Tucker was angry. No, scratch that, he was incredibly pissed, looking at the metal floor of Specter Speeder. He had tried getting up, wriggling out of grasp of ectoplasmic goo. But it was all in vain, and he was still stuck. Who knows what that putrid ghost had in his vile mind. And here he thought that the guy was nicer than he had thought. Ha, foolish idiot, now he was tied up in the very transport he had used. That was pretty much everything Tucker could do at the moment - grumble about his predicament. Thankfully no wild beast came to eat him.

Suddenly, he heard the metal doors opening.

"And here I wondered where the Speeder went."

Tucker perked up and saw Danny standing there with a smug smirk. In a human appearance, and thus his friend's expression was that of shock and happiness.

"Hey, dude..." He laughed nervously. "Can you help out a bit?"

Danny kneeled near him, somehow managing to tear apart the bindings.

"Here come your trainings with my dear parents," the raven haired teen grumbled.

"Hey, that bastard caught me off guard!" Exclaimed Tucker. "Wait...how did YOU get here?"

"One," Danny raised his finger. "This speeder has a tracker. That's how I found you. Two," another one was raised. "There was a small transport in my parents' disposal just in case. Emphasis on WAS. But it's a long story."

Tucker seemed to believe his friend. The story he had, in reality, thought up, sounded truthful enough for the techno geek. Once again, Danny was once again convinced that he had become a better liar. But Tucker didn't see the inner conflict being instigated within his friend. Then he was suddenly snapped into reality, reminded about the reason they were there in the first place.

"Danny, we've got to..."

"Ahem."

Tucker turned in direction of the voice, seeing Sam standing at the doorway, leaning against the frame. She smiled at his dumbfounded expression. The girl then proceeded to hug him tightly, much to the boy's embarrassment.

"Thanks for coming Tuck."

"H-how did..."

"Well," Danny put in, rubbing the back of his neck. "I admit I first came for her. Then I saw the dot and thought it was you. Turns out I was right."

"Wait...have you met Phantom out there?"

"Yes," both of the ghosts responded slowly.

"What did he do?"

"Helped me out," Danny shrugged, getting to the controls and sitting on the pilot chair.

"He used his authority to make that idiotic prince release me," added Sam, sitting next to Tucker, making him sigh.

"And why was that prince even allowed to do so?"

"He wasn't," Danny looked behind. "It seems that the guy is in deep shit now. He probably would spend a long while in the dungeon for his crime."

He would never understand that ghost. Honestly, he acted so strange, even for the undead. Come to think of it, unlike the ones he fought against, Phantom was...changing, you may say. The same specters used the same strategies and methods, like the ghosts were supposed to, and this was exactly why the current ghost king stood out. It wasn't only because he grew like a normal teenager. It was because of growing power, he was fighting with more experience. Both unusual traits could be attributed to him being the mistake of nature, a walking ersatz. Thank goodness that no one was able to guess what exactly such trait granted. Including being able to masquerade as a human.

Danny set off their transport to the Fenton portal. He leaned back in the seat and glanced at hid girlfriend. Sam caught the glance and nodded. They were going according to plan. Drop off Tucker and send him home, then push the limits of this rattletrap to get Sam home as soon as possible. Easier said than done. And during this time Fentons would also notice the absence of their vehicle. And all of this at the nick of time. Phantom tried to think up a reason to hold his parents out of the lab. A lightbulb lit above his head. They just needed a distraction. And he could do that.

Finally they came to a stop inside the lab of Fenton Works. The teens got out of the transport, and Tucker was well ahead of the two. Near the doors the human stopped and looked backwards.

"Are you guys not coming?"

"Tuck, I live here," Danny said dryly. "And it's evening. Why would I hurry anywhere?"

"Oh. Well, what about Sam?"

"I...I'll go on my own just fine."

Tucker's shoulders hunched, as the anger was evident on his face.

"What's wrong with you two?!" He exclaimed.

Both ghosts jumped in surprise. Danny was even more shocked, as his friend had very rarely been so obviously pissed.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Danny. There is something, and you are not telling it! You just came out of the realm of the dead and shrugged it off! Moreover, Sam has been abducted! And she just decided to casually stroll home as if nothing has happened!"

"Tucker..."

"You know what? I'm done. Seriously. You NEVER tell me anything going on with you! Hell, I didn't even know about Sam for seemingly a while."

