#anyway its whatever because the moment the kids are old enough to run away they'll be coming to live with me

[teja-has-puppet-autism]

mmmm

[echoghost1]

Fenton Obscura

Summary: A new piece of FentonTech changes Danny in a way that no one saw coming. Now Danny has to hope that the person who promises to help isn't lying to him.

Not that he really has much of a choice in the matter.

Word Count: 1,241

Prompt: Danny gets hit with a new weapon/new enemy's power/portal wonkiness/what-have-you, but the end result is the same: he doesn't look like Fenton or Phantom. On the downside? No one can understand him either. He turns to the last person he'd choose to help him right now... Because they're the only ones who can understand him. (PR258) by @ectoblastfromthepast

And surprise, surprise! This is chapter 1 of 3!

[future chapter links here: Chapter 2 | Chapter 3]

AO3 link

You can also read it below the cut as well

"Hey, kids! Check out our latest ghost thwarting device!" Jack bellowed as he came running up the basement stairs.

Danny chugged his glass of water before sliding behind his sister as he braced himself for whatever was about to come up the stairs with his parents.

He hoped it wouldn't go off the second it turned on, or that it, at least, wasn't going to be something that hurt.

Jack stood triumphantly in the kitchen doorway as he held his newest invention aloft for all to see. "I present, the Fenton Obscura!"

The item was shaped like an old-fashioned camera, but was the classic silver and green metal patchwork design that all Fenton tech had.

"Do I want to know what that does?" Danny muttered a little bit too loud.

"Glad you asked, Sweetie," his mom said as she popped in from behind her husband. "The Fenton Obscura forces a ghost to drop the illusion of its youth and reveal its true age!"

"How does it do that?" Jazz asked before Danny could stop her.

Because of course they couldn’t just tell them how it worked. No. They had to show them.

Jack aimed the camera straight ahead, aka right at his children, and clicked the large green button.

The flash was so bright Danny felt like he had just looked directly into the sun on a cloudless summer day.

"Geez dad, mind giving us a warning first?" Jazz complained as she tried rubbing the spots out of her eyes.

"See Jack, I told you the wattage in that bulb was too high."

"Sorry mads." Jack said, then added, "And kids."

Danny rolled his eyes and turned to set his cup on the counter.

Good to know he was merely an afterthought.

"Anyway, once we get those spooks in our sights they'll never know what hit 'em!"

"I'm still not entirely sure I know what that's supposed to do other than blind them." Jazz said.

"Well you see," Maddie explained, "most ghosts have been around for years and years, centuries even! But they run, or I suppose float around, as if they are still in their 20's or 30’s. What our camera does, is show the ghosts' real age, and stops them from acting like time has no effect on them."

"Well that sounds dumb," Danny said as he crossed his arms and leaned against the counter.

"Now Sweetie, that's not very constructive criticism." Maddie chided as if this were some sort of learning experience.

"It wasn’t meant to be," Danny retorted under his breath as he looked away.

He could still feel all their eyes on him. Why did they all decide now was the time to pay exclusive attention to him?

"Forget it. I'm out of here," he pulled open the back door and pushed the screen door hard enough that it smacked against the house.

"Whoa, hey, what's wrong?" Jazz asked as she ran out behind him. "Did the camera hurt you?"

"Does it need to?!" He asked back as spun on his heel to face her. "Do I need a new injury to justify it? Can't I just be sick of it? Isn't it possible to just be over it? To not want to be treated like a lab rat whenever they want to play with their new toys? I can't stand it anymore, Jazz!"

“Did you want to talk about it?”

“What else is there to say?”

“I suppose that’s true.” Jazz sighed and took a moment to think.

“I don’t think I can go back in there right now,” Danny admitted.

He was still so angry and he was doing all he could to not snap at her too.

“Okay. Why don’t you go clear your head and we can go get something to eat. Just you and me.”

“Yeah?” 

He wasn’t sure when the last time the two of them did something normal like that was. Clearly, it was too long.

She nodded, “go on, I’ll let them know you need some space and maybe see if I can get them to realize what they did wrong.”

“Pfft, good luck with that,” Danny said with an eye roll before heading out the fence gate.

Normally he’d go flying to clear his head, but he was a bit worried about what exactly that new camera thing did to him.

If it did anything at all.

He certainly didn’t feel any different.

Then again, it was supposed to be for super old ghosts that looked young. He didn’t fit that description at all. He looked like himself. Just a color swap, but still the same age.

So maybe he was fine?

Or the dumb thing didn’t even work.

Wouldn’t be the first time they made something completely useless.

He kicked a half-crushed can down the alley as he walked until it bounced off a rock and went off too far from his path.

