Chapter Text
The autumn day is bright and sunny, giving way to a mild temperature. The last of the warm-seasoned flowers dance in the soft breeze as a few already brown leaves skip across the sidewalk. The trees, fading from green to gold and red, still provide shade against the sun. Casper High stands proud against the changing scene of nature, reflecting the partly cloudy sky with its many windows.
Inside, students and teachers alike can’t help but glance out at the day, wishing that the end of the school day would come faster. However, the day is only halfway through leaving them feeling antsy and anxious; especially Danny Fenton.
Why can’t the hours tick by faster? Why can’t something exciting— like a ghost attack— happen while he’s in class? Usually, he hates it when someone comes looking for trouble, but today, he wishes for it if it will get him out of this stuffy classroom.
Danny props his head on his hand as his mind drifts away from Mr. Lancer’s bland-as-always lecture. He watches a cloud drift by lazily as his finger drum restlessly against the top of his desk. He glances at the clock on the wall, willing the hands to move faster. But time seems to have slowed down, stretching each minute into an eternity.
His friends, Sam and Tucker, exchange knowing looks with him across the room. They can sense his unease, sharing his desire for some excitement to break the monotony of the school day. Sam shifts in her seat, a thoughtful expression on her face, while Tucker fiddles with his PDA, checking for any signs of ghost activity in the area.
But so far, there’s been nothing.
Just as Danny is about to surrender to the dullness of the afternoon, the bell rings, signaling the start of the lunch period. Students rush to gather their things, wanting to get to the school’s courtyard as quickly as possible and enjoy the fresh air. Being no different than the rest, Danny exchanges a quick grin with his friends as they navigate the bustling halls.
The trio makes their way to their usual lunch spot, a secluded table beneath one of the few trees that still bear most of its leaves, offering a perfect view of the school and the sky. The air is filled with the sound of chatter and laughter, a welcome respite from the silent demand for focus in the classrooms. Sam unpacks a homemade lunch, Tucker pulls out a bag of tech-themed snacks, and Danny... well, Danny’s just relieved to be out of that classroom.
While they eat, the conversation drifts from mundane school gossip to the latest episode of their favorite paranormal investigation show. It’s an effortless flow, the kind that can only exist between friends who share what should be years of history and secrets— including the secret that Danny is half-ghost, a fact known only to Sam and Tucker.
As they’re talking, Danny’s ghost sense suddenly triggers, a cold shiver running down his spine, making him sit up straight. The sky, moments ago bright and clear, begins to darken as if sensing the impending action.
Tucker, ever observant, notices the shift in Danny’s demeanor. “You okay, man?” He asks, already reaching for his PDA to scan for ghostly activity.
Before Danny can respond, a shadow falls over the courtyard, and the temperature drops significantly. Students start murmuring in confusion and huddle closer.
“It’s a ghost,” He murmurs, a puff of white exiting his mouth as he speaks, “A big one.”
“Great,” Tucker grumbles, tapping rapidly on his PDA, frustrated that it did not alert him first.
Sam, with a worried glance towards Danny, sees his eyes fixed on a point above them. She follows his gaze and spots the source of the disturbance swirling above the school grounds, its form barely visible against the now overcast sky. Its presence sends a wave of unease through the crowd of students in the courtyard, but Danny stands up, determination etched on his face.
“We have to get everyone back inside,” He says, nearly tripping over the bench of the picnic table.
Sam exhales, “No one will listen unless you say something, Danny.”
“Of course,” He replies, annoyed as he steadies himself. He takes a deep breath, his heart racing with the familiar mix of adrenaline and heroic responsibility, and climbs onto the bench, then the table, “Everyone, please, we need to get inside the school now!” His voice cuts through the murmurs and laughter, silencing the courtyard.
There’s a moment of hesitation among the students, a collective pause as they weigh the seriousness of his tone against their desire to stay outdoors. But the temperature drops another few degrees, a tangible sign of the ghostly presence looming above, and panic starts to set in.
Tucker, without missing a beat, amplifies Danny’s warning with a post on the school’s social media group, ensuring the message reaches even those not in the immediate vicinity. Sam jumps down from the table and starts herding the nearest students towards the school’s main doors, her voice joining Danny’s in urging speed and calm.
