost and when it was all over…Danny killed him.
York: Danny…killed someone?
Sydney: More or less.
Tucker: Oh man.
Star: I never would have thought…this must have been serious.
Sydney: Tucker, do you remember Dark Danny?
Tucker: Sort of. My memory’s kind of hazy about that day.
Sydney: Yes, Clockwork did say that temporal energies might cause some memory lapses.
York: Dark Danny? Did I miss something?
Tucker: We need to start at the beginning. Star, can you fill us in on what you saw?
Tucker: Then I can tell my side of the story.
Star: Sure, no problem.
York: It was then that I learned the truth…the truth of what happened on that mountain…and the truth about the day that Danny Phantom had to kill his worst enemy…


6 Months Ago…

(The scene is at a campsite on the mountains near Amity Park. Danny’s class is gathered for the annual junior school trip. On a makeshift podium stands Mr. Lancer & Mrs. Testlaff, microphones in hand.)

Lancer: Well, once again all of you have managed to survive yet another year of study in our esteemed Casper High. But this year is different. You are all one step closer to graduation & one step to either your dream careers or a 9 to 5 soul crushing grind at the local greasy spoon. Judging by some of your grades, that future may sadly be inevitable. (Lancer is pushed aside by Testlaff)
Testlaff: I believe what our vice principal was trying to say is that it’s time to celebrate all of your hard work and what better way to do that than with a little sports.
Lancer: Of course, the barbeque lunch & DJ we hired doesn’t hurt.
Testlaff: Now listen up; We have a BMX course set up, along with a baseball field & obstacle course. Every one of you will be expected to participate in at least ONE of these events, no exceptions.
Kid in Wheelchair: Ahem!
Testlaff: Unless otherwise noted. Dismissed!

(Somewhere off to the side, Danny & Sam are having their own conversation.)

Danny: You know, it’s kind of hard to sort out her serious side from her playful side.
Sam: That’s assuming she HAS a fun side. The woman’s on permanent drill instructor mode. Rice cake? It’s BBQ flavored.
Danny: Thank you, no. I prefer the foods I eat to be unlike cardboard. I see you have a whole sack of them.
Sam: You didn’t really expect me to seriously eat any of what Lancer has to offer here, do you?
Danny: Yeah, I ought to know you better than that. Tuck’s probably gonna regret not being here.
Sam: Hey, he opted to go to a massive 5 day comic swap meet, let him have his fun among the elite of geekdom.
Danny: As opposed to being someone who elbowed her way to the last tickets for Goth Gala last year?
Sam: It was self defense.
Danny: The girl needed 20 stitches.
Sam: Ok I admit it, I have a bit of a competitive streak. (Dash & his crew approach the pair.)
Dash: Heh heh, looks like the lovebirds are having another spat!
Danny: Hardy har har, Dash. Your humor never fails to impress me.
Dash: Whatever Fen-toad, I still don’t see what a weirdo like her sees in a loser like you. Oh wait, I know, maybe it’s because you’re BOTH losers.
Sam: Uh huh, see while I believe in non violence, I am pretty liberal in my beliefs on self defense! (Sam raises her fist, but Danny restrains her.)
Danny: Easy there tiger, no need for euthanasia.
Dash: Isn’t that sweet, getting your girl to do your fighting for you.
Danny: For the record, I think history will show that I’ve had more luck than you in the dating department. While I’ve had a couple of girlfriends, you’ve consistently held the record for being dumped the most.. Star, Paulina, Valerie, and Star again…there’s probably more girls I can think of, but I don’t have a yearbook handy right now. So, if you’ll excuse us, we ‘losers’ will go & do something fun.
Sam: And that is what we call a ‘burn’. (Danny & Sam walk off.)
Dash: Feh, whatever. I’m still top dog!
Kwan: Yeah, but he’s right. You do get dumped. A lot.
Paulina: Totally.
Star: No argument there.
Paulina: Hate to admit it, but the geek burned you real good.
Dash: Oh, come on, you can’t possibly be siding with Fen-turd.
Paulina: I don’t want to repeat some of the rejections I’ve heard come your way this week. It’s really undignified for a lady of my stature.
Star: If we have to grade you on your performance with the ladies, it’s in the negatives.
Dash: Whoa, bummer. Strange, I always thought I did well.
Paulina: Maybe if you took the time out to ask us what we want your chances would improve. This is getting depressing and that’s definitely not good for my skin.
Star: Come on, let’s go to the baseball field & check out some butts!
Paulina: I’m in! (Star & Paulina head off.)
Dash: Serious let down, Kwan my man.
Kwan: Just what do you do with girls anyway?
Dash: Oh the usual; talk about ports, my biggest scores, greatest tackles, what I can bench-press. (Kwan sweat drops.)
Kwan: I, uh, see what Paulina meant.
Dash: Damn it, it’s all Fenton’s fault! If he didn’t grow a spine, it wouldn’t get to me like this!
Kwan: Let it go, the guy’s pretty harmless. And if you try anything here…
Dash: Ah, don’t worry. My payback is more subtle.

