Author's Note: The 365 Project is an experimental project to write and post at least one short every day for the next year, not including my semi-regular bi-weekly updates. Whether or not that goal can be reached, we'll see... This is The 365 Project, 7 February.

Would have had this up earlier, but had to play driver for two doctors appointments, some other errands, then got home to Fanfiction pitching a temper and being down... yeah, great for those of us on deadlines, guys...

Disclaimer: "Danny Phantom" and all associated characters and situations are created by Butch Hartman and used for entertainment purposes without permission or intent to profit.


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"Payoff"
By; J.T. Magnus, 'Turbo'

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It was just another day in the Ghost Zone, except for one small part, one small realm just on the edge of the Far Frozen that most didn't even know existed, a realm that almost seemed at though it wasn't fully there. In that realm that seemed to only half exist, two figures met.

"You got what I need, buddy?" The larger asked the smaller, but easily more dangerous, all the while keeping his eyes open for betrayal or outsiders.

"You got what I need, buddy?" The smaller figure countered sharply.

The larger answered by pulling out a piece of paper and holding it up where the smaller could see it, "List of planned outtings for the next month, matched to your schedule."

Nodding at the sight of it, the smballer figure sat a box between them and opened it so the larger could look, "One hundred percent pure, straight from the source."

The larger figure reached into the box and pulled out a small sample, examining it, "Doubled, nice."

The smaller figure smirked, "I give the best, now for me?"

Handing over the sheet of paper, the larger figure ran his now-free hand over the contents of the box, "Oh, yes, I can do nice things with this... Pleasure doing business with you."

"Pleasure's mine," the smaller figure countered as the larger used their ghost powers to lift the box into the air and float it along with them as they left, "Now I'm the one who needs to get out of here. Thank God for shortcuts."

Slipping a little further into the realm, the smaller figure came upon a narrow gap between two rocks. Squeezing himself between the rocks and wiggling through the gap, a geographic impossibility happened as they exited the gap and found themselves at the Fenton Ghost Portal and a quick exit from the Ghost Zone.

When they emerged into the human world, Jazz Fenton was standing there before them in that pose known to all people who come home late from somewhere they weren't supposed to be only to find themselves met at the door by a responsible authority figure; arms folded across the chest, hip cocked to one side, head tilted downward and eyes narrowed above a scowl. Then she said it...

"Where were you, Danny?"

Danny Fenton, the halfa also known as Danny Phantom rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Uh, I had to deal with The Box Ghost?"