Chapter 1: Plans
"Alright, Daniel, I don't know why you called me here, but if this is some kind of trick, I warn you, you shall not like the consequences," Vlad said as he floated over up to the young halfa who looked over the town he protected with dark green eyes that were hard and calculating.
Danny didn't acknowledge the man or his threat as he continued to look upon the peaceful town that he had spent the last two years of his life defending with every ounce of his strength he had. All of the battles he had fought, the people he saved. It all happened in such a short amount of time, and yet it seemed like just yesterday that he stepped out of that portal, hair white, skin pale and eyes glowing green. As he turned around, Vlad could see something in his eyes that told him that whatever the reason was that he was here, it was serious.
"Calm down, Plasmius," Danny said as he fully faced the man before him. "I've called you here because I need your help."
Vlad's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but soon returned to their position above his eyes in a hard defined line.
"And why exactly should I help you, Daniel? You, who has thwarted my plans multiple times, you, who has tried and tried again to best me, you, who has for mocked my mental health and has called me a fruitloop on every occasion! Tell me, why, Daniel, I should help you!?" Vlad yelled, his voice rising with every word. Danny continued to float, arms crossed, as Vlad yelled at him, completely unfazed by his anger.
"Are you done?" Danny asked, not amused by his foes' attitude. "Because if so, then we can get on to the reason I called you here." Vlad continued to glare at the young man, but said nothing. "That's what I thought. Now, as I said before, I need your help, and considering our history, you know that if I'm asking you of all people for help, then it must be serious. Which it is. Something big is coming that we need to prepare for. Something that if we don't stop it will plunge the world into chaos."
"And what is this something that has you so worried?"
"A battle. But not just any battle. A battle that if we lose could mean the absolute end of Earth as we know it."
"I see. Although all does seem rather bad, I still do not see what any of this has to do with me."
"I figured you'd say that," Danny said in annoyance. "Do you not understand that the entire world is in danger here?"
"Save the dramatics, Daniel, and get to on with what you want."
"What I want, is an army."
"An army?" Vlad asked in surprise before letting out a loud, somewhat dark, laugh at this. "That is hilarious. And I suppose you believe that I'm willing to supply you with the necessities you require for this army, correct?"
"That's right," Danny said as a smirk came onto his face that Vlad knew all too well was mocking.
"And what makes you so sure that I will help? Please, do tell me what exactly is keeping me from walking away and letting you deal with this little problem on your own?"
"Because you need my help too. If we don't join forces, you're just as doomed, if not more so, then I am."
"What!?" Vlad yelled, his hands clutching into fist at his side. "Jack's genes must finally be kicking in, boy, because that is the absolute dumbest thing I've ever heard. There is nothing that you can say that can convince me otherwise."
"Two words: Pariah Dark," Danny said, the smirk dropping from his face. Vlad's face soon became one of pure shock and disbelief as the information sank in.
"But…that is impossible! He is locked away in the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep. There is no way he can return. I have the key! There is no way!" Vlad protested.
"I thought so too. But lately, I've been having these nightmares that made no sense. All I could see was death. Destruction. Chaos. Nothing made sense. I didn't know what it meant, so I went to talk to Clockwork. He showed me that Pariah is going to return and he is going to bring an army bigger and stronger than his last one. As I'm sure you remember he's not particularly fond of either of us. Not to mention that you, Valerie and I didn't do so well the last time he invaded Amity Park. So as you can see, we need each other."
Vlad was quiet for a moment as he contemplated all of this. What Danny had said was indeed true, that much was certain. Pariah Dark was someone that neither of them could take care of alone and he definitely had a grudge against the two halfas. However, one thing that still puzzled Vlad was why Danny needed his help forming an army? Surely he had enough ghostly allies that he could call upon to help him in a time of need such as this. So why ask Vlad to help him with his army? This, he had to find out for sure.
"Alright, Daniel. You have made your point. But I'm curious as to why you would come to me for help with the creation of this army of yours when I'm sure you could just as easily call upon you little friends and allies in the Ghost Zone."
"Trust me, I'm no happier about it then you are, Plasmius," he said, narrowing his eyes. "And to answer your question, I'd like to try to keep my friends out of this fight as much as possible. As for my allies, I've already called upon both Frostbite and Dora, and they have insured me that they and their kingdoms will be ready to fight when the time comes. Unfortunately, they won't be enough."
