Hello Everybody! It's about time I got started on this story since I've been putting it off for a long time. This story will mark the beginning of 4th season for Danny Phantom and function as a continual narrative structure throughout the episodes. This first episode will be longer than normal to re-establish the characters as well as introduce new ones. Please read and review as I appreciate feedback and ideas on how to make my stories better :)
Chapter 1: The Aftermath
Flying across the sky with his new girlfriend, Danny couldn't help but be somewhat proud of what he had accomplished in the past couple of days. The whole event with the Disasteroid had changed everything in not only his life, but everyone else connected to him in some way or another.
Looking down at the large statue now in the front of City hall, Danny smiled lightly as he recalled what had happened over the past couple days. His secret was now out, Sam was now his girlfriend, he was now the world's hero. He had everything he any lucky teenager could always dream of, all because he had saved the earth from the now famous known Disasteroid. So then why wasn't he as happy as he should be?
Thinking about how all this happen, starting from the fight in space, losing his ghost powers to realize what he had and how it made him who he was, to his entire fiasco with his evil-self, he knew that all this wouldn't have happened if Vlad hadn't moved the asteroid after he destroyed his own satellite.
However, as that thought crossed his mind, Danny begin to feel a slight pang of guilt in his heart. After all, the whole reason this happened in the first place was because he forced Vlad into his life. He destroyed his perfect clone, played the first prank that drew him to Amity park as mayor, and started this whole game of cat and mouse with him. So he rarely ever deserved this happy ending in some way or the other, especially when he was convinced this was all his fault in somehow. In some way he almost even felt sorry for Vlad, he was the hero though, and the hero always defeats the villain. So why didn't he believe that now as he used too?
Sam suddenly started to notice that something was wrong when she felt her new boyfriend tense up. She could almost feel a sense of emotion radiating off of him just by being near him. It was almost heartbreaking how he felt and she couldn't understand why?
"Danny, are you okay?" Sam suddenly with an obvious tone of worry in her voice.
Danny immediately snapped out of his current thoughts and looked directly at her thinking at what to say next. "I'm guess so…" he muttered calmly, although he was anything but calm. "I guess I just feel kinda bad for Vlad, I mean this whole situation was my fault to begin with."
Sam started at him confused for a moment. Why would he think he was responsible for Vlad's actions? What Vlad did was his fault, so why was he sounding guilty or even feeling bad for what that monster did to him?
"Danny, Vlad chose his own actions, you aren't responsible for what he what he chose to do". She said trying to comfort him. But Danny wasn't satisfied with that response. "You don't understand Sam, in some way it is my fault." He said almost angrily. But as he started to feel his new girlfriend tense up and took a deep breath to calm down realizing his emotions were probably making her uncomfortable.
"I'm sorry Sam, I didn't mean to say it like that." He said sincerely. "But I need you to understand that I am responsible for Vlad's actions in some way, whether he chose the path or not."
Ever since what happened after that whole fiasco in the Rockies with Dani, Danny's relationship with Vlad hadn't been the same as it always ways. Even Sam could sense Vlad's intentions were different then what when they had met each other face-to-face after the whole ecto-acne thing. Vlad had moved to amity park and became mayor simply to hurt Danny in the worst possible way, he had given up on his need for love and starting acting out against him. It was almost as if Vlad's actions were simply out of revenge. Revenge against him, the ones he loved, and the entire world. It was as if Vlad simply was trying to hurt him in the same way that he had hurt him.
"Maybe If I had tried to understand him better, maybe things would have been different." He said soberly as they continued to fly across the late night sky.
Now Sam could understand how Danny was feeling in some way or another. After all, she couldn't deny the coincidence with how Vlad's actions spoke. However, they could also be interpreted differently than what her boyfriend was thinking of them as.
"Maybe you're right Danny." She said in a comforting tone. "In some way Vlad did probably do this out of revenge. But you can't change what he did any more than you could change was happened between the two of you these past couple of years."
Danny just looked at her and nodded his head in agreement, although he didn't fully accept it her comforting words, as he flew with Sam towards her house and into her room with her.
He sighed and thought to himself that it was true in some way because he couldn't change Vlad's actions or what he did to him in the past. The point is Vlad was most likely gone forever and things would never be the same as they used to be. His secret was out, he was the world's hero, and he his best friend was the now what his girlfriend, like they always wanted. Perhaps it was time to fully accept it and move on with his life because no matter what he did or how much he wanted, he could not change what happened in the past few days.
