Well, after Danny beat Skulker, I am sure things will go back to normal…Or so it would seem. Sam and Tucker will notice some strange things going on with their best friend at the moment. So, let's see what happens. However, let's see the comments of this story.

DannyPhantom619: Well, I am actually agreeing with you except for the fact that if Heroes killed people especially villains, that wouldn't make the heroes any better than the villains. That is why there is a line that exists between the two. But, that's just my own mind thinking it.

Jim89: Yea, that's the aspect I like about them in Danny Phantom. I mean they aren't side kicks, but they are willing to give Danny a helping hand. I just wished they would have had ghost powers or at least an edge to make them a bit stronger than the ghost, but I am alright with them being humans.

You know, I am shocked that Skulker didn't end up stuck in some little girl's cage. I mean it would have been funny as heck.

Yeah, as much as I like a good hero, I have to admit that I dislike them being too good. I understand there is a certain line they don't want to cross, but I would at least some temptation of darkness within them.

You do have a point there, but unfortunately we always have that golden rule of Super Heroes. For every Hero, there must be a villain. Not every person is going to like the hero and is going to get that one person who uses his powers for evil and revenge against the hero or something like that.

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Danny Phantom. Danny Phantom, its characters and properties are owned by Butch Hartman and Nickelodeon.

Chapter 8: Disclosure

Ever since their trip into the Ghost Zone, Sam and Tucker had the uneasy feeling. The feeling was similar to being in a graveyard at midnight. However, the uneasy feeling was also directed for their concerns for Danny. Sam and Tucker noticed that Danny was training harder and harder.

Sam and Tucker saw how unprepared Danny was when he battled Klemper and Skulker. The two of them thought that his losses were the main factor as to why he was training extra hard.

Sam and Tucker were at the Nasty Burger, hoping to get some lunch and talk about Danny. They weren't going to talk badly about him, but they have noticed quite a change in him lately, other than gaining ghost powers. Could have it been a side effect that is causing his change in personality? Sam and Tucker both felt the strange feeling that those battles were changing Danny. The look on Danny's face when he came out of the ghost zone was a look of shame. He was glad that his friends were there to save his life, but it made him look like a weakling. Sam and Tucker didn't know this. They just wanted to help Danny as it looked like Skulker would have won if it hadn't been for their interference. Danny needed the time to think alone, so they went to the park without him.

"So, you really think that Danny's powers are changing him?" Tucker asked

"Well, you have seen him throughout the past few weeks. He has been acting very strange lately." Sam said as she began to list off the changes. "He has been sleeping in class, he has been having anger issues, he doesn't hang with us as much, and he has been training to use his powers."

"Isn't training to use his powers a good thing?" Tucker asked as he didn't feel that his training was a big issue. Tucker might have been bothered with Danny pushing him and Sam away, but there were times that Danny has relied on them.

"Well, it seems the more he trains, the less he spends with us. We are his friends and he is pushing us away." Sam said, "We have to know why."

"Well, maybe he feels that we are in danger and wants to keep us out of it." Tucker said.

"What!" Sam said. She couldn't understand how Tucker would come to know that. "I don't believe you."

"I know he told me not to tell you this but…

Sam went to use the shower in the Fenton house while the three were studying together. It was Danny's turn to have their study sessions. Danny looked at Tucker. "Tuck, I need to talk to you."

"Sure what's up?" Tucker asked

"I have been having some bad dreams lately." Danny told him.

Danny began to explain to Tucker about his dreams. The dreams Danny told him about was about him and Sam dying in different circumstances. He thought it was just nightmares, but the dreams have been going on for two weeks since their encounter with Skulker. Danny kept thinking of what would happen if Sam and Tucker were caught in the crossfire of one of his battles with a ghost. Danny couldn't live with himself knowing if anything happened to Sam and Tucker.

"Wow that seems very bad." Tucker eyes widened hearing about his friend's nightmares.

"I know what I am about to ask is very extreme, but it's for your sake and Sam's." Danny collected his hands as he looks over to Tucker.

"Sure," Tucker complied.

"I need for you and Sam to stay away for a while. I don't mean our study sessions or when we hang out. I mean when I face off against another ghost or when I train. I just don't want to hurt you guys." Danny sadly announced.

It took a moment for Tucker to register what Danny was saying, but he understood what Danny was saying. He knew that Sam would protest if it was just him and her, but Tucker was different. He understood that Danny didn't want them to be hurt by him or whatever enemy that might come in the future.

"I understand that, but you have to understand that we aren't going to abandon you. We will be by your side always." Tucker put a hand on him. Danny smiled as he was reassured of Tucker's friendship with him.

The door opened up as Sam dried her hair with a towel as she was wearing her normal Goth attire.

"Everything okay?" Sam asked them.

"Yeah," Both Sam and Tucker told her. Danny looked at Tucker as if to tell him 'don't tell Sam about this.'

Tucker looked back to tell him, 'okay'.