"Oh, is that so? And why, pray tell, is that?"
"Their armies are strong, and will definitely be a welcomed addition to us and help us against Pariah's army. However, you and I both know that they would not be strong enough to help us fight Pariah. To do that, we need more powerful beings, and you and I both know what the most powerful beings in both worlds are."
"You can't be serious! You want to create an army of human ghost hybrids!?" Vlad asked in complete disbelief. "Daniel, have you gone mad!?"
"No, I haven't Vlad. I'm trying to prevent the total take over and destruction of Earth and the Ghost Zone!"
"Are you sure about this, Daniel? I mean, you and I both know of the pain and ramifications of the process required to become hybrids."
"What do you mean am I sure?" he asked in an annoyed tone. "Of course I'm not! In fact, it's a horrible idea!"
"Perhaps there is some other way that this can all be prevented. I mean to try and create a whole race of hybrids such as ourselves is something that is largely unheard of and unimaginable."
"Trust me, if there was one, I'd be doing that instead of floating here with you and debating the rationality of making more halfas."
"But you can't honestly expect us to be able to find people to change, train them and keep this all quiet before the resurrection of Pariah."
"On the contrary. We have years to prepare for it. Clockwork said he couldn't tell me exactly when, but he was able to tell me that we had until around my 30th birthday. So we have a little under 14 years to do so. Maybe a little less, maybe a little more. But what matters now is actually get prepared. As much as I hate to say this, I need help mastering my powers. And as I'm sure you already know, you need a bit of a refresher. Your skills seem a little rusty," he said, smirking at his comment.
"You're serious, aren't you?" Vlad asked as he looked into the young man's eyes. Danny gave him a stiff nod, knowing that he had thought long and hard about this decision. "But what about your family? How will your parents react to all of this?"
"They don't need to know right now," Danny said sadly before hardening his feelings once more. "My parents don't know about me yet, but they will. But by then, I'll be long gone. And as for Jazz…she'll be angry and upset for a while, but she'll get over it. I've already made sure that I've disabled all equipment that was attracted to me. Tucker will be ok. He'll know that I'm doing what I have to. If there's anyone I trust to keep everyone else level headed about what I'm doing, it's him. And as for Sam…I don't know about her. I know she'll go through hell and back trying to find me, and god help us if she does," he chuckled lightly as he ran a hand threw his pure white hair. "But I love her. And I made sure that our last night together was special, and as much as I know I'll miss her and everyone else, it's for the best. I've already warned the others in the Ghost Zone not to tell them of what is going on or about where to find me."
As Vlad floated there, gazing upon the young man he had known for only a few short years, he was truly amazed at the number of sacrifices he has, and was still willing to make for the good of others. Such maturity was a rarity, especially in the world they lived in, and yet, there was so much that this young man was willing to do to protect it.
"Alright, Daniel. As I see there is no changing your mind and that this is indeed a very big problem for the both of us, I shall trust you and follow your lead on this," Vlad said, holding his black gloved hand out to Danny. Danny looked upon him in hesitation. Here he was, about to do the one thing he swore he would never do in his life. He was handing himself over to his archenemy, Vlad Plasmius, the man who had wanted him to be his apprentice for so long, and now, he was finally getting his wish. Danny slowly lifted his own gloved hand and took hold of Vlad's, gripping it tight before shaking it. Vlad couldn't help the smile that came to his lips. "Now, where do you want to begin? We obviously will have to be cautious about whom we select for this project, and-"
"We aren't selecting anyone," Danny said as he interrupted Vlad.
"I do not understand. How else do you expected to form an army of halfas without people?"
"By creating them."
"Creating them? But Daniel, you know that the cloning of halfa DNA is near impossible to do."
"Trust me, I remember the three messed up clones that you sent to try and get me, Vlad," he said as he narrowed his eyes. "But I'm not subjecting anyone else to the pain I suffered when I stepped into the portal and got zapped."
"Well then what do you suggest we do? Try to turn ghost into humans?" Vlad asked in annoyance.
"Come on, Vlad. We're working together now. You can stop with the games already. I know about the kids."
"I have no idea what-"
"Cut the crap, Vlad!" Danny yelled, his eyes flashing even brighter. "You and I both know that after the cloning screw up, you tried to combine your DNA with donated eggs. I know about the twins, Vlad." Vlad's eyes became hard as he gazed upon Danny.
