Realm of Dreams Chp. 2

Chapter 2

The day seemed average enough…except for the fact that there were students nearly swarming all over Danny, Sam, and Tucker. Ever since they helped save the world from the Disasteroid and exposed the ghost boy’s secret, everyone has been going crazy over Danny. Dash had stopped picking on both Fenton and Foley and all the girls, including Paulina and Star, have been crushing on them. The Goth had to stay close to her boyfriend, sometimes placing random kisses to his cheeks to let the girls know that Danny was spoken for.

Lunch had rolled around at Casper High and the three friends, as well as Jazz, had gotten their meals and sat down to eat together.

“I never thought that people would actually accept me because of my ghost powers” Danny explained.

“And I never thought I would be the youngest mayor ever in Amity Park” Tucker said. “It’s totally awesome!”

“At least these people have the decency to leave us alone at lunch” Sam inputted as she twisted her fork in her salad. “Don’t you find it annoying having everyone crowd over you, Danny?”

“Eh, a little” the ghost hybrid replied. He took a sip of his milk then said, “They’re just grateful that we saved the world from the Disasteroid. You can’t really blame them.”

“He’s right, Sam” Jazz said. “This is perfectly natural behavior for the common crowd that’s been saved by a hero.”

“Well, whoop-de-do” the vegan Goth said sarcastically.

Suddenly, Tucker’s PDA began to ring. When he pulled it out, he saw Ember’s Tphone number. “Hey, it’s Ember” the geek said happily before answering his PDA. The lioness’ face appeared on the screen. “Yo, Ember, what’s up?”

“Tucker, is Danny with you?” Ember asked with a serious expression.

The ghost boy leaned over to look at the screen. “I am. Is something wrong?”

“Yeah” the mutant feline replied. “Nocturn was here, and he put Donnie to sleep.”

“What?!” the two teen males asked as their eyes widened.

“Did you just say Nocturn?” Sam asked as she approached her friends from behind.

Raphael came up on the screen of Tuck’s PDA. “Yeah, he put this stupid helmet on my brother and when I reached out to take it off, it shocked me!”

“Raph, calm down” Leonardo said as he moved his hotheaded brother away. He glanced at the screen of Ember’s Tphone. “Can you guys get here? Ember says you can wake him up, Danny.”

“I saw the episode where Nocturn tried to take over Amity Park” the lioness explained before anyone could ask.

“Don’t worry” Danny said. “We’re on our way.”

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The weatherman had predicted no rain for the entire week, but the thunderclouds overhead seemed to say otherwise for April O’Neil. With an umbrella in her hand, the redheaded teenager exited her apartment, entering the alleyway nearby so that she could visit her mutant friends.

As April walked casually towards a manhole cover, a chill suddenly ran up her spine and she shivered. Glancing over her shoulder, she found no one nearby, but the teen couldn’t help but feel that there was somebody…or something there.

“Hello?” April asked as she looked around. “Is somebody here?”

There was no reply as the freckled girl checked her surroundings cautiously. A thought came into her mind that it was just the breeze and she was over-thinking things, but April couldn’t help but be wary. With so many enemies, it never hurt to be extra cautious.

The redhead bent down to slide the manhole cover off when a low, ghostly moan sounded and a green hand grabbed April’s arm, causing her to yelp in surprise. When she was turned around by the presence, she came face to face with a large, green phantom, a Sleepwalker. It moaned in her face like the menacing ghoul it was and April pulled her face back, closing one eye.

“Ugh, have you ever even heard of breath mints?” the young girl asked.

The ghost pulled back, looking slightly confused. April used this opportunity to pull her Tessen out and slice her attacker straight across its body, causing it to groan louder in pain as it released April’s arm and stumbled back. The Kunoichi-in-training posed with her weapon, but was surprised to find the Sleepwalker heal itself from the attack. It moaned as it floated closer to its victim.

April began backing away, only to bump into another presence. She turned around and glanced up in horror to find the evil, star-bodied ghost who had sent his minion to put the girl to sleep.

“Well, you’re not an average helpless teenage girl, now are you?” Nocturn asked with a grin.

April glared and fanned her Tessen out to fight once more. “You’d better believe it. What do you want with me?”

“Wait a minute. You’re that girl that the mutant turtle freak likes” the sinister phantom said in evil glee. “Hmm, I wonder if you like him, too.”

The redhead raised her eyebrow as confusion appeared in her bright blue eyes. “What are you talking about?”

Nocturn shook his head as he clicked his tongue. “I guess I’ll have to put you to sleep to gain the answer that I seek.”

With a wave of his hand over April’s face, the teen’s eyes closed and her body went limp, her Tessen falling out of her hand. The Sleepwalker caught her before she could fall to the ground and Nocturn placed a helmet upon her head.

“Come, Sleepwalker” the ghost ordered. “Let us tuck her into her bed, where she’ll be more comfortable.”

The minion moaned in compliance and followed its master with April in tow as they phased through the nearby wall while invisible. Nocturn’s reign over New York City was in his sight and no one, not even Danny Phantom, was going to stop him.

TBC…