(Danny's POV)

I felt the blast before I saw it, the stinging pain of electricity burning my flesh and the tingling shooting through my arms and legs causing them to temporarily give out. Upgrades huh? Thankfully thanks to my healing abilities the burning and the loss of motion didn't last long but it was enough time for him to float down before me.

Skulker.

The ghost was intimidating to look at, his large frame and flaming hair would send anyone running or the hills, but with the knowledge that this "Intimidating ghost" was really a small creature in a robot, the only scary thing was avoiding the painful lasers attached to his arms. Still avoiding those lasers was easier said than done. I swooped again, avoiding another blast and flip backwards, moving in inhuman ways by ghosting my bones to twist and bend with ease. I was a hard target to hit but the difficulty dramatically lowered when I dove down, catching a pillar that Skuller blasted off, intending to crush a mother and son underneath. Well, probably not crush them but he knew my particular soft spot for humans and I couldn't help the smile that grew on his face as I dove down, catching the metal beam, my fingers digging into the steel as the mother covered her baby with her own body.

"Go! Go!" I shout, stepping forwards as the beam starting to tip towards them.

Thankfully the mother takes the hint and bolts forwards, taking both of them out of danger. My relief is suddenly ripped away from me as another blast hits me, my body dripping to the ground as this one lasts longer. The static burning into my flesh and scrambling my ghost powers.

I could feel my body shutting down, my brain failing to get signals from my body and I feel myself falling forwards, crying out once more as the large beam now falls on me, pinning my arms and upper body to the sidewalk. With the current still coursing through my veins I couldn't phase. I was helpless. The weight of the beam slowly sinks into me. Crushing my ribs under its large mass and forcing what little air I had left out like a sponge expelling water.

I hadn't felt this helpless in a while. My battles with Skulker were hard yes but never like this. Skulker had played dirty and now as the cold fingers of fear sunk deep into my bones I frantically looked around. Trying to locate the Fenton Thermus in this mess, the only thing that could save me now and finally spotted it laying a few centimetres to my left. I move my fingers up, feeling the burn of metal scrapping my skin and try desperately to move my arm. Heavy footsteps echoed towards me, each boot sounding like a count down to my death and try bitterly to reach my thermos. Skuler, clearly following my line of vision smiles, kneeling down beside me. Rolling the Thermus closer towards my outstretched fingers, his fingers stopping on the top as it brushes my outstretched hand.

"Come on ghost boy, reach. Reach for it." his fingers roll the thermos closer to me, pushing it closer to my fingers and ripping it back when I had a twinge of hope. Once again he'd push. Again I would reach "Look at you, everyone's favourite hero. Helpless as a field mouse."

He laughs once more, kicking it away from both of us and smiles as I once again reach for it.

"No ones here to help you now ghost boy." he sneers, stepping on my hand with his foot. I hear my scream of pain as I felt the bones breaking under the strong metal. He twists it, ripping the flesh with more force. Skulker turns his arm cannon to my face, the motor starting up "Your sympathy for these humans will be your downfall."

I turned my head, shutting my eyes so his sickening grin wouldn't be the last thing I saw.

Sam, Tucker... someone help...

(Dash's POV)

What the hell I was doing? The screams of people ripped through the air, ruining any chance of a peaceful morning. I had one day off a week, wrapped up in football, homework and anything else my parents could throw at me. I glanced at my phone, trying to locate my best friend. I knew he should be there, Kwan was always early. Yet all thoughts of my friend vanished when a loud explosion rocks the sidewalk. I stumble, trying to find the source. Smoke billowed behind a few buildings and I run. More screams hit the air as a mob of people scattered in every direction. I twist my upper body to avoid a few people and collide with a frightened woman. Her hair was covered in soot and tears stained her face.

"what's happening?"

"G-Ghosts! Run!"

I felt my feet moving towards the danger, my speed increasing as the sounds of battle hit my ears. I wasn't sure why I did it. Maybe it was the quarterback in me. Avoiding twelve guys charging at breakneck speeds down the field must mess with my perception of danger. Before I knew it I found myself in the middle of the fight. It was Danny phantom and, if my memory was correct, Skulker, the hunter ghost. If only my mind was as good at holding onto math as it was with miscellaneous facts.