Danny sat Sam down onto her bed carefully and changed back into his human form as he sat down next to her.
"I know you're right Sam." He said with calm indifference in his voice. "I guess I just feel bad for him in some way, but I guess it's time to accept the truth and face what's to come."
Sam's looked at her new boyfriend still not convinced he was okay, but deciding not to press the issue further she just smiled at what Danny had said instead before he changed the topic. "Things are gonna be a lot different now, you know." He informed her before his own smile faltered slightly. "Especially now that everybody knows my secret, we might not have much time to be alone."
"Don't worry about it Danny, I'm sure we will find some way to make it work, after all last time I checked, my boyfriend can turn invisible, can't he?" She replied smiling lightly.
Danny chuckled lightly at his girlfriend's words but then his smiled faltered as he thought about her words for a second. The truth was that things would be different, but although he was sure that his friends and family would accepted him, which they had, he was not so sure about everyone else. Sure there the people he knew at Casper High and his fans would probably accept him, but then there were others he wasn't so sure about, particularly Valerie and especially the Guys-In-White.
"I know it seems like things are going get better." He said worried. "But I know that everybody is not going to accept me, Sam."
Sam knew Danny was referring to Valerie, but the truth was that although Valerie may have seemed okay with everything when he revealed his secret to everyone, she knew in her heart that Valerie was not going to easily forgive Danny after everything that they had been through together.
"Not everything is going to be perfect Danny". Sam said trying to comfort him. "I know it's a lot to take it right now, and we both know that not everybody was going to be happy and okay with you and what happened. But I'll definitely say that nothing will ever change between us after all we've been through and I'll always be there to support you as your best friend and your girlfriend.
Danny smiled and relaxed at hearing those words. He was so glad that he was finally able to tell Sam how he felt about her and that she was there to support him after everything they've been through. Sam then pulled Danny in with a quick kiss to relax him and it felt great to him.
But Danny suddenly remembering where they were, he pulled away quickly and said, "Alright Sam, I think it's great that we're able to express are feelings for each other now, but we gotta be a little more careful here. We don't wanna have your parents suddenly walk in and catch us. He joked lightly.
Sam laughed at his remark and smiled faintly. "My boyfriend and his hero complex, always wanting to do the right thing." she replied in an amused tone. "Besides, I think my parents trust you enough to keep me safe."
Danny couldn't help but chuckle slightly at her words, even if they were not all true. "Yeah, Well I guess I can't help being noble all the time, and you know your parents still wouldn't both of us in your room alone yet anyway, whether they trust me or not." He smiled back. "Besides, I know you like it."
"Well, I'm pretty sure that will change one day, right?" Sam asked him. Danny shrugged in response to her question. The truth was he didn't really know how to answer that, or if he even could provide an answer. Danny gathered his thoughts and kissed her goodbye quickly before transforming into phantom and flying all the way back to his house.
Maybe Sam was right in some way, perhaps it was time to put the past behind him and focus on the present. Nothing was ever going to be the same so he might as well stop pretending, even if he had to force it, because he would never be able to move on with his life if he didn't.
Landing inside of his house, Danny transformed back into his human form before starting up the stairs to his room. He had important things to get done before he took a deep breath, the first thing he had to do was get to Vlad's house to ensure that he got rid of everything that his enemies could use against him, specifically the Guys-In-White. After all, he knew it was dangerous to leave the Vlad's personal items in the wrong hands. It could spell disaster for him and the rest of his family. But he needed to clear some things up with Jazz first, he had called her on his way home and told her meet him in his room so they could go over their new ghost hunting schedule for Team Phantom that she wrote up for them.
However, as he was continuing to think about what else he needed to get done, he stopped halfway up the stairs when he heard his parents talking behind a slightly closed door to their bedroom. He didn't know his parents were already home from the celebration. His dad's voice sounded so grieved and upset it was almost as if I was hearing another man speak inside of my father. He couldn't help but stand there and silently listen to what they were saying.
"I wish you would've told me about him Maddie. Every time I brought that monster into this house I was putting my kids in danger…why didn't you say anything?
