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Stars in the Darkness

Summary:

Jazz's older brother had passed away when she was only ten years old.

Notes:

I have written only two fanfics in my life, the first four years ago and the second (this) is the first of this fandom.

I've always written original fiction so this is thirty percent based on Danny Phantom, fifty percent on a series of stories I'm writing (in Spanish) and the other twenty is based on another series of stories I haven't published.

Will I dedicate myself to writing fanfics? Probably not, but this has been going around my head.

 

Traducción en español aquí ➡️ https://archiveofourown.org/works/48538720

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

This is one of those nights when the shadow of the past looms over Jazz, the memories of that fateful day when her older brother, Danny, died horribly before her eyes. He was only ten years old when tragedy struck his life, leaving an eternal void in his heart.

Jazz's parents prefer to keep quiet about the day, either out of grief or simply because they don't see the need to mention it. However, when they decide to talk about it for some reason, they always refer to that event as "The Accident". With his pain, Jazz wonders if it's really appropriate to label it a mere accident. Deep down, she knows that the tragedy could have been prevented if someone had been there to stop her.

If only the safety regulations had been followed.

If only they had closed the lab door.

If only they had learned from their past mistakes and never built another portal.

Memories of Danny, her beloved older brother, intertwine with Jazz's heart. The fragmented memories of her life melt into the memory of the young woman, wrapped in a halo of nostalgia and longing that she knows she will never be able to get off her chest, not in the same way. She doesn't want to be misunderstood; It's not that she lacks memories of her with her parents, but the reality is that they weren't around as much as she would have liked. It was almost always Danny who was next to her.

Except for his friends, who were also devastated by his death, in the minds of the townspeople, Danny is remembered as a strange boy, probably a juvenile delinquent, from an equally strange home. < /p>

People never got to see who Danny really was. They did not see the passionate young man who found space an inexhaustible source of fascination, nor the prodigious intellect that resided within him. They completely ignore the Danny that he sacrificed his own happiness to take care of Jazz, becoming his only protector and confidant.

Those qualities of Danny's, so ingrained in the heart of Jazz, have been relegated to collective oblivion. His true self, his luminous essence, lives only in the most intimate corners of his sister's memory.

.
.

This was something she learned much later, it happened when she was only a two-year-old girl.

At that time, her parents had taken her to daycare, but they ended up so engrossed in her work that they forgot to pick her up.

When Danny came home from school and realized that Jazz wasn't home, he got desperate.

Her parents were still working, so Danny assumed the role of protector, walking almost a mile alone at night to find Jazz.

Danny was only six years old at the time.

Finding her at daycare was a relief to both him and her. She supposes that it was that day that their relationship changed forever.

.
.

At the age of four, Jazz struggled with a fear of the dark that kept her from sleeping. Imaginary monsters created by his childish mind lurked in the shadows, preventing him from resting.

However, her older brother Danny, always attentive to her needs, decided to help her. One day, without saying a word, she simply walked into her room, plugged in and turned on a small lamp that projected sparkling stars onto the ceiling. That night, he slept next to her, singing softly to her. The light, the magical celestial display, and the comforting company brought Jazz calm and relief, allowing her to finally rest.

The next morning, curious about the reason for this gesture, Jazz asked Danny why she did it if he liked that lamp so much. With that infuriating but affectionate smile that only he could give, Danny explained that she had grown too old for that, that the lamp had been sitting in her room collecting dust, and that he had decided to give it a new purpose. But he assured her that if the lamp stopped working, there was enough room for the two of them in her bed.

Years later, Jazz learned that the lamp had been one of Danny's most prized possessions, a special item she held dear. Upon discovering the lie after his death, the starry lamp took on even greater value in Jazz's eyes, serving as a tangible reminder of his older brother's love and care.

Since then, although he no longer needed it, the lamp had a special place on Jazz's nightstand. Every night, before her lifespan expired, the soft light of the stars projected on the ceiling accompanied her in her sleep, reminding her of Danny's love and protection.

.
.

When Jazz turned five, she experienced a little disappointment: her parents completely forgot about her birthday. Although she felt sad at that moment, she understood that her parents work was demanding and required his full attention.

However, in the midst of his disappointment, Danny, his nine-year-old superhero, decided to do something special to brighten his sister's day. With determination and love, he embarked on a mission to bake the best birthday cake Jazz had ever tasted.

It wasn't as difficult as he might have thought, since for the past year, Danny had taken on the responsibility of preparing meals at home. With each carefully chosen ingredient, Danny strove to create a masterpiece of flavor and sweetness for his sister.

That may be one of the fondest memories he has, of watching him work in the kitchen and occasionally receiving small portions of leftover ingredients.