The entity above them grows more defined, a swirling mass of ectoplasmic energy that casts a shadow over the school. Danny watches as his classmates start to move, a chaotic but steady stream of bodies heading for safety. He knows he doesn’t have much time.
With the courtyard beginning to empty, Danny jumps down from the table, flipping over a student as he does so, a move that draws a few impressed glances from the stragglers still making their way to the school’s entrance. But his mind is already shifting from that of a high school student to the hero he needs to be. He locks eyes with Sam and Tucker, a silent message passing between them.
‘Cover for me,’ he mouths, his expression intense yet tinged with the undeniable thrill of the upcoming confrontation. They nod in understanding, their roles as his supporters clear and unwavering.
—
Paulina never would have guessed that Danny Fenton would have an ounce of agility in him until she saw him perform and land a perfect vertical front flip. When had he learned to do that? How long has he been able to do that?
She steps off to the side, her attention now fully captivated by Danny’s unexpected display of athleticism. Who would have thought that the quiet and somewhat awkward boy could be so athletic?
The realization hits her like a bolt of lightning. Danny might just be the wildcard her cheer team needs to shake things up. With competitions around the corner and their routines feeling a bit stale, Danny’s newfound agility could be the fresh twist they’ve been searching for.
She glances up in time to see the girl, Sara— Susan— Sam! Standing before her.
“We need to get inside,” The raven-haired girl says, her tone less than excited.
Momentarily caught off guard by Sam’s interruption, Paulina quickly recovers her composure. But it didn’t last long as the sudden drop in temperature and the strange energy swirling above were hard to ignore.
“Right,” She replies, stepping through the school doors, a plan forming in her mind.
The thought excites her, imagining the surprise on everyone’s faces when Danny Fenton, of all people, flips and tumbles with the rest of the cheer team. It would be the talk of the school, maybe even the town.
—
Danny ducks behind a nearby tree, away from prying eyes. With a quick glance around to ensure no one is watching, he takes a deep breath and lets the familiar sensation of cold envelop him. In a blink, Danny Phantom emerges with his body glowing with a spectral light.
Fully transformed, shoots up into the sky, phasing through the branches and invisible to the naked eye, ready to confront whatever ghostly threat looms over Casper High. As he gets closer, the details of the ghost become clearer— its large, imposing form, the way its energy pulses with power. Vortex.
Below him, he can see Sam and Tucker finishing their task of getting everyone inside. They’re good at what they do, managing the crowd and ensuring safety, roles that are just as important as Danny's in these situations. He knows he can count on them to keep things under control while he deals with the threat.
As Danny approaches the ghost, he prepares for combat. His hands glow with energy, ready to fire a plasma blast at a moment’s notice. The ghost, sensing his approach, turns its attention towards him, its eyes narrowing as if recognizing an old adversary.
“Hey! Over here!” Danny calls out, drawing its attention away from the school.
Vortex lets out a low, ominous growl, accepting the challenge, “Hello, ghost child.”
—
Thunder continues to roll overhead, but Paulina pays it no mind. Her thoughts are too preoccupied with visions of victory and applause for the football team, all centered around Danny Fenton’s unexpected talents. She imagines the cheer routines, enhanced by his agility, propelling the team to new heights. But her largest questions circle her head as she thinks. How is she going to get Danny to join the cheer team? Will he be easy to persuade? Will his friends let him? Will his parents let him? If they aren’t excited about it, how can she persuade them?
She knows she’ll need a strategy. Convincing Danny Fenton to join the cheer team is going to require more than just a simple request. Does she have any leverage? She shakes her head. No, she can’t blackmail him into joining the team, that wouldn’t work. Cheer is about being a team-player which means there can’t be any bad blood between members.
“Has anyone seen Fen-turd?” Dash shouts with a non-convincing glare. It’s no secret to the girls on the cheer team that he has a massive crush on Danny and it drives many of them nuts— especially since the blonde idiot keeps being a bully.
Paulina sighs and glares at the blonde for interrupting her scheming. Why does he have to be so loud? Just as she opens her mouth to reply, a thought hits her and she stifles a smirk. She might be able to use this, Dash’s crush, to her advantage. If Dash is on board and stops pushing the raven-hair boy around, convincing Danny might be easier. After all, having the star quarterback publicly support Danny joining the cheer squad could sway not only Danny’s opinion but also that of the entire school if need be.