"Because, I knew how much he meant to you Jack," my mom said to him calmly. "And I didn't want to give you such hurtful news. Yes, I knew Vlad had feelings for me, but i figured that as long as he wasn't disrespectful towards any of us I would just let it go. I thought it would be the right choice, especially after he saved Danny from the ghost king.
"I doubt he saved Danny without some sick purpose behind it, Maddie," his dad replied with deep resentment in his voice.
My heart panged slightly at hearing my dad speak like that. His tone of voice was almost as dark and grieved as Vlad had been. It almost seemed like that his dad now hated Vlad more than the older hybrid has once hated him. It was almost scary to hear him speak like this now.
"My son suffered so much because of what I did to him, it almost feels like I don't even know him anymore," he continued. "Maddie, do you think he still loves me?"
Danny suddenly jolted at the question his father asked his mom. Why would his dad think that he didn't love him anymore?
"Jack, what are you talking about," Maddie replied confused. "Of course Danny still loves you, he's our son, and he knows how much we both love him."
"But…Vlad hated me because of what I turned him into, Maddie," my dad answered. "What if my son hates me for what did to him? I mean, isn't it my fault for turning him into this mess in the first place?"
Danny eyes winded with shock! How could his father think like that? No he needed to make things right now! He couldn't let his father blame himself for the mistakes he made.
But before he could walk in to make things right Jazz grabbed his shoulder and turned him around, gesturing him towards the door to his room. Once inside Danny's room, she closed the door and sat down on his bed.
"Jazz, didn't you hear what they were talking about?" Danny said distressed. "I have to go talk to them right now!"
"No, Danny, Dad just needs some time right now." She replied calmly. "After everything that happened in space with Vlad, and discovering what happened it's just better to let them be for now. Just let them talk things over with each other before you speak to them."
Danny didn't say anything right away because he suddenly had another thought on his mind. What did happen between Vlad and his father out in space. Vlad hadn't returned with his father and he hadn't even seen him after the Disasteroid incident. Did Vlad get stranded out there in space? But then would that mean that Vlad is truly gone, Right?
His mind couldn't piece together everything that was going on inside his head, but he did need to know what happened out there between Vlad and his father.
"Jazz, do you know what happened to Vlad?" Danny asked carefully.
Jazz looked down before she answered his question, knowing that he wouldn't like the answer if she told him. "Yes Danny, but you don't need to know that right now."
Danny continued to stare at Jazz confused before asking. "Jazz, what are you talking about? Why wouldn't you want me to know what happened? Didn't the video footage record what happened up there in space?"
Jazz sighed before telling him she deleted the footage of what happened, Danny freaked out as a result before Jazz tried to calm him down, not exactly understanding why he was so freaked out about her deleting the tapes.
"Danny I don't understand why you're so concerned about Vlad being alive or not," she asked him, clearly catching his frustration over her deletion of the footage.
"Because I'm afraid of being alone…" he said soberly.
Jazz was both confused and shocked in some way. She had never heard Danny freely admit his own emotions or even say something like that. What does he mean by that? Why would he think that he was going to be alone just because Vlad was gone? Was it because he was now the only one of his kind left? Was that the kind of alone he was attributing too? Jazz continued to think to herself and organize her thoughts on what Danny was saying, but she found it hard at the moment to understand and instead decided to comfort him with words he would understand.
"Danny, you're never going to be alone. You have an entire family that loves you and two best friends that will always stand by your side when you need them." She comforted him.
"Well one best friend, the other is now my girlfriend." Danny corrected her in a joking manner.
Jazz just smiled at him. Danny always loved to correct her, it made him feel somewhat smug when she made a mistake, after all what kind of younger brother wouldn't want to annoy correct his overbearing sister who thought she was always right?
"Well, don't worry about anything else Danny." She said to him. "Enjoy what the fact that you're a hero, and that you have mom and dad's support with them knowing your half-ghost..."
"…and an overbearing sister who thinks she always right." Danny joked again in an amusing tone.
Jazz just slapped her brother on his shoulder lightly in response before she walked out of the room, making Danny laugh a little harder. But she turned around quickly, realizing she forgot to tell Danny something important. However, Danny had already transformed and was gone when she stepped back in the room, so Jazz decided to tell him when he got back from wherever it was he was going as she walked back to her own room to get ready for bed.