Finally, the magic moment arrived. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye and a proud smile on his face, Danny presented the cake to Jazz. It was an exquisite delight, decorated with love and a special touch that only he could provide. Jazz was overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude towards her brother, who, despite his young age, had shown immense love and unmatched dedication.

That day, when Jazz blew out the candles on her homemade cake, she felt a warm love wrap around her heart. The lack of memory of her parents vanished before the significant gesture of her beloved brother. From that moment on, every time she remembered that special birthday, her face would light up with a smile and the memory of that cake made with brotherly love would remain in her heart.

She had never been concerned with the fact that at that age no child should be able to cook like that.

.
.

When Jazz was seven years old, she had her first encounter with psychology. Her excitement overwhelmed her as she shared her new discovery with her parents. Although they were glad of her for her at the time, they never brought up the subject of her again or showed any continued interest in her fascination with her psychology.

Danny, who was present in the same room during the conversation, remained silent. The next morning, Jazz awoke to find a book on basic psychology neatly placed outside her bedroom door.

Eyes bright with wonder, Jazz took the book with trembling hands. She wasn't stupid and she knew perfectly well who had put it there. It was a sign that she had been listening and understanding her passion for psychology. That unexpected gift confirmed that Danny, in her reserved way, supported and encouraged her in her pursuit of knowledge, even if he himself did not enjoy studying.

From that day on, Jazz devoured every page of the book with gusto. She immersed herself in theories and concepts, exploring the fascinating world of the human mind. Over time, the seed planted by Danny blossomed, and Jazz found a path in psychology that captivated her deeply.

Although her parents didn't consistently share her enthusiasm, Jazz knew she had her brother as a silent accomplice. Together, through small gestures and shared moments, they found a special connection that transcended words.

As time passed, Jazz continued her journey through psychology. She started talking to her brother and using him as a test subject, even though he couldn't understand half of what she was explaining. He would always sit with a smile, listening to her.

.
.

When Jazz was nine years old, that's when she began to rebel against the idea of being treated like a little girl. She didn't want to be seen as helpless and innocent. She expressed her desire to be taken seriously and for her growth to be recognized. Her parents assured her that it was okay for her to feel this way and that they were proud to see her mature at such a young age.

However, Danny, her older brother, couldn't resist making a joke. He taunted her, saying that Jazz would only be considered an adult by him when she turned at least twenty. Without wasting a moment, Jazz replied that it was nonsense, since he, at only thirteen years old, was already behaving like an adult. Jazz's response surprised Danny, who was initially flabbergasted, then burst out laughing.

However, behind her laughter, Danny hid a look full of sadness.

Unaware of the sadness Danny was trying to hide, Jazz went about her day full of energy and determination, eager to demonstrate her growth and her ability to face the world. Danny started teaching her how to do little things on her own. At that moment, Jazz didn't notice the fleeting shadow that darkened her older brother's face, nor how her words had left a mark on her heart.

She didn't realize at the time that the reason she saw Danny as an adult was because she, at some point, stopped acting like his older brother and started acting like her father. She forgot that he was a boy too and that children do stupid things.

She remembered him in the most horrible way possible a year later.

.
.

Jazz, now ten years old, found herself in the darkness of her room. All the lights had suddenly gone out, and an ominous silence enveloped the entire house. A chill ran down her spine, announcing the presence of a supernatural darkness lurking in the shadows.

A deafening roar shook the ground, shaking the foundations of the family home. Jazz, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, went downstairs to find Danny. When she reached the kitchen, she noticed the basement and was drawn to it, drawn to the malevolent force emanating from within.

As she approached the lab door, an indescribable sense of fear washed over Jazz. A grim premonition, as if her very walls were aware of the darkness within her, enveloped her. As her trembling hand touched the cold doorknob, a myriad of conflicting emotions surged within her: curiosity, fear, and an unsettling sense of malevolence lurking in the shadows.

The dim green light seeping under the door seemed to have a life of its own, flickering and dancing like an evil entity. Every glimmer of it was projected onto the ground before her, like ghostly fingers seeking to drag her into an abyss of unimaginable terrors.

Jazz took a deep breath, her lungs filling with air charged with electricity and dark foreboding. She had been told not to enter before, and subconsciously she knew that once she crossed that threshold, her world would change forever. But despite the fear that gripped her, and especially because she feared for Danny's safety, the door was open and her parents were not home. A malfunction of the supposed portal to the dimension of the dead had left them depressed.

Something clicked in her head. The portal.

Jazz looked again at the green light projected under the door, the same color as the strange liquid her parents were working with.

Summoning her courage, she opened the door and found herself in an infernal scene. The portal to the Ghost Zone, a twisted structure pulsating with sinister energy, vibrated with an otherworldly power. The air was filled with an acrid smell, and the atmosphere was charged with a malevolent presence.