“Not since lunch,” Paulina answers, feigning disinterest, “Why? You miss him already?” She teases, hoping to nudge Dash into a more favorable position for her plan.
Dash’s face turns a shade redder, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. “As if! I noticed that he and his goth girlfriend ran off. Probably hiding from the ghost attack, like usual.”
Goth girlfriend, her mind echoes, darkening her expression. Samantha, or Sam as she prefers to be called, is going to be her biggest obstacle. Paulina’s mind races. She knows that convincing Sam is going to require more than just her usual blend of charm and manipulation as she isn’t swayed by popularity contests or superficial allure. No, for Sam, it’s going to take a different approach.
Sam is all about authenticity, environmentalism, and fighting for the underdog. Paulina needs an angle, something that will appeal to Sam’s core values. She needs to make Sam see that helping her isn’t just about winning Danny and making the cheer team look better, but also helping him and them (Sam and Tucker) look better too.
The idea starts to form, a plan that feels almost too good to be true. What if she champions a cause close to Sam’s heart? A big, school-wide initiative on recycling or a fundraiser for animal rights, perhaps? Yes, that could work. It would put Sam in a difficult position to refuse her help without betraying her own principles. Plus, any excess funds might be able to help the cheer team as well. It’s a win-win.
“No one seems to know where they’ve gone,” Dash’s mumbling snaps her from her thoughts.
She exhales, pinching the bridge of her nose before turning back to the blonde, “Actually, Dash,” She starts, her voice laced with a cunning sweetness, “I was thinking about something. You know how we always talk about shaking things up for the team? Well, I saw Danny do something amazing today. He’s got some serious moves.”
Dash raises an eyebrow, skepticism written all over his face. “Fenton? Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously,” She insists, her enthusiasm genuine despite her plotting, “Imagine the crowd’s reaction when they see something completely unexpected. We could use that element of surprise. It might even help you look better out there,” She adds with a sly grin, knowing just how to stroke his ego.
Dash contemplates, the idea of further glory on the field appealing to him. “Alright, I’m listening. But it’s gonna take a lot to convince me Fen-turd can be useful.”
Paulina nods, her mind already racing with ideas. “Leave it to me. I’ll figure out a way to convince him. And you just keep being... supportive in your own way. It’ll work out, you’ll see.”
As Dash heads off, Paulina’s mind returns to Danny. The boy’s agility and strength is genuinely surprising. If only she could leverage them… but there seems to be something secretive about him as well. What has Danny been up too? She hasn’t fully pieced together but something tells her that Danny is more than what meets the eye.
Her plan begins to form more concretely. She’ll approach Danny with the idea first, gauge his reaction, and then work on his friends if necessary. She knows Sam will be the toughest to convince, but Paulina is nothing if not persistent. And as for his parents, well, she’ll cross that bridge when she comes to it. Maybe showing them the potential for Danny to shine in a new area could win them over.
Determined, Paulina decides to watch Danny more closely, looking for the right moment to approach him. As for the ghost attacks and the peculiar chill in the air? They’re merely distractions for now. Danny Phantom’s heroics, while intriguing, are a mystery for another day. For now, she has a cheer team to revolutionize, and Danny Fenton, surprisingly, just might be the key to it all.
As the school day winds to a close, with the sky still grumbling from the remnants of the supernatural storm, Paulina positions herself strategically by the school’s main exit. She knows Danny, Sam, and Tucker usually take this route out. Her heart thrums with anticipation, not just for the potential addition to her cheer squad but for the challenge of convincing someone who’s always been on the periphery to step into the spotlight.
Danny emerges first, looking slightly more disheveled than usual. Sam and Tucker flank him, engaged in a heated discussion about the latest ghost gadget Tucker is designing. They’re so engrossed in their conversation that they almost don’t notice Paulina stepping forward to intercept them.
“Hey, Danny, can I talk to you for a second?” Paulina’s voice is confident, but she’s careful to keep it friendly, not wanting to spook him.
Danny looks surprised but nods, excusing himself from his friends. Sam eyes Paulina warily, but Paulina ignores her.
“I saw you today… during lunch. That flip you did was amazing,” She begins, watching his reaction closely.
