Firebreather X Danny Phantom

Chapter 6

Monday.

Danny pushed the locker door shut. He proceeded to rest his head against it. He took a deep breath and turned to his left a little. Duncan was right there, standing next to him.

"Ha. Didn't get me this time." Danny smiled. The bags under his eyes tingled with the fire that comes with having little to no sleep.

"Dude, you okay? You look like someone pulled you out of a coffin after, like, two weeks." Duncan tilted his head slightly with the concern.

"I'm fine. Just... haven't been sleeping well lately." Danny said. Last night there had been a ghost, just a resident.

~

"Excuse me, who are you?" Phantom asked.

"I am Walter! Aren't you King Phantom?" Walter squinted. Middle aged, extremely thick glasses. Walter wore a robe, as if he had just woken up that morning. "By golly, you are! Sorry if I came off as rude, your highness." The man bowed.

"Don't worry about that. Uh, how are you tonight?" Phantom scratched the back of his head. In Walter's hand, a coffee cup materialized, steaming.

"I'd reckon I'm doing just fine. What brings the almighty ghost of ghosts out at this time of night, if you don't mind me asking?" Walter took a sip of his drink.

"Ghost sense. Figured I should meet the locals. How many ghosts live around here?" Danny asked, shaking his head to fight a bit of sleepiness.

"Shucks, I'd guess there's about thirty of us here and there in this city. Not as many as you're probably used to, but it's right plenty for us citizens."

"Wow. Then again, I'm the only permanent ghost resident where I'm from. Plenty of visitors, but it's just me."

"Oh! Then, more than what you're used to, eh?" Walter gasped. "Don't you fret, your kingly-ship, none of us ghosts are likely to harm a fly. Who else have you met?"

"Other than you, I met Ellie, Carolyn and Gertrude. The ladies that haunt the school?"

"Fine women, those girls. A bit rambunctious, but they're sweethearts, aren't they?"

"Certainly. Listen, I've got to go. Need to sleep and all that." Danny changed the topic. He had a feeling Walter was the kind of guy to talk forever.

"Oh, I understand completely! Well, if you ever need anything, just drop on down to my home. There's a small cavern underneath this here neighborhood, which is dangerous, but I keep it from collapsing and taking the houses with it. Now if you ever need me, you know where to find me! Night, your highness!" With that, Walter melted into the asphalt.

~

"Danny, hello? Danny." Duncan was waving his hand in front of Danny's face. Danny quickly blinked hundreds of times and shook his head.

"What? Sorry."

"I was trying to tell you that we've got company. Haven't seen us, but company." Duncan scowled and looked at Troy, along with his gang.

"Aw man. Let's hide." Danny whispered.

"Me, hide? You do whatever you want, but there's no way I'm turning tail before confrontation." Duncan asserted. Danny wanted to slap himself. Danny Phantom, King of all Ghosts, suggesting he hides? From a simple bully? I'd be disgraced if anyone heard about this.

"Ugh, you know what? I'll stick around. Just in case." Danny pulled himself together, standing straight. At that moment, Troy made eye contact with both of them.

"Would you look at what the freak dragged in? Bet you guys that our Kaiju buddy will use the new kid like a toy." Troy taunted. His friends laughed.