I moved out of view, taking a second to catch my breath and my bearings. There were a few people hiding under tables and in alleyways, clearly too scared to move but my eyes were on the large cluster of children hiding in the broken bus, the driver unconscious as steam hisses out the engine. Fuck. While I couldn't help Phantom I could help the other people. I took a few deep breathes, shaking my hands as I pumped myself up. I jumped over a fallen table, over a few chairs and reached the first child. I assume she tried to leave but got frightened halfway.

"Take my hand," Not giving her a chance to respond I grab her. I feel her grab my hand and I pull her to my chest, holding her close like I'd hold the ball and run to the alley. She was six, maybe seven years old. I didn't want to leave her here but If I put her down would she run back to me? That's when my eyes caught the sight of my best friend hiding behind a garbage can "Kwan!" I put the girl down before him "You need to help me get those kids off the bus!"

"Are you crazy man!" he hisses "they're having a deathmatch out there." I had to stop myself from doing a double-take. Since when was my forward such a pansy?

"Seriously man?!" I hiss back, clearly annoyed. Kwan would rather hide behind here like a coward "Since when is my forward such a coward?" he blinks, my words clearly hitting a personal note "Come on man, since when have you ever doubted my calls?" I slap a hand on his shoulder as another explosion echoed behind me pulling his eyes back to me as the child cowers in my arm "We need to get those kids off the bus, now I'm going to run one hell of a play and I need my forward to back me up." I see a flicker of courage hit his eyes "I'm neck-deep in the end-zone here, so are you going to protect your quarterback or are you gonna let me get sacked?!"

I could see the struggle in his eyes. Getting in the middle of a ghost fight wasn't something to joke about. The ghosts were already dead, causing danger wasn't something they were afraid of, often using humans as bait or shields. But I couldn't just leave the kids in the middle of the war zone.

"Alright, fine!" he slams his fist into the garbage can "What's the call?"

"Pass the ball." I hand him the kid "The civilians and children are the balls, got it?" he nods "I'll pass them out you get them to safety."

Kwan bumps knuckles with me and turns, scooping up the small child before running down the street. I could already hear sirens in the distance. I look at the scene again and narrowly pull my head back, shutting my eyes as another blast knocks me to the ground, a large crater now littered the sidewalk and showers me in dust.

I cough, picking myself back up and use my jacket sleeves to wipe off my face. I stop when my fingers touched wetness and I pulled my hand up, slick red blood covered them but I shook my head, wiping the blood on my sleeve and focused on the fight.

When the coast was clear I took off towards the bus. The bus was tipped on its side, the windows were cracked or broken. I ignored the twinge of fear and grabbed the wheel pulling myself up and crawled over to the first broken window.

"Hello?" A few of the kids were on top of others. They were scared and hurt but alive. I crawl forwards, wrapping my hand in my sleeve and smash a broken window, destroying the sharp pieces and crawl in, placing my feet on the sides of the seat and take in everyone "It's okay, hey it's okay." I feel multiple hands grab me "We're gonna get you out of here."

I was handing another child down to Kwan when Phantoms scream hit my ears. I watch phantom buckle to his knees, the metal beam still held above his head as the mother and child ran to safety. I froze as Skulker hit him again. This one was different. This one was black, the electricity wrapping around his body like rope before sinking into him like liquid. His form flickers. Turning black than green as his body fails. The beam tips forward. Pinning Danny under the beam and Skulker's sickening grin.

"Dash is that it?!" Kwan asks, clearly not wanting to stay here any longer than he had too.

"Um," I look down, grabbing another child and pull her up. Lightly hold onto her as she slides down the side of the bus to Kwan, "I think that's everyone," watching Skulker walk towards Phantom.