Danny flew through the air relishing the wind that blew through his face. Despite everything that had happened, he had not forgotten that he had to get to Vlad's mansion as soon as he could. He knew that after what Vlad had done, the Guys-In-White would no doubt be the first to start snooping around looking for evidence or technology to use against him or any other enemies of theirs. He need to make sure he destroyed everything so they would be nothing left for them to take.
Danny approached Vlad's mansion and turning intangible, he landed inside Vlad's secret underground lab, before walking over to the main computer terminal. It looked like Vlad had been prepared for something like this. He already had apparently deleted all of his critically important files since most of the hard drive data had been cleared recently.
He probably set the data to delete automatically if he didn't return. Danny thought. But did that mean he knew he was going to lose all along, or that there was at least a chance he wouldn't?
Danny continued to check deeper into the files, trying to find some answers to his questions. However, he instantly blasted behind him from what he thought he heard something. It turned out it was an activate hologram of Vlad.
Danny just stared at the hologram for a couple seconds before guessing it was activated when he entered the lab as the recording of Vlad began speaking.
"So here we finally are, Daniel. We are both at the End of the Line, and our petty little game. The hologram of Vlad sneered at him. Danny narrowed his eyes angrily at the recording Vlad left. Was this how he saw all of this? Was this just some sort of game to him?
The holographic Vlad then narrowed his eyes evilly at Daniel before continuing. "However, you didn't really think that this was some simple little game I was intending to win do you? The recording smirked evilly. "You see little badger, from the very beginning, I knew I was going to lose this battle between the two of us. However, in some way, I made sure that you would lose as well, Daniel.
Danny just stared at the recording angrily as his suspicions were confirmed. So, he did know was going to lose all along.
"Oh yes, Daniel." He stated firmly. "I know what you're thinking. I'm pretty sure you remember the pact the day we met, don't you?"
Yes, Danny remembered what Vlad has said the day they first met. If he exposed him, he would expose himself, and sure enough that was what happened. "Oh yes, you might think that you've won Daniel. But in reality, you have lost in the same way that I have. Not everybody will accept you Daniel, because by exposing myself in such a manner, if you exposed yourself one day, not everyone in the world truly accept you for who you are. After all, who could be more fitting to teach the hardest lesson than somebody like you?" The Hologram of Vlad said with slight anger.
Danny's mouth hung open slightly before he narrowed his eyes in anger at the hologram. So this is what this was all about? To break him in some cruel harsh way. In reality in made very little sense. But in some way he supposed it could. Vlad had gone from some specific to unrealistic goals. From obtaining love to trying to fill a void that he knew he would never have by taking his anger out on the very thing he sought to protect…the world.
Danny knew Vlad never had any interest in the world to begin with. But he knew Vlad had been far gone from the day he destroyed his perfect clone. Vlad reached his breaking point that day and set out to disprove his view of black and white heroics and evil by proving that not everything could be saved or was as cut and dry as it seemed.
Vlad had set himself up from the very beginning to lose, all to teach him a lesson. But in some way he was right, the world was not as black and white as it seemed. There was no clear line between good and evil. That notion finally began to seep through Danny, just as Vlad had intended from the beginning, and it burned his heart to know that was true as Vlad's next words sank into his mind.
"So this is how it ends for us Daniel. Exposed to the world as the monsters that we truly are. Whether you accepted or not, I was far too gone to be saved, thanks to you." The recording continued, sneering at him.
"I have programmed the lab to erase everything of value in the computers to avoid anything falling into the hands of my other enemies. However, I have programmed some certain information that you may find useful one day into this small hard-drive." He informed Danny calmly as a small USB drive ejected from the port in the main computer terminal.
"The drive is encrypted to avoid falling into the wrong hands, considering I do have other enemies that would love to get their hands on this as well, especially the Guys-In-White. Although I'm quite certain your little techno friend can unlock it easily enough." He continued. "The lab is set to self-destruct within the next couple of minutes to erase any physical evidence, so I strongly suggest you leave as soon as we finish here."
The self-destruct sequence began counting down on the main computers while Danny grabbed the USB from the computer port and put it in his pocket.
"Goodbye, Danny Phantom. It is with my death that I am now free of this world of pain and now finally at peace with myself." He spoke his last words with disgust before the hologram fizzled out of existence.