Danny’s face flushes with a mix of embarrassment and confusion, “Uh, thanks.”
“You’ve got talent, Danny, and I was thinking… how would you like to join the cheer team?”
Danny blinks, taken aback, “The cheer team? Me?”
“Yes, you! I mean, think about it. You could help us win competitions. It would be a game-changer for us. And for you.” She adds quickly, “It could be a lot of fun. Plus, you’d be helping the school. Don’t you want to be a part of that?”
Danny hesitates, clearly torn. The idea seems to intrigue him, but the uncertainty is palpable. “I don’t know, Paulina. It’s not really my thing, and I’ve got… other responsibilities,” He says, massaging the back of his neck.
Paulina, sensing his resistance, decides to play her final card. “Danny, I really believe you could do great. And it’s not just about the cheer team or the competitions. It’s about showing everyone what you can do, including yourself. Don’t you ever want to surprise people? To show them there’s more to Danny Fenton than they think?”
There’s a long pause where Danny seems to weigh her words, his gaze drifting off toward where Sam and Tucker are waiting, watching with thinly veiled skepticism.
“I’ll think about it, Paulina,” He finally says, offering her a small smile, “I should get going.”
As they part ways, Paulina can’t help but feel a flicker of hope. He didn’t say ‘yes,’ but he definitely didn’t say ‘no.’ Convincing Danny won’t be easy, but she senses an openness in him that she hadn’t exactly expected. Perhaps the desire to be seen differently, to break out of the mold he’s been cast in, might just be the push he needs.
Turning back to see Sam and Tucker joining Danny, she realizes the challenge ahead isn’t just about convincing Danny; it’s about winning over his friends. She realizes now that she’s never seen any of them without each other.
As she watches them disappear around the corner, she can’t help but feel excited about the possibilities. Danny Fenton could be the unexpected hero of the cheer team and she is set on making that happen, one way or another.
—
“Dude, what did she want to talk to you about?” Tucker asks playfully, elbowing his friend’s side. His glasses catch the fading sunlight, adding a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Danny shakes his head as he continues to process everything the Hispanic girl had told and offered him in their conversation. After a moment, a small smile plays on his lips, “You’re not going to believe this, but Paulina wants me to join the cheer team.”
Sam chokes on an inhale, coughing a bit before she can speak, “The cheer team? Are you sure she wasn’t being overshadowed or something?”
“It’s no joke,” Danny assures, his expression turning serious, “She saw me do that flip today and thinks I can help them win competitions or something.”
Tucker bursts out laughing, “Man, Danny Fenton on the cheer squad? Now, that’s something I’d pay to see!”
“Danny, you’re not actually considering it, are you? Between school, ghost fighting, and now this? When will you ever sleep?” Sam exhales, not seeing the humor in any of this, “Besides, this could be some prank that she and the others are planning to pull to embarrass you in front of the whole school or something.”
Danny slows, stopping in his tracks, causing his friends to halt as well. He looks conflicted, his eyes reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun. “I don’t know... Part of me thinks it’s crazy. But another part wonders if it might be… fun?”
Sam sighs, stepping closer, “Danny, you have enough challenges. You’re already doing so much. And what about keeping your secret? Being on the cheer team puts you right in the spotlight.”
“Yeah, dude, and what if there’s a ghost attack during a game or something? You gonna do a quick costume change in the middle of a pyramid?” Tucker adds in a softer tone, showing his genuine concern.
Danny runs a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of their points. “I know, I know. It sounds insane. But maybe Paulina is right. Maybe it’s a chance to show a different side of me. Not Danny Phantom, not even just Danny Fenton, but something else. Someone who can be… part of something normal for a change.”
There’s a long pause, the kind that stretches wide with unsaid words and shared histories of battles fought together and secrets kept.
Finally, Sam steps forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Danny, whatever you decide, we’ve got your back. But make sure you’re doing this for you, not for Paulina or anyone else.”
Tucker nods, slinging an arm around both of their shoulders. “Yeah, and if you do join, I’m totally making a ‘Go Danny!’ sign. You know, for support.”
Danny smiles, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Thanks, guys. I still need to think about it. But whatever I decide, it's good to know I’ve got the best friends anyone could ask for.”