The Void was not darkness.
Darkness was something you could still imagine escaping from — the flicker of a candle, the warmth of sunlight if you closed your eyes hard enough.
The Void was worse.
It was the endless absence of everything. No light. No sound. No time. No self.
If I had been counting, I would've lost track after the first… million years? Trillion? Honestly, it could've been fifteen minutes and my brain just hit the boredom jackpot. I slept without dreaming, drifting in a formless black ocean.
Then — light.
It hit like someone ripping open the sky and dumping the sun on me. I gasped, or at least… I think I gasped. Hard to tell when you haven't had lungs for eons.
Suddenly, I wasn't floating anymore. My feet touched solid floor. My hands rested on the arms of… a chair? My eyes adjusted, and I realized I was in… an office. Not a grand, intimidating, marble-columned palace. Just… an office. Faded beige carpet, ticking wall clock, a ficus plant in the corner.
Sitting across from me was a man in a white suit. No face. Just light pouring where his features should be.
"Hello there, son of man whom I created," he said, voice warm and impossibly calm. "I am the Creator of the universe and all things. But your people… call me God. Once again, hello."
I blinked. "…Uh. Hello. I'm… Kai, I guess." My own voice sounded strange — like it echoed in my own head. "So… I died, didn't I?"
"Yes," He said simply. "You did. You have two options: One — you may be reincarnated in a world of your choosing, with one wish. You will not remember this meeting, and you will lose most of your memories from your past life. Or two — you may be reborn in a world of My choosing, chosen at random…" A giant spin wheel appeared beside him, glowing with names. "…And still receive one wish. But be warned — these worlds are very dangerous."
I didn't even hesitate. "Option one. And I already know my wish."
His head tilted — or at least, the light where his head should've been. "Do tell."
"I want to be reborn as Dan Phantom. With all of Dan's powers, plus any new powers the main-timeline Danny Phantom might develop. And…" I smirked. "…The memories and knowledge to use them and The powers Of Shazam I always loved that Character."
"That is… an unusual request."
"I'm not done," I said. "Make the world a crossover. Danny Phantom, Kim Possible, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, American Dragon. And… Stripperella."
His light flared. "You are asking for… quite a bit."
"You said one wish. You never said how specific it could be."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the light shimmered like a laugh. "Very well. I'll allow it. But your 'ghost island' with portals… you will not gain it until I decide you're ready."
"Fair enough." I grinned. "Oh — appearance change, too. I want to look like… Danny, but tanner. More handsome. Body like a Greek god. And…" I paused for dramatic effect. "…A very strong little Danny. Surprise for the ladies."
The light sighed. "Mortals."
The flash swallowed me.
When my vision cleared, I was on my knees, coughing in smoke. My ears rang. My body felt… heavy, then strangely light, like something was buzzing inside my bones. I stumbled out into a hallway, blinking through the haze.
"Danny?!" a familiar voice gasped.
I turned and froze. Sam Manson and Tucker Foley. In the flesh. In the cartoon flesh.
They looked like they'd just seen a ghost — which, I guess, was fair. Sam's eyes darted up and down me, cheeks heating pink. Tucker's mouth hung open.
"…You okay, man?" Tucker asked.
"I… think so—" I started, then stopped. My legs… weren't there. Well, they were, but they were glowing white, and sort of… tail-shaped.
I screamed. "AHHHH! Guys! My legs! What—why am I glowing?!"
Tucker flailed. "Uh — focus on them coming back! Just… think about legs!"
Sam folded her arms awkwardly. "Yeah… do what he said. It might work."
It took a few tries, but my legs shimmered back into place, my jeans reappearing like nothing had happened. I collapsed into a chair, head spinning.
Sam and Tucker gave me the whole rundown — ghost portal accident, half-ghost powers, don't tell your parents unless you want to end up on an operating table. I'd seen the show. I knew the beats. But hearing them as if they were my life? Different.
A while later, Sam and Tucker were still arguing about what I should do next. I held up a hand. "Hey — I'm fine. Actually… I feel great. Stronger. More energy. Like I could run a marathon. Or fly."
"Yeah, sure," Tucker said slowly. "Just… don't go dying on me anytime soon, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. I promise."
Sam… wasn't talking. She was staring. I snapped my fingers in front of her face. "Sam? You alive in there?"
She jerked like she'd been caught. "Huh? Oh. Yeah. Totally. I… believe you."
Tucker raised an eyebrow. "You sure? You were kinda zoning out. Staring at Danny like you were—"
"I was NOT—!" Sam's voice jumped an octave. "Who would ever—ugh! We're just friends."
"Whatever you say," Tucker said, grinning. "Anyway, I'm heading home." He waved, leaving me alone with Sam.
"You should go too," I told her. "Getting late. And, uh… math test tomorrow. Mister Lancer said if you fail, you retake it until you get at least a C."
She groaned. "Don't remind me." She headed out, leaving me in the lab.
I didn't waste time.
One thought, and I was surrounded in that icy-blue ring of light, body shifting into ghost form. My reflection in the glass made me pause — I looked like a younger Dan Phantom, sharper features, stronger build.
I went intangible — took a few tries — then phased through the wall and shot into the night sky.
Flying… was incredible. Every problem, every worry, just fell away. I was weightless. Free.
I didn't expect to spot her.
Kim Possible.
Moving boxes into a house across town with her family. And unless my enchanted vision was lying, she had enrollment papers for Casper High.
This was going to be interesting.
The next morning, I found out just how interesting.
I rounded the corner near the school and slammed right into someone. Books went flying.
"Oh — sorry, I wasn't paying attention—" I stopped. "Kim Possible?"
She brushed her hair out of her face. "Yeah. Or just Kim. You can call me Kim."
"Call me Danny." I offered a hand. "Welcome to Casper High."
Her smile was polite but curious. "Thanks. And sorry for the collision."
"No, it was my fault." I shrugged. "Guess I'll see you around?"
"Guess so," she said, heading inside.
(Inner thoughts) — 'Okay, wow. She's hotter in person. Focus, Kai. You're in a crossover cartoon. Don't blow it.'
In class, Kim was already seated. I waved, but she didn't see me. So I dropped into my usual spot near Paulina, Valerie, and Star.
"Hey, Danny," Valerie said. "Where were you this morning? We were gonna hit Nasty Burger before class."
Paulina pouted. "I skipped cheer practice to hang out with you.
I raised my hands. "I know, I know. I forgot. But I met the new student before anyone else."
Paulina's eyes lit up. "Ooh, really? You're introducing us after school."
And that's when I realized — my "Danny" was going to have a very different high school life than canon.