I bend down, getting ready to push myself back up through the window -I'd usually pull myself up but that second fall jarred my shoulder in a painful way. If I put to much weight on it I'd dislocate it. I'd almost missed it. It was super quiet, so quiet like Skulker's massive presence had killed all the happiness. All the explosions, all the yelling had stopped and I heard it. Quiet sniffling, someone was trying to hide their crying.

"Hello?" I ask "Is there someone in here still?!" I don't know why I was asking as I was already ducking, ignoring the pain jolting through my arm as I had to basically crawl in-between the small row of seats and not fall in the large gaps. I had to go all of the ways to the back of the bus before I found her, the small girl curled in a small ball at the bottom of the bus, a piece of seat pinned her arm down. "Oh god."

"I can't get out." she cries.

I bent down, watching my feet as I tried to figure out the best way to do this. I looked at her, gripping the seat, sliding my fingers under the leather. She wasn't pinned painfully but it was enough to hold her there. "Ok sweetheart, my name's Dash. I'm going to lift the seat. I need you to pull out your arm when I do okay?" She only nods, clearly too frightened to do anything else. I bend, gripping the seat and pull hard "Okay, pull!"

I cried out, half in anger and half in pain as my shoulder pops, the old injury acting up but it was enough to do the trick. I look at her arm, the flesh a darker purple and knew I wasn't going to be able to carry her back through the bus with my arm. Her hand lifts, pointing up and I smile. The window above us was a safety window, the large red latch painted for attention and I reach up.

I placed her on top of the bus, watching the broken glass and slide down first. I turn around, lifting my one good hand towards her. She was standing there, staring out in the distance. I thought she was scared, hell, I was scared but that quickly dissipated as her arm slowly lifts. Pointing away from us. Down the street.

I turn, taking in the scene and my heart stops. There stood skulker, knelt down over Danny phantom, a cannon pointed at his head and a sick smile on his face. The sound of metal causes me to look down and to my shock I see the Fenton Thermus rolling towards me, hitting my foot before stopping.

(Danny's POV)

I turned my head away, not wanting Skulkers sick grin to be the last thing I saw and flinched when a loud sound echoed through the air. I hear the sound of someone screaming in the distance but couldn't locate the direction, all I knew was the heavyweight on my hand vanished.
Someone was above me.
Metal hitting the pavement.
Footsteps.
Struggled grunts.

"Kwan, get over here!" I heard someone shout but I found it harder and harder to keep my eyes open. I couldn't help but cough a bit as some of the weight was lifted off of me, my body fighting to breathe even a little

"Damn it, Kwan! Lift!" the voice shouts again. More grunting and a painful cry.

I felt fear grip me again. I knew from experience if I passed out I would change back but the fear of my identity being discovered scared me more. And, as the sounds of sirens got louder than they'd ever been I felt the need to sleep hit me harder than before, the sweet waters of bliss calling me like a mother's love.

(Dash's POV)

I felt my body move before I could stop it, scooping up the stupid gadget that I'd seen Phantom use numerous times and gripped the handle with my teeth, ripping off the lid and spit it out. I looked down at the metal Thermus. To be honest, it looked like a normal Thermus, only made of metal with tiny screws lining the top. My eyes also fell on the small circle in the middle of the machine. I push it. There was more suction on this tiny thing that I'd thought capable and I was dragged forward by the force. I aimed, sloppy but it seemed to the trick as the large ghost was pulled off the floor and sucked into the Thermus. Shutting the damn thing off proved more of a challenge but I finally managed it, tossing the thing to the ground as I ran up to Phantom. I'm sure if he saw the crappy way I treated his tech he would cringe but my attention was on the ghost boy himself and I hooked my hand under the metal, lifting up with all my might.

"Kwan, get over here!" I shout, looking at my best friend. He had the girl in his arms but seeing as I'd eliminated the threat he runs over, clearly following me lead as he hooks both hands under the beam. Despite all my strength, I felt useless. The beam was to heavy for both of us to lift. We could only lift it slightly before I felt my legs shaking. We wouldn't be able to lift and pull him out.

I wanted to cry.

God damn it!

He was my idol!

My hero!

