A man in a black suit smirked, sitting in one of the two large armchairs in the reading corner of his large personal library. His hair was light grey and pulled back into a ponytail, away from his midnight blue eyes. In his lap was a thick book, pages yellowed with age but still in grand condition. The latter was true for every book that adorned the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the two story room, and the former true for many of his tomes.
Shutting the book and standing, Vlad Masters replaced the book to its place and walked to the single wall that wasn't dominated by books. Two tall window stood on either side of a extravagant fireplace. Above the fireplace was a portrait of said billionaire, and on either side of the mantle was two football trophies. Masters placed a hand on the trophy on the right, pulling it back so the fireplace slid aside. In its place was a staircase, which led down to his secret lab.
As Vlad reached said lab, a black ring appeared at his midsection, splitting and traveling up and down his person to reveal his ghost half: Vlad Plasmius. His now black hair was swept up into a forked style, and his skin now tinged blue. A white and red cape as well as the black boots and gloves accented his what shirt and pants. Added to the change was his startling red eyes and fangs. But in either of his forms, he was an intimidating figure indeed.
He didn't hesitate to fly into the large invention that was his always-active Ghost Portal. As he flew through the purple-skied Ghost Zone, most of the ghosts steered clear of him. Knowing the vast space well, Plasimus quickly found his destination. If he was right, as well as that book, he would soon gain a new minion that would help him gain another, stronger ghost under his control. All that was left to do was defeat or bribe this one.
It was in one of the older sections of the Ghost Zone, the one that hosted the ghosts of Egypt. As Vlad landed on one fo the smaller piles of floating earth, he saw a temple that held his target.
Just as he was about to enter, someone fell from the roof, landing on her feet between him and the door. The young woman stood, revealing her slitted pupils in her yellow eyes and the brown cat years and tail she possessed. Other than that, she seemed relatively human, except for her glowing, but that was usual for ghosts. She had long brown hair, pulled back with a black bandanna. Her skin was tanned, and she wore a skin-tight brown shirt and skinny jeans. Seemed this one didn't mind engaging in current human fashion.
"What do you wish with me and mine sister? So far as I've seen, you are but trespassing and should be tossed from our domain." she smiled, showing pointed feline teeth. "I wonder if you can land on your feet."
Vlad frowned, otherwise maintaining a neutral look. "Ah, you must be Bast. I'm Vlad Plasmius. And I'm sorry, but I have no time for idle chat. I must talk with Skehmet."
Bast scowled, a growl rising to her throat. "Speak to me with respect, lowlife. I might be more kind than Skehmet, but my kindness can only go so far."
Vlad smirked. "I'm quite sure I could handle you. Power over common cats is interesting, but it's noting like Skehmet's. It's her power I seek."
Now he'd gone and done it. Bast hissed, her hair puffing in rage. "You insolent interloper, you think I have no power! You mock the power 'common cats' posses?"
Vlad showed a look of disinterest. "Now, I never said that, but I have to admit the 'power' they hold isn't quite, how should I say this…noticeable?"
Bast growled, taking a step forward towards the unfazed Halfa. "If anything, my power and theirs is greater now than ever!" She then paused, and smiled mischievously. "Perhaps it would be more noticeable if you, oh, how do they say it now? 'Walk a mile in their shoes?'"
Vlad paused, a speck of worry in his logic now. Maybe he could have used more tact here. " I don't-"
Just then, he started to feel light headed and dropped to his knees. "No, you don't understand do you? Maybe I'll change you back when you learn to respect cats, and maybe animals in general."
"What have you…" Vlad gasped as he collapsed on the ground. "…done?"
The last thing he saw was Bast standing over him, smiling. "I'm letting you walk a mile in their shoes, Mr. Vlad Plasmius."
And everything went black.
~3 :3 ~3
"Ohhh…" Vlad groaned. Every part of him ached. He felt like thirty trucks had ran over him, and then some. The billionaire's head was filled with cotton and his eyelids with lead. Vlad couldn't tell afterwards how long he had laid there, just trying to move.
As the ache finally ebbed enough for movement, Vlad opened an eye a fraction. In front of him, he saw his Ghost Portal closed, and inactive. He realized he must have been in his lab. But…why did the portal seem so much…bigger?
With another groan, Vlad lifted his head, looking around. Yes, he was indeed in his lab. And yes, for some reason, everything looked bigger.
Masters tried to remember what had happened. He had gone in the Ghost Zone, check. Gotten to the temple, check. Then…the talk with Bast. What had she done to him? Why had she brought him back to his portal? Had that even been her?
"Why…?" He muttered, before he saw himself in a mirror on the wall, and all the pieces fell together.
Instead of a man in a black suit, Vlad saw a cat looking back at him. It was light grey all over, the majority of its chest white, as well as his paws and tail tip, with midnight blue eyes. It looked muscular, but thin in build. The fur on its head was brushed back from its eyes and the fur on the back of its head and chin was just long enough to be a noticeable difference from the rest of his short fur.
It took Vlad until he had stood up and shakily walked to the mirror for it to sink in that Bast had turned him into a cat. And then the anger hit him.