He didn’t feel like stopping or changing his course to keep kicking it along so he just left it and kept going.

He turned at the end of the alley and just kept walking.

The street was empty and quiet. Which was both nice and annoying. Not having to worry about bumping into anyone was a plus, but with no one around, it was hard to keep his mind from dwelling on why he was out there in the first place.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and he was disappointed but not surprised to find them completely empty.

“Why hello Daniel.”

Danny stopped dead in his tracks. Of course that sleazeball would show up now. It’s like he knew when Danny was the most annoyed.

“Having a rough day, are we?”

“I’m really not in the mood to deal with you right now.”

Vlad’s over-priced shoes clicked against the concrete as he made his way directly in front of Danny, blocking off his path. “Now that’s no way to talk to a family friend.”

“You’re right,” Danny started sarcastically, “good thing you aren’t one.”

Vlad’s condescending smirk quickly dropped into an annoyed frown. “I don’t know why you always insist on being so rude.”

“Funny thing about that, pretty sure I already told you to leave me alone.”

“Am I not allowed to ask what’s troubling you?”

“No. Now get out of my way before I make you.”

Vlad rolled his eyes as if Danny wasn’t actually a threat in any way.

He also didn’t leave.

“Well, can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Danny said before letting the rings of his transformation wash over him.

He clenched his fists and looked up at Vlad.

And up.

And up?

When did Vlad get so tall?

Wait, that was dumb. Vlad didn’t just have a growth spurt for no reason.

Which could only mean…

Danny looked down at his hands.

Why were they so small?

Why was the ground so close?

He lost his balance from looking down and fell backward into a sitting position.

This was too much.

It was all too much.

His eyes stung and he couldn’t stop his lips from trembling.

Vlad didn’t say anything and somehow that was so much worse.

He couldn’t hold it in anymore.

His breath hitched, his voice squeaked in the back of his throat, and then he let it all out.

It didn’t matter if this was his worst enemy.

This day sucked and he really, really needed to cry.

So he did.

[marie-eve-anne]

I Start Off Life As Little Miss Perfect

French Empire Lives into the Modern Day AU aka Marie Eve Anne Saga AU

Summary: Marie Eve Anne meets a man she actually likes for once.

If you want to be a girl like me, it’s impossible. Obviously. It’s not like anyone can just be anyone. If you think that’s what I’m talking about, you are so wrong. I meant by if you can be scary and cute at the same time. And also good at almost everything adults throw at you.

Little buggers like me could give you a headache when you stay around long enough. And if you somehow find yourself in these pages, dream on. You have no idea what’s going to happen to you.

Let me introduce myself at first before I start this disaster.

My name is Marie Eve Anne. I am six years old.

For some of you who were definitely wondering, ‘Oh, who's this? Welly's daughter?’ No. This may sound like its rubbish, but it’s real. I am NOT Arthur Wellesley's daughter. I may look like it, but if you zoom in, you can see it. Yeah, yeah, we have the same eyes, but hey, there are a lot of people who have blue-grey eyes.

And why would Arthur have a daughter at that old age? If you think ‘Oh, cool!’ then stop daydreaming.

So anyways, my life began on the 18th of June. Waterloo Day! What a coincidence! My dad was Napoleon Francois Bonaparte, aka the Duke of Reichstadt, Napoleon II, whatever you wanna call him. My mom is Maria Teresa von Rothschild, and she was a rich Jewish lady. Like, THE RICHEST.

Dad couldn't get away from court, and Mom was busy with her family. So their relationship resembled Hades and Persephone, if it's not obvious. I had to stay with my dad in Vienna, since surprise! I am the granddaughter of Napoleon Bonaparte himself. Any crazy royalist or republican would have eyes on me and my father the moment we get out of the city. At least we could walk around Vienna outside Schönbrunn Palace.

Today, it was the 3rd of December. It wasn't snowing as heavily as Russia, but it was snowing. I felt the cold coming in. Currently, it was past sunset, but the streetlights around Vienna were illuminating the snow very well, so I could see it. Snowflakes were pouring down from the sky, forming light mounds of snow. I was watching this from a hall balcony. I'd rather not go to another one of those boring balls by my caretakers. What does a kid like me have to do there? I would just fade into the background, since I had nothing to do. Unlike the adults who somehow find enjoyment in being completely stale. Don't talk to me about my grandma. She opts to stay in her lovely house in Parma, where she has no idea how disliked she is.

It's been at least fifteen minutes after the ball started. The hall was starting to get noisy. And there I singlehandedly ruined a party by not being there in the first place. Talk about absence. If I'm there, they'll just ignore me. If I'm not, chaos erupts. I am the useless organ in the human body, yet some people make a fuss about it if its not there. You might think, Oh, poor girl! Don't pity me. I'm used to this. Ever since I was three, I've been ignored.