This ghost had done more for all of us than we could ever do and the one time he needed us we couldn't help him.

Then, as I was losing all faith in humanity I felt a hand on my back, a smaller hand and I looked to see the girl from the bus, she moved between us, grabbing onto Danny Phantoms' shirt before pulling. Despite her best efforts, he was still pinned, proving too much for her alone. But seeing her bravery three of her classmates join us, the ones I'd given Kwan before.

"Quick, grab him!" One boy shouts

"Pull! Pull!" another shouts, all grabbing his suit.

I grit my teeth, hooking my hand under the beam and tighten my grip "Damn it, Kwan, lift!"

I let out a painful cry, lifting the beam slightly higher than before. We managed to hold it long enough for the kids to pull him out.

"He's out!"

I let out another yell, finally dropping the beam when Phantoms' feet were out of the way.

I sigh; my hands burned like someone had poured acid on them. Collapsing to my knees as my strength leaves me. I pant, lowering my head to the ground. Why the hell did I do this to myself? I look up when the sound of sniffling hits my ears. I glanced at the kids, the three of them were circled around Danny phantom, holding onto his legs as they shook him.

"Mister, he's not moving." One sobs.

"Phantom wake up" Another cries, her hands hitting his chest gently

I shift onto my knees and hold my shoulder, the throbbing intensifying every second. I had to admit, the sight was horrible. The ghost boy had green blood oozing from his nose and lips. Black ash covered his suit where the green blood didn't and I noticed his one glove was ripped in three places, his fingers bent in weird angles as green blood dripped onto the ground around it.

"Uh… okay. Um back up."

I run a hand down my face and try to focus. The dust was still floating down around us and I could hear the sound of sirens as 'The ghost patrol' was on its way. Kwan pulls the others back. The three children holding him as they sob.

I placed a finger to his neck, trying to find a pulse and want to punch something when I find none. My eyes travelled down to his chest and sigh when it moves up and down in strangled breaths. Suddenly he snaps awake, his body twisting in pain as he moves.

"Hey! Hey, phantom you need to stay down!" I gently push his down to the concrete

Despite his injuries and obvious pain he still fought "Please… please let me go." He begs. I look into his bloodshot eye; the other was swollen shut. I could clearly see the fear in it "I'm going to… change back… I-I have to go…"

Change back?

"Oh man, this is bad." Kwan freaks as Phantom coughs up green blood, clearly losing his composure fast. The large male kneeling beside me "We need to get him help. Can we even help him? How do you help someone that's dead?!"

"We need to get him out of here," I whisper, watching him fall back, his breaths coming in even slower gasps.

"What?!"

My heart was racing.

The beats increasing as his eyes slowly flickered shut.
I had always wanted to know who my hero was.
I had always dreamed of helping him on missions and being there for him.
It was like the joker finally finding out Batman was really Bruce Wayne.
I watched the circles of the white ring his body, slowly sliding up his body as phantom fought the change.
But phantoms fear pulled at my heart, killing any joy that I'd find at this moment.

He didn't want this...

"Kwan, jacket..." I whisper, my hands pawing at him like a cat as my eyes were glued to Phantoms changing body

"What...?"

"He doesn't want this!" I finally snap out of my stupor "Take it off now!"

Kwan was the same as me. Wanting to know the truth of our cities most beloved hero -but thankfully he tugged it off faster than I ever could have with my shoulder and places it over his face. The jacket was large, covering almost half his body, the thought made me want to cry. Phantom was always risking his life for us... I look over as Kwan's hand touches my good shoulder, lifting Phantom to my body.

"Take him, I'll cover for you."

I scooped phantom up and ran, watching the white rings finish in the middle of his body and vanish. The sound of sirens grew louder. Fire trucks pulled out hoses, dousing fires and pulling people out of collapsing buildings. Medics treated the wounded. News vans recorded the damage and the world gasped in horror at the spectacle. I ran in the other direction. Away from the prying eyes. Away from the people. Holding my idol against my body as I fled to the only place I knew would be safe.

"Don't worry phantom, I've got you."