(At the BMX course, Danny is preparing his bike as Sam & Lancer look on.)

Lancer: Fenton, I never thought you’d be one to take up this sort of sport.
Danny: Well, my dad has me testing the Fenton ATV’s every now & then, so I’m pretty familiar with these kind of vehicles. Of course, a BMX bike doesn’t have any ecto-blasters & nitro boosts.
Sam: I’m a bit worried. The course looks a little more treacherous than the usual BMX courses I’ve seen.
Lancer: Yes, the designer of this course, he went a wee bit overboard on the ‘extreme’ motif. I can vouch for his safety record though. Just be mindful of the side of the track.
Danny: Right, right. Anything else? (Lancer tosses Danny a helmet.)
Sam: Try not to break a limb.
Danny: Gee, thanks mom. (Danny jumps onto his BMX bike & motors off.)

(Nearby, Kwan is walking around the campsite, where he bumps into Valerie eating a bag of chips.)

Kwan: Hey Val, what’s up?
Valerie: Oh, usual thing, kicking back and watching the world go by. (Yawns)
Kwan: I see you didn’t get much sleep.
Valerie: Yes, sadly my work keeps me up all sorts of ungodly hours. Where’s the BMOC?
Kwan: If you mean Dash, he disappeared. I think he said something about ‘getting his throwing arm in shape.’
Valerie: Then in that case, you might want to try the BMX track. I saw him headed there some time ago.
Kwan: That’s not what I wanted to hear.

(Back at the BMX track, Sam looks on as Danny races through the course. Paulina, alone for once, walks in.)

Paulina: Wow, he’s pretty skilled at that thing. Well, for a dork, at least.
Sam: Yes, DANNY does seem to know his way around a bike.
Paulina: Oh, defensive much?
Sam: Hardly. Just some of us appreciate keeping certain comments to ourselves. Unless,  of course, I should start calling you by your given nickname of ‘shallow’.
Paulina: Ok, ok, put the claws away. I can’t help it if I feel the need to identify his geekiness. He just has a habit of dropping his pants.
Sam: I know. It’s not like he actually enjoys that.
Paulina: I’m still surprised you two still won’t go out together.
Sam: Really?
Paulina: Yes, surprising as it is I am pretty sharp in the subject of love. Any moment he’s spent not ogling me is spent hanging out with you. It’s so blatantly obvious.
Sam: Riight.
Paulina: Meh, deny it all you want, you two are meant to be together.

(As Danny seeds down towards a particularly precarious ramp, Dash sneaks through the brush nearby.)

Dash: Ok Baxter, time to put your quarterback skills to good use. (Dash picks up a large rock.) Let’s see if the Ladies Man will look good face down in the dirt.