"We've met only a couple of days before you," Sam narrowed her eyes, unhappy about the whole shouting. But she wasn't angry, understanding that it was just a pent up frustration. But both she and her boyfriend would like to be somewhere else entirely. Like her true home, for instance.

"Oh, and you are already cuddling."

Well, the ghosts did grow fond of each other quite fast if they got along. Obsessive nature and all that. But it's not like it would be a valid point to be talked about with a human. Even if it was Tucker of all people. Danny crossed his arms and looked at his friend.

"Is that it? Tucker, we just...became close quickly. Nothing to be concerned about."

"Believe me, dude. THAT. Is the least of my concerns."

Everyone ignored how rude the comment sounded if you thought twice about it, as there was no time to dwell on it either.

"No, Danny. I'm worried as to why Sam just popped out of nowhere, and not exactly during the tourist season. And now you both treat the undead like a joke. Like they won't be able to harm you at all!"

Not many would dare nowadays, Phantom reasoned internally. Not many had enough guts or stupidity to do that. Even Vlad was more or less staying aside. As for Sam...well, to anger her ancient and undeniably powerful father was just as foolish. Besides, unlike with the Crown of Fire, the ghosts had very little to gain from the embodiment of nature itself.

"So far it has been nothing, Tucker," Danny said firmly. "You know that I best both you and my parents in this endeavor of theirs."

"What do you mean 'endeavor'? The ghosts are a threat. It's only right to defend ourselves!"

"And how well does it go?" Danny asked sarcastically. "How many have you actually caught before a certain ghost stepped in and solved all your problems with them?"

"Are you actually sympathizing him?!"

"How. Many."

His voice made Tucker's heart stop for the brief moment. God, he didn't know Danny could sound so damn terrifying without even raising his voice. Even Sam looked in surprise at the raven haired teen. Then Tucker thought a bit. And realized what point Danny was making. For there were little to no ghosts they had caught. Only some pathetic creatures without any form of sentience. Obviously those were just the beings Phantom simply didn't want to bother with.

"Just as I thought," Danny mumbled, putting a hand on his hip. "I don't need help with anything concerning this, Tucker. I'm fine..."

For the briefest of moments, a thought crossed his mind. Maybe he should just tell him and be done with all this shit? Sam could only watch the exchange and feel sorry for the two. Tucker was a wonderful friend, but the line between life and death separated them. Maybe he really would change his mind once he learned about whom he had been really trying to kill.

"Danny," the techno geek sighed. "What's going on?" He asked tiredly. "I haven't pried before. For several years by now. You have been strange ever since you were almost zapped to death..."

Oh, Tucker, you couldn't comprehend the irony of what you had just said.

"You have become so secretive about everything! We are supposed to be friends!"

"Tucker, we are."

"Then why are you trying so much to hide everything? We've never had secrets from one another. And since all this mess has started you are even more lonely, not counting your girlfriend here. And now there are also your skills which have seemingly come out of nowhere. What's going on?"

Danny was silent for a while. The nagging feeling within his stomach made it ache. Just tell him, it told the Ghost King in disguise. The internal conflict lasted for good minute, before Danny sighed once again.

"Tucker...the point is...I am..."

"Danny! We heard some noise downstairs!" His mother's voice sounded from above.

Shit.

Danny looked around quickly, checking if everything was just as it had been before they came downstairs. If they found out where they had been, it would be a disaster. Tucker realized that too, so there wasn't any need to remind him. Everyone noticed that the portal was still open. Sam quickly pressed the button and the gates slid close. She had seen once how it's done. Not that it would prevent the ghosts from coming through...but it was something Fentons failed to realize.

Everything seemed to be in perfect order when the Fenton seniors entered the lab. Maddie came first, removing her red goggles and showing a surprised gaze.

"What are you doing here?"

"Mom," Danny said with almost traceable stain. God, with each day it was getting harder and harder. "I live in this house, too."

It was a way of scolding, a small hint on what his parents were neglecting. Needless to say that his ever present sarcasm and double meaning had fallen on the deaf ears. Only Sam, once again, understood it. Honestly, she had known him for a very short while compared to them, and yet...the ghost girl knew him much better. He was like an opened book for her, yet the humans failed to see. Sam sighed, pitying the man she had feelings for.

"We told you that you shouldn't come downstairs."

"Why, if it's not too much to ask?"

"Because the portal is near, and who knows what comes out of there," Jack reasoned. "The defenses here are not as strong as in the rest of the house."