Without hesitation, Jazz ventured across the threshold of the door. A phantasmal mist enveloped her surroundings, distorting her vision and senses. And there, emerging from the depths of the portal, appeared Danny.

Her older brother, trapped in a nightmare that defied all comprehension, crumbled before her eyes. The hazardous material suit Danny wore had been torn apart by the supernatural force that engulfed him. The charred remnants of the suit clung to his skin from him, mingling with his open wounds and the sores left by the corrosive ectoplasm in its wake from him.

Danny's skin was torn and charred, revealing muscle tissue and exposed bone in a grotesque display of suffering. Burns from an electrical shock spread from her right arm down his torso, leaving a trail of charred flesh and shredded tissue. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, choking Jazz's senses and adding a chilling touch to the macabre scene.

Terrified and in shock, Jazz watched the life slowly drain from her brother's eyes. Danny's eyes, glassy and filled with indescribable pain, stared into space as death claimed his battered body from him.

Horror and helplessness filled Jazz's heart as her mind struggled to comprehend the brutality of what she was witnessing. Terror gripped her, leaving an indelible mark on her young psyche. The horrors of that scene were etched in her mind forever, generating deep traumas and recurring nightmares that would haunt her for years.

From that fateful day, Jazz would return

live with the burden of witnessing the gruesome death of her brother. The grotesque and haunting images of the charred hazmat suit affixed to Danny's mutilated skin would be a cruel visual scar, a constant reminder of the violence and terror that had torn apart her innocent life.

She ran to her brother's phone, left it on one of the lab tables, and called 911. Deep down, she knew there was nothing they could do to help.

When the call ended, Jazz collapsed on the cold floor of the laboratory, her gaze fixed on her beloved brother's lifeless body. Time seemed to haShe was stopped in that heart-wrenching moment, and she felt trapped in an endless nightmare.

Her eyes of her wandered aimlessly around the room, unable to look away from the devastating scene before her. Her mind de ella refused to accept the reality in front of her, desperately wishing it was all just a nightmare from which she would wake up. But the tears streaming down her cheeks de ella and the cold touch of the floor beneath her body de ella were relentless witnesses to the harsh truth she had to face.

In that moment, Jazz's life shattered irreparably. She became entangled in a web of pain and desolation, unsure of how to move forward amidst overwhelming tragedy.

The police arrived, their sirens breaking the silence and announcing her presence. Jazz barely noticed them, absorbed in her own emotional torment. Her soft words and compassionate gestures tried to comfort her, but her efforts only scratched the surface of her unfathomable anguish.

Jazz remained there, sitting on the cold floor, wrapped in a mixture of pain and confusion. Her mind refused to grasp the cruel reality before her, desperately hoping it was just a nightmare. But the grotesque and devastating scene continued to unfold, haunting her as she waited in desolate surroundings.

.
.

Four years had passed since that fateful incident that changed the lives of the Fentons and all of Amity Park.

No one could have imagined that the portal would work in both directions. Ghosts had taken over the town, and it turned out that Jazz's parents had been right all along.

Immersed in her work, they distanced themselves even more from Jazz, leaving her in the background. Fortunately, Danny had taught her enough to stand on her own and she always displayed exceptional maturity for her age.

Jazz sighed, aware that if the memories kept resurfacing, she wouldn't be able to get her sleep. She knew that she had experienced this before and was not in the least surprised. She decided to get out of bed, even though she was too old to have such insecurities. She took her teddy bear and left her room. Then, she went into Danny's room.

Her parents hadn't set foot in that place since he died, so everything was the same as when she left four years ago. They never noticed the absence of dust in the room, and she hoped they never would.

Jazz climbed on Danny's bed and slept with her teddy bear. She looked up at the star-covered ceiling, casting a dim light in the darkness. Danny always complained that the constellations were out of place and he promised to fix them one day, even though he never got around to it.

While Jazz was looking at the constellations, after a while, the stars began to shine brightly, changing shape and position. They were rearranged until they were in the correct configuration. The cartoonish stars morphed into something more real, and suddenly the room was plunged into pitch blackness.

In that instant, Jazz couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. She was not in the bed where she had lain. She found herself on a black, soft and cold surface that gave her a strange tranquility. A soft lullaby, as familiar as her heartbeat, filled the confines of the room.

From the darkness, a mysterious void began to take shape. Stars and bursts of color gathered around them, creating an image that resembled galaxies in motion. Jazz stared at her blankly.

The void blinked and smiled sweetly and lovingly at him.

She returned his smile and, wrapped in the protective embrace of the void, illuminated by the infinitely bright stars, she drifted into a restful sleep.

Jazz's older brother had passed away when she was only ten years old.

At least... that's what people think.

Notes:

Maybe I'll make this a series, there's also another concept I want to try.