(As Sam & Paulina watch Danny, Kwan approaches their location)

Kwan: Paulina, Sam, have you two seen Dash?
Paulina: No.
Sam: You two are practically joined at the hip. How’d you lose him?
Kwan: Long story. A brunette was involved.
Paulina: Say no more!
Sam: Wait, there he is!

(Kwan looks at where Sam is pointing. Dash pops out from the brush, arm cocked and a large rock at hand.)

Dash: HEADS UP!!! (Kwan realizes too late where Danny is located.)
Kwan: NO!!!

(It all happens quickly. Dash tosses the rock hard at Danny, striking him on the side of his head. Disoriented, Danny & his bike veer off course violently, crashing through the railing over the side.

Sam: DANNY!!!
Dash: Score! Uh oh!

(Before Sash can react, Sam is on him. She forcibly grabs him by his collar & punches him in the face. She practically strangles him before Kwan & Paulina restrain her.)

Kwan: Calm down Sam!
Sam: You ignorant, self centered, pig headed son of a bitch!!
Paulina: Don’t Sam!
Dash: Hey, ease off!
Sam: Do you have ANY DAMN IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?! (Lancer & Testlaff rush in.)
Testlaff: Break it up you two! Kwan, what’s the problem?
Dash: Funny story that…
Kwan: (grim faced) Dash chucked a rock at Fenton’s head & Fenton fell over the side of the track.
Lancer: Salem’s Lot! This is bad!
Testlaff: We need to find Fenton, ASAP!
Lancer: Right! (Lancer turns to Kwan & Paulina) You two, get the other students organized right now & form a search party! Sam, notify Danny’s parents. I’ll phone for a medical crew immediately. Dash, you will…where did Baxter go?
Testlaff: He must have run off when you were talking to the kids.
Sam: That weasel! I’m gonna…
Testlaff: Cool it Manson. We’ll deal with Dash. Best thing we can do right now is to get to Danny & make sure he’s ok.
Kwan: I hope so. That area down there looks pretty rough.
Lancer: Less taking, more action. Roll out!

(Later on, Sam makes her way, alone, through the woods & finds the wreckage of Danny’s bike. Danny sits on a tree stump nearby, rubbing a bruise on his head. Part of his shirt is torn.)

Sam: Danny!!! (Sam rushes over & hugs him tightly)
Danny: I’m ok, really. I had enough time to go ghost & get off the bike before I hit.
Sam: That’s not the point stupid. I’m just…glad you’re ok. (Sam breaks off the hug & sits down besides Danny.) I think you’d like to know how this happened.
Danny: I kind of know already. Dash’s handiwork, I’m sure of it. He won’t slime his way out of this one.
Sam: I may have scared him off. Funny what a punch to the face will do to a guy.
Danny: You really are very liberal about your non-violence policy.
Sam: It really gave me a scare, you know. I mean, I actually thought that you…
Danny: But I’m not. Don’t worry Sam.
Sam: I can’t help but worry Danny. You’re a walking target now, ever since the asteroid. And as if being Danny Phantom wasn’t stressful enough, Danny Fenton is constantly targeted by every bully wanting to take out his aggression on anyone.
Danny: Yeah, I know Sam. I was thinking…look this will sound really weird coming from me but…

(Before Danny’s thoughts can be vocalized, a ghost portal opens before them & Sydney Poindexter pops out.)

Sydney: Oh my, the Infini Map really does work! Danny, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!
Danny: Poindexter! Look, I don’t want to fight you, hell you haven’t even been known for picking fights!
Sydney: I’m not here for any acts of aggression! We need your help, right now!
Sam: Sam: Wait, you need Danny? Why?
Sydney: I’ll explain on the way! We need to get to the Phantom Sanctuary now. Clockwork & Pandora specifically requested your presence!
Danny: Crud, then it has to be serious! (Danny transforms into Danny Phantom, grabs Sam’s hand & follows Poindexter through the portal.)