"That insufferable little-!" He yowled, the fur on his back standing on end to make him look twice as large. "How dare she turn me into a cat! I ought to blast her into next week! She'll regret messing with Vlad Plasmius to the end of her days!"
After his outburst, he stood there, tense and fuming for a minute before regaining control of his anger and letting his fur flatten. His cat face then did the best approximation of his annoyed frown as it could. How would he accomplish such revenge in this body? He needed to get back to normal.
"Well, there should be something in my lab I could use to-" He paused, turning to his lab. Jumping up on a keyboard, he tried to type something and failed miserably. Navigating his computer in any way would be impossible in this form, as would using anything else in his lab. Even communicating with ghosts-
Oh dear. Bast had brought him back to his portal. Forget communicating, how many ghosts had seen him like this? If anyone found out he had been turned so powerless, he would be made the laughingstock of the whole of the Ghost Zone!
Vlad frowned, very worried now and most of his anger forgotten. Most. He pushed down the rage towards Bast to try and think. Although he hated to admit it, he needed help.
He couldn't tell any of the ghosts working in his house it was him, they'd lose all respect for Vlad Masters. Skulker? He thought, then instantly threw it out. Skulker would either die all over again from laughing to much or try to hunt him down. Or both. No, the more he thought, the more he realized he couldn't tell any ghost about this. Then what would he do? Who could he ask for help?
Just then he realized: Daniel! Sure, he might not help, but it was better than any of the ghosts under his employ knowing
The Fenton's had a lab of their own, too. Even though it wasn't the most comfortable option, it was the best he had.
First things first, though, he had to get out of the lab. Did he still have his powers? Vlad walked up to the exit of his lab, then closed his eyes. He hadn't concentrated this much on just changing form since he first got his powers, but he could still feel them, buried. Just then, before he could transform, the portal started up again, making Vlad jump around to see Skulker enter.
"Oh, butter biscuits."
His nervous mew brought Vlad to Skulker's full attention. The robotic hunter paused a minute, confused. How had this cat gotten in here?
"What are you doing here, welp? Are you Plasmius' new pet?" Skulker asked, going up to the annoyed-looking cat. As if in response to his question, the cat growled, giving him a glare.
"Don't all me a pet again, Skulker." It mewed again. "Just get me out of the lab."
The hunter growled, picking the thin feline up by its scruff, causing it to yowl in protest.
"You insufferable hunter, just open the door!"
"Pet or not, I doubt he wants you in here." Skulker turned the cat and himself intangible, floating outside.
"That will work too, I suppose." Vlad mewed, looking at the ground below. Without warning, Skulker threw the cat a few feet, causing Vlad to flail in the air in his new body a second before landing on the earth in a heap.
'I thought cats always landed on their feet.' The two thought in unison. Meanwhile, Skulker growled, disappearing back into the house to find his employer.
With an annoyed sigh, Vlad resumed concentrating. After a few minutes of digging, the familiar black ring appeared around him midsection, splitting to travel up and down his body. Stopping to look at his reflection on a window, Vlad saw he was now all snow white with black ears, paws, and tail, larger fangs, and his usual glowing red eyes.
"Hm, it's not that bad. Not that I'd stay this way, but at least I look reasonable." Vlad thought as he jumped in the air.
Flying was a different experience. To actually move, he had to walk or run his intended direction, and he had to become familiar with his tail quickly for balance. After another few minutes of getting more comfortable, Vlad flew up high and started to dash towards young Daniel Fenton's house.
His best option to getting back to normal was his arch enemy's son. Splendid.
~3 :3 ~3
Danny Fenton walked up the stairs of his house to his room. Today had been a pretty good day. No ghosts, for once, but he expected his ghost sense to go off any minute now.
At least Danny made it to his room without problem, opening the door and dropping his bag by the door as he noticed something strange.
There was a cat on his bed.
A grey cat, sitting tall and with its tail tucked over its paws. It was staring right at Danny, catching his eye. It looked at him with much knowledge and loathing, giving him a feeling that he knew this cat. He knew this cat, but he couldn't remember how.
"Hello, Daniel. Long time no see."
Danny jumped, looking around as he got in battle position. The cat had meowed, but over that he had heard Vlad's voice, and the smirk in it two.
"Vlad? Where are you?" Danny asked to the air, looking at the walls. "What do you want this time?"
"I hate to admit it, my dear boy, but I have come to ask for your help."
Danny may not have been the sharpest tool in the shed, but it only took twice for him to realize that Vlad's voice was coming from the cat.
"Vlad?" Danny asked, straightening from his battle position. "What'd you do, overshadow that cat? Kinda extensive thing to do if you wanted to ask for help, don't cha' think?"
The cat bristled, closing its eyes as Danny walked over.
"I-…I didn't overshadow this cat, Daniel." He mewed, his claws momentarily coming out as he forced out the cursed words.
"I…I was forced into this form. Now I'm stuck like this."
Danny paused, and Vlad waited for the expected reaction. Danny lifted him to face height by the scruff, looked him in the eye and then said,
"Well, this is amusing. Should I laugh, or pity you?"
Vlad paused, then growled. "Oh, ha ha. Laugh it up Daniel."