Poem I published for Danny Phantom's 10th anniversary. As usual, link to the original is on my profile.
It's been a wonderful ten years participating in the Phandom—here's to hoping for another ten more.
.
1.
It begins ten years ago
with the click of a button.
It begins with a boy, just fourteen,
as he wanders into a very strange machine
zipping up his hazmat with one hand, and the other
brushing against the wall for guidance.
His fingers gently press the ON switch.
Click.
.
2.
It begins twenty years ago with the click of a button.
It begins with a man leaning in to inspect the Proto-Portal
with a skeptical raise of the eyebrow.
"I'm telling you, Jack," says Vlad, "It won't work."
But Jack is excited, and he snatches up the remote, not listening
to Vlad's doubts (or Maddie's remarks about miscalculations,)
and points it, yelling, "BANZAI!"
His fingers press the ON switch.
Click.
.
3.
It begins ten years ago with the click of a button.
The meat monster is looming, and he's gone one shot—just one—
so he takes his newly found thermos, points it at the ghost
and his fingers press the ON switch.
Click.
.
4.
It begins ten years ago with the click of a button.
The town is under siege, but it's ok, they've got a plan.
They've got a battlesuit, and he's going to face Pariah Dark.
Him. Not his parents, Not Valerie,
Not Plasmius,
Him.
But that's ok, because if there's anything Danny has learned so far,
it's that he's a hero. He's Danny Phantom.
Taking a deep breath, and sets his gaze forward;
Sets his sights on the horizon and the impossible task laid before him.
His fingers gently press the ON switch.
Click.
.
5.
It begins ten years ago with the click of a button,
pausing time.
Click.
The lair is silent but for the sound of ticking
and the Master of Time's ominous question;
"So Danny Phantom grows up to be the most evil ghost on the planet.
What do you want me to do about it?"
.
6.
It begins ten years ago with the click of a button,
pausing time.
And this time, Dan is locked in the thermos. This time, there is no
Explosion.
This time, the future feels whole.
This time, Clockwork hands him back the answers to the test
with a kinder smile than before, and says
"You've given everyone else a second chance. Why not you?"
This time, Danny smiles, and is ready to face a better future
when Clockwork calls "Time In," drawing his staff eye-level
And his fingers gently press the switch.
Click.
.
7.
The Disasteroid is coming.
But it's okay. They've got a plan, and
It begins with the click of a button.
"Atomic batteries powered, turbines to speed…"
His fingers gently press the ON switch.
Click.
The plane roars to life around him, and Danny takes one last glance
to the ground, to Sam. The whole world is watching, and so is she.
He takes a deep breath, and smiles, and sets his gaze forward;
Sets his sights on the horizon and the impossible task laid before him.
Because he is the hero—
And he'll always be around to save the day.
.
8.
It begins ten years ago,
with the click of a button.
It's a boring day, and you faintly remember
that there's a new show premiering today after Kid's Choice Awards.
That ghost show. What was it called, again? Danny—something.
Danny Phantom. That's right.
So you wander towards the TV, and drop down onto the couch.
You snatch up the remote and point it at the screen,
And your fingers gently press the ON switch.
—
Click.
Funny how the smallest actions can change your life forever, huh?