Ah, so it somehow managed to be worse than what was above. The very system which tried to kill him on multiple occasions and failed miserably. The only reason the place wasn't swarming with specters is because no one dared to trespass. And if they did, the King handled the intrusion into his haunt personally. But of course his deeds were left unnoticed.

"Maybe you should...I don't know..." Danny began sarcastically. "SHUT DOWN THE PORTAL IN OUR BASEMENT?" He emphasized louder, pointing at the very thing which had started all this mess.

"Danny, we have been over this," Maddie narrowed her eyes, not liking this attitude at all.

"Yes, yes. How can you exterminate an entire race without it?" Responded Sam.

She had heard him ranting about their words one day. And was he pissed at that moment, she had barely managed to calm him down. The entire palace would have known about it otherwise. Phantom wasn't particularly quiet.

"Don't you come into this conversation, young lady," Maddie scowled at her. "We don't even know you properly and you already teach us what to do?"

"I've said nothing about it," Sam crossed her hands. "Just stated what you've said."

"And how did..."

"I told her," Danny interrupted, much to the surprise of his parents. "Or am I not even allowed to share these things now? The things which are so damn obvious that every ghost behind these gates knows about your plans?" He asked, gesturing at the portal.

The only reason they hadn't been torn to shreds yet was the King himself. As much as he despised the two...they were still a family by blood. Phantom saved their pelts on more than a single occasion, both in the fight and at the Royal Court.

"Daniel James Fenton, how dare you speak to your parents like this?!"

Danny only smiled in a bitter way, the meaning behind it was obvious to the other ghost. It was quite naive to think that the parental authority meant anything to him. At least in this particular case.

"Like what? Or are you unused to me speaking at all? That's how I talk, and there is no changing it. Sorry that I'm being blunt in stating the obvious. I have your best interests in mind," Danny said with a note that he had anything but. The well-being of his people was far above the petty interests of his parents. Actually, even brushing his teeth was well above.

Maddie and Jack were taken aback by the response. Now they were to blame of all people? How did he even manage to turn the accusation round?

"Danny, you cannot blame us for trying to..."

Phantom interrupted his father, as he started going to the entrance. "To what? Protect the people? If not for you no ghost would have ever made it to this wretched town at all," he mumbled darkly.

With that Danny left, and Sam was about to follow, before Maddie stood between her and the exit.

"Now, girl. Danny will get a talk after WE are done."

"I'd be glad. But I was about to go home. My father is probably already mad that I've missed the curfew."

And she wasn't kidding. Undergrowth was going to lock her tight in their forest. And after seeing so much new things, experiencing the world beyond the trees, it was the last thing she wanted. Sam loved her father, she loved her home, but being deprived of everything else was pointless and terrifying to think about.

"Oh, really? Or is this just an excuse? I'm not letting my son with some strange goth girl which came out of nowhere."

"I beg your pardon?" Sam asked in confusion. She didn't even know what that word meant. Then again, she had heard the word before. Little did she know that that was because of her dark clothes and make up.

"I'm not a 'goth'," she crossed her hands. "And what does it have to do with Danny?"

"It has to do with his behavior. He never was like this before he met you of all people."

Sam's eyes widened. What an ignorant...her look turned angry.

"What?" She asked, barely keeping her disguise intact. If anyone would have looked at the scanners they would have picked the energy radiating off her, even if the ring on her finger was still hiding most of it.

"Uhm...actually, Mrs. Fenton," Tucker put in. "He has been like that for longer than you think."

"And you didn't tell us?!"

"I thought you knew that..."

Sam resisted a huff. Poor Tucker, so naive. They didn't give a thing about his well being. These were the people who had killed their son and hadn't even noticed this. That was a whole new level of ignorance. Where was Danny, Sam started to wonder at this moment. Did he forget that she was there too because of his anger? She couldn't blame him, they were insufferable.

Suddenly the alarm rang, and everything was forgotten for the time being. Everyone was confused, until Maddie gasped.

"Level 10 ghost, Phantom finally showed up, Jack, into RV, quick!"

It happened incredibly quick, and the Fentons were already driving away. And here went their concern for the well-being of their son. Well, at least it could be reasoned that getting rid of the Ghost King was a part of keeping him safe...if you don't take into consideration the fact that he was well out of their league. It would have led to their death eventually. And it was in no way good for him, at least to the outside observer. But death of Tucker, who had decided to tag along, was no good at all. But at least he left the lab all to herself.

This whole situation was probably a part of the scheme to get them the hell out of the lab for a good while. Soon, a few minutes after the seniors left the lab, Danny went downstairs with a triumphant grin on his face.