That Selfish Jerk! Danny thought angrily. He destroyed himself just to teach me a lesson? Forget it, He doesn't deserve my pity, good riddance!
Danny was furious at what had just happened before he turned around and flew upward towards the Vlad's private office determined to leave the place before it blew for good. However, before he could do that he stopped and saw Vlad's cat sleeping on his private chair.
So Vlad really did get a cat after all? He thought with some mild amusement as he walked toward the chair where the cat was sleeping.
"I'm guessing he probably named you Maddie?" he asked the cat, though it couldn't hear him, after floating down in front of her and looking at the name tag on her collar, which confirmed his suspicions instantly.
"Yep, he did." He confirmed sarcastically when seeing the name on the cat's tag. Determined not to leave an innocent animal to perish in the house that was about to explode, even if it was Vlad's cat, Danny quickly grabbed the fat cat under his arm, which the cat scowled at him for doing, and flew out of the mansion towards the one person he thought would take care of the cat without question, Sam's house. However, he never did notice the strange dark pair of malicious purple eyes that had been watching him from a rooftop in the distance with evil intent as he continued to fly away from Vlad's Mansion…
To say the Master of Time was surprised was an overstatement. After all, Clockwork was well aware of the events that happened for quite some time now. He could see many different timelines and their outcomes, so it hardly came as a surprise when he saw the what happened in the past few weeks. He knew how this would end for everyone, and as much as he wanted to avoid having Danny go through so much torment, he could not interfere. A spirit's vows explicitly prohibited using their unique powers for any personal reasons, no matter how much it hurt him to sit there and watch.
Clockwork sighed as he winded his time staff to reveal a next set of images. "This is far from over…" he said more to himself calmly.
Clockwork knew this was only the beginning of what was to come. The Disasteroid event, which was what the world now called it, was the turning point in the events that would happen a year from now. Although he knew that what was going to happen would not end for well for anybody. He could not allow anyone or anything to prevent it, as the alternatives he had watched would be far worse then what would be if time followed its destined course.
Clockwork pulled up the next set of images, continuing to view the events that would take place a year from now. He watched with the same indifferent expression on his face he usually had as the orb showed Danny fighting a Human with an oddly red staff with some kind of dragon at the tip of the base. The scene then changed to reveal Danny screaming in pain as some strange purple electricity coursed through his body before the scene then changed to show Danny holding a strange green gem before the entire city of amity park is demolished by a large explosion, seemingly killing everyone inside the blast radius.
Clockwork clicked the button at the top of his staff to pull up another set of images revealing a set of events that took place during the Disasteroid event that Danny wasn't even aware of yet. The Disasteroid event had only laid the groundwork for what was to come, and the worst part was that even with all his power he could do nothing but sit there and watch it happen.
Clockwork smiled to himself as he flipped through the sets of images to find a loophole he could exploit in the events that would take place soon. After all, just because he couldn't directly interfere with the events that would eventually take place, didn't mean he could influence the outcome in some way.
"Clockwork!" an all too familiar voice said out loud.
Clockwork sighed in annoyance turning around to face who was here to berate him, he had almost forgotten those two observants have come to him eventually after finding out what had happened in the past couple of days.
Justeco and his counselor Konsilisto phased into the room standing beside each other, looking at Clockwork with their eyes narrowed at him. He knew they were about to yell at him, and he honestly couldn't blame them for their anger, after all he blocked their view of the time stream to prevent them from seeing the what was to come, so he was prepared for the onslaught he was about to receive from them.
"So, I take it you're not happy with me keeping from you both the events of what happened the past couple of days." He almost mocked slightly.
Justeco narrowed his eyes clearly annoyed with the Time Spirit's causal attitude toward what he had done, he was obviously starting to get sick of it. "You blocked our view of the timeline so we couldn't interfere with what happened, of course we are furious." The head observant spoke with clear anger in his voice.
"I had no choice, I knew if I didn't you and the ancient clan would interfere given the severity of these circumstances, and forgive me Justeco, but I could not allow that to that happen." Clockwork said in his usual calmness.
"That is not for you to decided Clockwork, not when there are issues as grave as what is to come. We saw the threat of what those half-ghost actions would have brought upon us, and not only did we warn you to dispose of them, but then you decided to ignore our warning regardless of the threat it has now placed upon all of existence!" Justeco explained, now looking somewhat perplexed by the time master's audacity to take matters into his own hands in such a way and seemingly continue to seem so casual about his actions.