"Fine, so I was successful in creating my own children with my sperm and eggs that were donated. What does that have to do with-" Vlad paused as he finally understood where Danny had been going. "Daniel, you can't be seriously considering creating and using your own children in battle. Especially one like this!"
"I am, Vlad. You and I both know that if our children have our strength and we train them properly, it's our best bet. As much as I hate doing this, I know the fate of the world is more important than my moral turmoil. But I swear, when this is all over, they are going to have a normal life. I am not raising my kids to be soldiers. They will have as normal of a childhood as possible."
Vlad sighed as he placed a hand on his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. For Danny to want to do something as rash and absurd as this, he must really be desperate and out of options.
"Alright, Daniel. We will do this. I shall do my part in helping to train and provide all the necessary provisions."
"Thank you, Vlad. I really appreciate this."
"I know. Now, our first course of action is that we shall find a location to start building a training facility where we can hone your skills and prepare Heather and Trevor for when their powers manifest."
"Wait, Vlad, you can't. I couldn't ask you to-"
"Nonsense, Daniel. It was only a matter of time before they were going to have to learn to use their powers. Though they are only coming upon their second birthday soon, the sooner we get them ready, the better. Besides, they will be older, and there for have more control and be of greater assistance to us in the coming battle."
Danny nodded his head, taking another look behind him at the town he grew up in.
"How long will it take their powers to grow?"
"Not long at all. So far, the twins have already shown that they have some abilities. Though I wouldn't expect them to show any progress that we can begin to train them until they are at least five or six years old."
Danny nodded his head, looking longingly at Amity Park one last time, tears building in his eyes, before closing them tight and turning his back.
"Come on, let's get going," he said. Vlad nodded his head, and the two headed off toward the older man's home to properly plan their next move.
The sun shone bright over Amity Park as its citizens awoke and began their daily activities. One citizen in particular, Sam Manson, stretched her tired body, letting her stiff joints pop and release tension, before climbing out of her queen sized bed and heading into her personal bathroom. The feeling of the hot water in her shower made Sam sigh with pleasure, though with the events of the previous night continuously playing through her mind, that wasn't very hard for her this morning. After two years together, Danny and Sam had finally gone all the way, something she had been looking forward to for a while.
Sam couldn't help the smile that ran across her face as she stepped out of the shower and began to dry herself. If she had been keeping a list of the things that made her life perfect, losing her virginity to the man she loved with her very being would be on it, right under the name of the man himself, Danny Fenton. Tying her purple robe around her, Sam walked back into the room, only to find it empty.
"Danny?" she called, looking for her boyfriend. "I could have sworn he was just here." As she looked around the room, Sam began to think back to a few minutes ago when she had woken up, and was starting to realize she hadn't felt his presence beside her. Normally, she would find herself wrapped snuggly in his arms. "Maybe he went home early and didn't wake me."Picking up her phone, she quickly dialed his number, which she had memorized, but received no answer. She tried calling again, but simply received the same dial tone and voicemail.
With a sigh, Sam set the phone down and started getting dressed to head over, figuring he was probably fighting a ghost. 30 minutes later, Sam found herself outside of Fenton Works, the luminescent sign hanging high in the sky. As she began her ascent up the small porch, she suddenly turned at the sound of her name being called.
"Sam!"
"Oh, hey, Tucker. What are you doing here?"
"I came looking for Danny. He hasn't been answering his phone so I figured I'd come here and check on him. Have you seen him?" Tucker asked as they stood side by side on the porch.
"No. He was with me last night, but was gone when I woke up this morning, so I figured he came home," she said as she pressed the doorbell. They waited a few seconds before hearing the tumblers click and the door open to reveal Jazz.
"Oh, hey guys. What are you doing here?" she asked as she stepped aside for them to enter into her home.
"We're looking for Danny. Have you seen him?"
"Um, no? We thought he was with you guys. He said he was sleeping over at Tucker's house last night."
"But…that doesn't make sense," Sam said slowly as the worry started to come over her. "He was with me last night."
"Why was he with you," Jazz asked suspiciously as she crossed her arms and eyed Sam.
"He came by last night and we were just laying there talking and stuff like usual, and I guess I fell asleep because he was gone this morning," Sam lied in an attempt to cover up the fact that she had done literally the most intimate act two humans could with Jazz's younger brother, though the slight reddening of her face almost gave her away.