Anyway, there were these two soldier men who usually stood guard at the doors, were off looking for me. It was like they were blind or near-sighted, because I was at a close window, but these two were frantically running around like idiots looking for an elephant. I was four feet tall. Anyone clear-sighted could see me there. It was becoming annoying, so I whistled. They immediately turned around. "You were looking for me?"

"Ah, yes! The Chancellor was looking for you!" One of them said. I was feeling like he'll come right in front of me. He's going to say: "Now, what are you doing?" In his stupid voice I don't want to hear. Even though he's agreeable, I can't help but not like him, at all.

After a few minutes of waiting, that man finally came down the hall. He appeared in formal attire, his hair styled perfectly, and even though it was so short, it didn't need all of that fancy styling powdered wigs had. And also, those things are outdated. Does he want his head lopped off? He was conservative, so it will be eventually, I think.

"Now, what are you doing?" Called it.

"Watching the snow." I answered him softly. This man's good side was most definitely the best thing you want out of this whole city, aside from my grandparents' money.

"Aside from that, why are you not at the ball tonight?"

I answered accordingly. "I prefer to look at the snow and stars tonight." I wasn't lying. I really did prefer looking at snow than attending a party where I can't possibly exist. "But you belong there tonight. Archduchess Sophie is looking for you as well." Oh yes. Archduchess Sophie. Aside from being there for her children, she was also there for her guests. Mostly guests. And also, are trying to gaslight me?

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Still in the ballroom. Looking for you." As if I'd believe that. She's probably entertaining guests. "May we then?" I held his arm, and we walked back to the ballroom.

The music was the only thing in the ballroom that was fine to me. It might've looked extravagant. Pretty. To you and I. If only it wasn't ruined by the number of shallow nobles around, who think their position is totally natural and they don't have to work for their lives to be perfect. Another reason why I don't like parties. Who wants to be stuck in a room with too many idiots? But then I noticed the absurd amount of people waiting near the main door. Was someone coming?

"Ah, there you are, my darling!" She was trying to be sweet with me. Emphasis on trying.

"What's the occasion? Why is everyone standing so close to the door?" She smiled, though I could tell that she was trying to be civil. Because she doesn't smile much. Sophie held my hand. "Someone special is visiting. We're lucky we found you early!" Says the woman who let me wander around on my own to watch the snow.

After this conversation, the doors opened. The crowd stayed silent, while the music continued. There was an old man in the middle. He was old, but he looked strong enough for one. An army man, I think. Looking closer, he had blue-gray eyes, sharp but intelligent. They looked tired, almost. "Who is he?" I asked Sophie.

"My, it is the Duke of Wellington! He's come to Vienna." I felt stupid.

I saw his portraits, when he was way younger. Despite his old age, though, something about it felt kind of sad. Yeah, I know, growing old sucks, but there was also the tinge of unhappiness floating around the air. Sophie, along with Metternich and I, greeted the Duke formally. Nobody but me could then ask the next question. I was a kid, so sue me.

"Who are you?" I meant by his name, not his title.

"My name?" He asked. Wow. He picked up quick.

"Arthur's my name. You may call me that, if you wish." As he said so, he looked a little lonelier. Now that I see his eyes closer, he looked even more so. His eyes were sad and kind of empty, as if he just stared into the depths of despair.

"Your name, darling?"

"Eve." I said shortly. I always preferred to be called by my middle name. Seems more honest.

"Eve is your name, dear?" He didn't clearly hear me, I think. He was old, after all.

"Yes, sir." I politely responded.

This conversation would've been longer if it weren't for a man named Metternich. "Perhaps we should converse, Your Grace?"

"Ah, yes. What is it?"

"Why have you come to Vienna in such short notice?"

His eyes shifted from sad to glad. "My friend, Sir Arbuthnot, has told me my tiredness taking its toll. A vacation to Vienna would most certainly be ideal." What? Because I was here?

I ignored the rest of that conversation, and just stood idly in the ballroom. There wasn't anything to do at all. But now that I'm here, I can't get out because of Sophie. Still, I wanted to meet that man again. He was looking down at me the whole time.

Someone apparently sent me a letter after the ball. It said:

"It has been of curious intent, and it is most certainly unruly. I wish to see you in private. The northern wing. The corridors you were watching through. Metternich had told me.

-Sir Arthur Wellesley"

Huh. That's strange. He referred to himself as his own name. Maybe he was being friendly, since I was a child, after all. I wanted to come, of course. But maybe this man thought I could get away by myself.

This was perhaps the kick-start of my new life. How? He wanted to talk.