"Forgive me, but you seem to be forgetting that as the master of time, it is my responsibility to protect the time stream, even if that requires me to keep the truth from you and the rest of the ancients." Clockwork informed them as he turned around to face his time viewing orb once again.
"I suggest you make that argument to the Ancient Clan yourself." Justeco informed him. "You might have been given the power to protect all existence as you see fit, but procedures are in place for a reason to protect all of existence and even ourselves if need be. The ancient's laws dictate that in situations as grave as this, you are required to inform if not us, then at the very least the ancients themselves in case they need to step in, especially due to the gravity of our current situation and the threat of existence that is now looming over our heads. After all Clockwork, you were Ancient at one point, you should know how the Ancient's laws work, is that not correct?"
Clockwork frowned deeply at Justeco's words. He didn't like being reminded that he was an ancient, it brought back some uncomfortable memories, especially with the spirit of order, and there was no doubt in his mind the Ancients already knew of what he had done, which is probably why the observants were here now. After all, he could not view other spirits within the time stream as they existed outside of time, but he had a hunch that was why they were here, even if it was just a guess. Clockwork smirked to himself as he realized he was enjoying making an educated guess instead of seeing through his time orb and knowing the outcome all the time, it was a nice change of pace to not always know everything that would happen.
Clockwork quickly snapped out of his thoughts when he realized the observants were still floating behind him waiting for an answer. "Sometimes it is necessary to protect all of existence than to worry about laws and order." He said cryptically, purposefully trying to avoid answering their previous question.
"That is not what we asked Clockwork. However, I suppose I am wasting my breath, you never listen to our words anyways." Justeco informed to him plainly. "However, just keep in mind that the high council is already aware of what has happened, and you know what is going to happen now. I would worry about how they're going to react to your explanation of what's happened and whether they will let it go this time or not.
"I do listen very much Justeco, and I wouldn't worry too much about the rest of the Ancients, I will deal with their reactions when the time comes." Clockwork responded with no pun intended as both the observants prepared to leave his sanctuary. "However, keep in mind Justeco, that sometimes it is necessary to ignore certain procedures especially if the situation has shown that enforcing these 'procedures' will have an even more dangerous effect on the timeline that not all.
"If you say that is true Clockwork, then I suggest you save that argument for the ancient clan yourself. By the way, Horris wants to see you personally tomorrow before you meet with the rest of the ancients to discuss this matter. I would make sure to be prepared with a good explanation." The Head-observant warned him before Clockwork smiled in response and both he and his brother disappeared.
Clockwork sighed as he floated over to one of his time medallions as he picked it up off the shelve in his hand and headed back over to his time orb to pull up a set of images revealing the target he was going to bring the medallion to. The images then disappeared as Clockwork floated over to a small table with a small black lockbox on it that clearly looked like it didn't belong there.
Clockwork aimed his time staff at the lockbox and fired a beam of blue energy at it, encasing the box in a protective energy field that was dimly lit, but barely noticeable, just enough so nobody would notice that he had taken it.
Clockwork turned around to look into the viewing orb as he grabbed the black lockbox off the table and held the medallion in his other hand as he watched the events unfold one last time before heading out to complete his part. However, as soon as the images finished one last time. "Everything is as it should be…" Clockwork muttered to himself as the disappeared from his tower altogether.
Okay, I know this chapter is short, but the purpose of this entire chapter is sort of a recap of what happened at the end of season 3 and to show what happened to the characters after Phantom Planet and how they will deal with the changes that are to come, however, I did throw in some teasers and foreshadows of what is to come, as well as set up some interesting story arcs for season 4 and some for season 5 as well.
And before you all began to question about Vlad, let me say right now you can all start letting the flames roll in the comments because right now Vlad is officially dead and that mysterious figure is not him. However, that does not mean it isn't possible for him to come back in some way for sooner or later… :) But getting rid of Vlad for now allows for me to establish some brand new villains and some interesting new story arcs without having to focus on so many characters all at once.
The next four chapters of this episode will begin the first story arc and take place a year from this chapter while trying to establish the changes in relationships between the main characters.
See you all then, and remember that your reviews motivate me very much :D