"Well let's go to his room. Maybe he flew home," Jazz said, looking at Sam one more time before turning and heading up the stairs with Sam and Tucker close behind. "Danny?" she said as she knocked on his bedroom door. When she received no answer, she grabbed the knob and pushed the door open to reveal an empty room. The three walked in slowly, looking around the room for any sign of Danny's recent activity. "Danny?" Jazz called again, walking over to his closet. Tucker walked over to his desk where he found Danny's phone laying.
"That's weird. Danny always has his phone on him. Do you think something happened to him?"
"Oh my god…" Tucker and Jazz turned around to find Sam, slumped over on Danny's bed, crying her eyes out. "No…No! No! NO!" she screamed as her body began to shake.
"Sam! What is it? What's wrong?" Tucker asked as he tried to calm his friend down. As Jazz jogged across the room to them, she couldn't help noticing the small piece of paper crumpled in Sam's hand.
"Hey, what's this?" she asked, taking the letter from Sam who was too busy crying to care. Jazz quickly ran over the letter, her eyes going wide with shock before she too had tears in them. "That…that stupid…no good…" Jazz stammered as she buried her face in her hands and let the letter fall to the ground.
"Oh no, not you too," Tucker said. "Jazz, what's wrong?" When he got no response, he picked up the letter and began to read.
Dear Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Mom and Dad,
I don't really know where to begin…I guess I'll say first that I love you all, and that I hope you never forget that. And it's for that specific reason that I have to say that I'm sorry. I'm sorry because I have to leave to protect you all. I know it hurts. I know you're probably asking why, but…I can't tell you why. One day I will though, just not now.
Jazz. You're smart and have a bright future. Please, don't change. You're the best sister anyone could ask for.
Tucker. You maybe a techno-geek, but I can't even count the number of times you've saved my butt. We've had some good times bro. Keep an eye on Sam and Jazz for me. I know you can do it, and that you out of everyone will have my back on this.
Sam. I love you. I really, really love you, Sammy. I know you hate that nickname, but…never forget that. If there were any other way for me to do what I'm about to do, I would. I swear. But there isn't. I know this is hard, but I will be back one day.
Mom, Dad…there's so much I want to tell you…so many lies I've told you, and I'm sorry you have to find out this way.
I love you all. Never forget that.
-Danny
"Danny…who…why…I don't understand," Tucker said as a few tears came to his face.
"We have to find him," Jazz said before hearing the door open quietly.
"Find who?" Maddie asked as she and Jack walked into the room. Maddie was a little surprised when she saw the three teens all crying. "Kids, what's wrong? And…where's Danny?"
Tucker looked at the half crumpled paper in his hand sadly before handing it over to Maddie.
"Here, Mrs. F. Read this."
Maddie looked at him wearily, looking at her husband quickly who shrugged his shoulders before taking the ruined letter and reading it with Jack looking at it from over her shoulder. Maddie's hand flew to her mouth as she took in what this small piece of paper was telling her. Her son had run away. For reasons that he couldn't say which only made her feel worse. Was it her parenting? Had something happened to him that she didn't know about? She quickly rounded on the teens.
"Where's Danny?" Maddie asked in near hysterics. Jazz opened her mouth, but choked back a sob. "Jazz, where is your brother?" Maddie asked forcefully as she got in front of her daughter. "Jasmine, answer me!"
"I don't know! He's gone!" Jazz screamed as she cried harder. Maddie couldn't help the sorrow and hurt that ran through her. She opened her arms and Jazz quickly fell into them, clinging to her mother like she had many times when she was a child. Maddie held her daughter as they both cried and Jack placed a sad hand on his wife's shoulder as he too started to cry for his son. "Oh, Mom…Dad…ther-threre's something…"
"Shh…it's ok, sweetie," Maddie said, rubbing her back.
"No…it's about Danny…he's been keeping a secret from you. Danny is…" she stopped before the words could fall from her lips. Could she really give away her brother's biggest secret? A secret he had protected and had entrusted her to protect?
"Jazz," Tucker said, causing her to look at him. He gave her a simple nod, knowing they had to tell them eventually and now, Danny had left them no choice. "It's time they knew."
"Knew what? What about Danny," Jack asked as he looked at the seriousness in the young man's face.
"Danny…is..was…" Jazz stammered.
"He's the ghost boy!" Sam yelled, speaking for the first time since she had found the letter. "He's Danny Phantom!"