"I'm getting better at duplication," he said, approaching her.

But his smile did show some strain. It was obvious that he still was under the impression of the recent conversation. Better not to tell him what had happened downstairs yet, or he would straight up blow up this entire house. Without sharing a further word, they just revved up the speeder to go into the Ghost Zone faster. However, the thing refused to open. Befuddled, Danny started pushing the button again and again, until the image of an 'error' appeared on the screen.

Needless to say that both were mortified by this message.

"The hell?" Danny mumbled, going to the screen. The damn thing couldn't show what was wrong.

"What's going on, Danny?"

"Wait..."

Phantom ignored the question, too indulged in checking all parameters manually.

"Of course," he put a hand on his face and sighed, before looking at Sam with grim expression. "The thing is out of juice."

Sam only raised her eyebrow. Instead of explanation Danny walked to the small box near the portal and opened it. Inside was a cylinder, oozing ectoplasm all over. Cursing loudly, Phantom hit his head at the wall.

"See this?" He pointed at the thing, knowing that he had been ignoring her. "This piece of junk is ecto-filtrator."

Using his telekinesis he took out the piece of technology. "With all this fuss I have forgotten about my chores. And here is the result. With the converter in such condition opening the portal is dangerous, if not impossible. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Danny," Sam approached him. "Surely ruling a kingdom is more important than that. But...is there any replacement?"

"Judging from how lucky we have been so far," Danny's lips formed a thin line. "I doubt it. But it won't hurt to check."

Phantom reached for one of the lower shelves, sliding open the metal door. He groaned.

"Well, what did I say? None!" He furiously tossed it close with a loud noise. Not worrying about someone hearing them.

Now the situation was getting worse and worse.

"Don't worry," Danny rubbed his face. "Don't worry. I'll get you home. I'll think up something."

"Danny. You sound more worried than I am."

"Aren't you?"

"Of course I am afraid. Afraid like hell, but panicking won't get us anywhere," Sam crossed her hands as Phantom smiled. That girl was wonderful. "I'm sure you'll think up something."

"You have quite a faith," muttered Danny and chuckled. "There are few ghosts who can provide portals for us. I'm still learning this power. It will be dangerous. Without any guarantee that we will land where needed. Wulf is god knows where, even if his actions have been pardoned. Clockwork, mind helping us?" He looked into nothingness. "No? Figures...Yes, it might work!" Danny's face brightened.

Before Sam could ask what he had meant, Phantom grabbed her hand and they ran upstairs, to his room. Once there, Danny reached his hands within the wall, before taking out a scroll of aged parchment. He unrolled a part of it, before tearing off a piece of it.

"The stuff is used for communicating with Fright Knight. Not sure how this works."

Danny took out a pen and began scribing. Sam leaned close and watched, but hadn't had time to make out the writing when Danny already rolled it in a small scroll. His hand was covered in green energy, before the parchment vanished, without reducing to ash, which was exactly what had to happen.

"Now we wait for response," Phantom sighed. "This night I won't be sleeping, I take it."

At this he yawned. After all he had been awake for quite a while. His duplicate disappeared several miles away. Better save some energy. But Fentons would be really pissed. Hopefully not in the mood to continue the conversation in a middle of the night. Better lock the door for the night.

"I'll watch if something happens," Sam suggested. "You should take a nap. You need it."

Danny blinked at her with his ice blue eyes. "Yeah. I guess you are right," he said slowly.

Phantom put his head on her knees, as Sam sat on the bed, leaning against the wall. Both were dressed, ready to set off any second. Sam could hear his breath becoming slower and more steady. Danny fell asleep quickly. The ghost girl sighed herself. He slept maybe too soundly for a person in such situation. She wondered what it was like, to just get away from the burdens of the real world in your own mind. There was a ghost who specialized in this, but he was a rare creep in her opinion.

Some time later Sam heard footsteps outside of the room, accompanied by quiet grumbling. Apparently, the Fentons were very disappointed. But no, they hadn't attempted to enter. Danny stirred, but didn't wake up. To entertain herself somehow, Sam pulled a journal from the shelf into her hand. It was about space. She smiled and chuckled, her boyfriend surely loved space, as he had told her and what she was seeing.

But no sign of response from the other side. Sam was growing anxious because of this. But after a while, the sun started to rise. She prayed to whatever deities there were that her father wouldn't make it to her home before them.

But her prayers were left unheard.