"Sam, stop it. You can't do this. We said that we would stay away." Tucker groaned as he pulled on Sam's arm. She was very upset by what the two had discussed.

"He is pushing us away for something stupid." Sam said. "It's like he is saying he doesn't want us around."

"Sam, you have to understand where he is coming from. What if one of us had his powers and that was our decision? Danny is right. We have to stay away. What if we do get hurt? He won't be able to handle seeing us in the hospital for something that was his fault.

Sam stopped her struggles and looked at Tucker. He did have a good point to him. "That still isn't an excuse for him to push us away like this. We are his friends. We have to do something."

Before Tucker could talk back, Danny came to open the doors of the Nasty Burger. Now was really not a good time for him to be here, especially when Sam was upset with him. "Hi Sam. Hi Tucker."

Sam turned to Danny and went up to him as she slipped out of Tucker's hands. Danny wasn't expecting what Sam would do next. She held her hand out and Danny thought it would be a high five. How wrong Danny was as he wasn't prepared for what Sam did.

SLAP!

Sam's hand narrowly avoids Danny's hand and made contact with his cheek. Danny swirled around as his body held one of the doors to the Nasty Burger. The crowd turned their heads to view what had happened. Sam's eyes grew cold and angry at Danny. She shook her head in disguise.

"Talk to me when you decide to include your friends again." Sam told him in anger. She pushed the door and walked through the entrance. Danny saw Sam leaving in anger. When Danny turned his head to Tucker, he gave Danny a look saying that 'she knows about our talk'. Danny sighed as he knew what he had to do.

Sam sat on her bed as she couldn't believe what she had heard. Danny wanted to push Tucker and her away from him, just to keep them save. As much as Sam wanted to live, she felt Danny was acting selfish and just wanted them out of the way. She groaned hearing the knock on the door.

"Sam dear, are you alright?" Her mother said.

"I'm fine mom." Sam told her.

"Well, one of your friends is here to see…"

"Tell them to leave. I don't want to see anyone right now." Sam spat in anger. Sam's mother complied with her daughter's wishes. Sam overheard their conversation. The voice belonged to Danny.

"I really need to see her," Danny complained.

"I know, but she really is upset and doesn't want to see anyone at the moment." Sam's mother told him.

"Okay," Danny sighed.

Sam waited a couple of minutes before she crossed her arms knowing he would just use his ghost powers to sneak up to her room. Once he appeared, Sam only glared at him. "What do you want?"

"I came here to apologize for today. It wasn't right of me to exclude you and Tucker from my training sessions or about my nightmares."

Sam wasn't convinced that Danny was really sorry. Danny sighed knowing he would have to put in more effort if he wanted Sam to forgive him. He rubbed his cheek still feeling the burning slap as if she gave it to him right now, which judging by Sam's face, she was ready to give him one.

"Look, give me at least five minutes to…" Danny spoke

"Danny, I am not mad that you told Tucker instead of me…" Sam told him.

"Because I knew you would get mad at me and oppose what I had to say."

"Well, not including us is even worse. We can hold our own against any ghost." Sam argued.

"Oh Yeah," Danny glared. "What if another ghost comes along and I can't protect you from him or her. There might be powerful ghosts than Skulker."

"…And your solution to this problem is to exclude me and Tucker? We saved you from Skulker. You need us." Sam yelled.

"I don't want you or Tucker getting hurt. I don't want that for you guys. If you guys get hurt then I don't know what I would do. Why can't you understand that?" Danny glared. His eyes turned green for a moment. He turned away from Sam.

"I understand what you are trying to do. I know you think what you are doing is right, but you are only limiting your strength. It's worth the risk." Sam tried to convince him.

"So, it's worth getting hurt because of me. Because of your association with me, you two are going to end up getting hurt or something worse." Danny growled as he turned his head to her with tears in his eyes. "I don't want that to happen."

Sam tried to talk to him, but her words failed to reach him. "I am sorry for not telling you about my problems. Maybe it's best that we have a little space for a while."

"Danny, wait." Sam tried to talk to him once more, but he phased out and flew away from her house. She took a breath when she looked through her window. Maybe he was right. The two of them needed some space. Sam needed to find a way to convince Danny that their assistance was worth the risk. But, was it really worth it?

Well, that was an exciting chapter. What did you think?

I knew there had to be a major conflict after the whole Skulker battle. I couldn't think of it at first, but eventually I discovered my inspiration for this chapter after watching an episode of Steven Universe. I like that show now.

Anyways, I liked how this chapter turned out as I always feel there is conflicted when Super Heroes or Heroines have to protect the ones they love.

We never see much of Super hero shows dealing with the fact that they could put their loved ones in harms way. I mean there are some hints and moments that do happen, but I mean a whole episode dedicated to it. Steven Universe's Full Closure episode was probably the closet I have seen that explores that philosophy.

Now, next chapter will be interesting. So, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and explore more ideas of what is to come for this story.

So….

Until then, see you later.