I totally didn't write this during school hours and that why it's a quick update. What would ever give you that impression?
In my defense, I write this fic in Microsoft Word and my school had the brilliant idea that every student should bring their own laptop to school. I also have an hour block between my first two classes for 'homework.'
Anyway, enough about my school life. Plot happens in this chapter!
Onwards!
Chapter 2;
Danny was beyond embarrassed when he realized he'd fallen asleep. He wasn't even sure when he had; one moment he was trying to listen the next he was just waking up. Maybe it was the hot water pack that had been slipped under him at some point; heat always seemed to tire him out. But he was awake now, and that meant he had to check on Sam and Tucker. He had to be sure Fake-Vlad hadn't gotten to them.
Danny slipped out of bed, and checking to make sure nobody was watching- it would be really bad for him if anyone caught him sneaking out- before switching to his ghost form. After three years of ghost fighting, the transformation was easier than ever. His black hair became white, his blue eyes became green, his pajamas became his jumpsuit- wait a minute.
Danny stared down at himself before turning back to his human form, frowning. His pink pajamas had replaced his shirt and jeans. Why am I in my pajamas? Who undressed me?! Okay, I'll worry about that later. I have to check on Sam.
…And Tucker. Wow, I forgot my best friend.
Back in his ghost form now, Danny took to the skies. It was dark out, and Danny found himself wondering exactly how long he'd been asleep for. I should've checked my clock. Oh well, there's Sam's house.
Danny floated down to her window, knocking three times before inviting himself in. Sam and Tucker were sitting on her bed, though both jumped to their feet as Danny entered. "Hey Sam!"
Sam crossed her arms, "Did you just invite yourself in?"
"Lovebirds," Tucker whispered.
"Exactly!" Danny said as he landed and crossed over to Sam's side. He gave her a short peck on the cheek, ignoring Tucker's loud squeal. "Oh, shut up Tucker."
"Did…" Sam raised a hand, resting it on her cheek. "Did you just… just… what?"
"The ship has sailed!" Tucker shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "It's about time!"
Danny raised an eyebrow, "Really, Tucker? We've been dating for nearly a year and you've just clued in now? I thought I was the clueless one."
"What?" Sam repeated, looking at her hand before putting it back on her cheek. "We- what?"
Tucker frowned, "You have? Seriously dude, tell me these things."
"Yeah, I'm fairly sure you knew." Danny rolled his eyes, "Are you two okay?"
"Why wouldn't we be?" Tucker asked, sitting back down on Sam's bed. "The only one in any danger or something is you."
"Me?" Danny motioned to himself before letting his hand fall back to his side. "Why would I be in danger?"
"Well aside from the fact that you just broke your girlfriend…" He trailed off, motioning to Sam, who still seemed very confused.
"What? No," Danny shook his head, grabbing Sam's free hand. "She's fine… Sam? Are you okay?"
"You just… kissed me." She smiled, and then frowned and lowered the hand which had been on her cheek. "You could've at least asked first, you dick."
What? "Since… what? Since when do I need to ask? You once tied me to a bed while I was asleep so I wouldn't go out ghost fighting!"
"I kind of doubt that was the reason," Tucker threw in rather smugly.
"I've never done that!" Sam protested, pulling her hand away. "…Danny, are you feeling okay?"
"Maybe you should lie down, dude." Tucker moved over slightly, motioning to the bed. "It's kind of late."
"Trust me Tucker; I've had enough lying down for at least three days." Danny turned back to his girlfriend, who almost seemed to be inching away from him. "Why wouldn't I be feeling okay?"
"Dude," Tucker said again. "Your sister called us. Lie down, she'll be wondering where you are."
"Oh!" Danny shook his head, "Don't worry, I was just uh- faking it. Acting, you know?"
Sam blinked twice, "You were what?"
"Since when can you act?!" Tucker asked much more brashly.
"He can't!" Sam added on.
"I can too!" Danny crossed his arms, glaring at both his friends for a moment. "Look, Vlad was at my house and nobody was trying to murder him so I panicked, okay? And then somehow managed to fall asleep. That was awkward."
Sam hesitated, glancing at Tucker before taking Danny's hand. "Why would anyone try to murder Vlad?"
"Uh, because he revealed himself during the Disasteroid and tried to take over the world…? Sam, seriously, you were there."
Tucker suddenly fell forward with laughter, not stopping even when Sam smacked the back of his head. "I'm sorry; I'm sorry," He didn't sound sorry, "Disasteroid? That's the stupidest name I've ever heard!"
"Tucker!" Sam hissed, and Danny took a step back.
"You… you guys don't know about the Disasteroid? What about my statues?! My weird, weird statues… or the fact that I took my powers away! What about that?! I had a skunk stripe, remember?!" His voice was getting more and more desperate. No, no, no… Fake-Vlad couldn't have gotten to them too… "Sam, you were mad at me! And Tucker thought I was doing it because I couldn't find anything that rhymed with Phantom and… and…"
"Danny," Sam grabbed his hand tighter, "Come on; lie down. Danny please, you're not well."
"I'm fine!" He shouted, shoving Sam off of him with much more force than intended. She slipped back, falling, and Tucker shouted her name as Sam's head hit the side of her bed.
Danny stood, frozen, watching as Sam pulled her hand away from her head. She made a face, staring at the hand. "Great," Sam muttered, "Heads bleed a lot."
"Sam!" Tucker called again, sliding off the bed a kneeling beside her. "What did you hit this on? Where's that first aid kit?!"
"Oh my… Sam…" Danny reached out a hand towards her, hesitating before pulling it back. "I am so, so sorry, I didn't-" He moved towards her, stopping when Tucker held out a hand.
"Danny, go home." He commanded, continuing when Danny opened his mouth to protest. "Don't make excuses. Just do it. Danny, please, you're sick. Go home."
"Tucker, I…" Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a little voice telling him not to argue. To just leave. Danny didn't know why, but he listened. "Okay. I- I'm so sorry, Sam."
A few hours later, Danny found himself sitting on top of city hall. His statue, which Danny had just gotten used to a few months ago, was now gone. There was no trace it had ever been there, and something told Danny that the others would be the same. The wrongness feeling hadn't left, and in fact was stronger than ever.
What had happened? This wasn't right. There was no way that this was right. Sam and Tucker had been so confused, his parents and Jazz had been way too calm with Fake-Vlad, and… wait.
This all happened when Vlad showed up. He wouldn't give up, and it's been nearly a year… he's not a fake.
Oh my god he's not a fake.
"Daniel?"
Danny turned, his breath catching in his throat. "Vlad."
The older hybrid landed with no emotion on his face. "What are you doing here?"
Danny almost laughed. He was getting sloppy- this whole thing reeked of Vlad! "I could ask you the same thing."
"I was looking for you," Vlad answered. "Your mother was terrified when she noticed you were missing."
"So you just wanted to please my mom?" Danny shook his head, placing his chin on his knees. "You haven't changed at all. Almost a year and you're still crazy."
Vlad raised an eyebrow. "Daniel, the last time I saw you was three days ago. You broke into my house."
Danny actually did laugh this time. Hadn't Vlad realized that Danny was the only one not caught up in his stupid lie? "Yeah, sure Plasmius. Whatever you say."
Vlad took a step towards him, "Daniel, I'm telling the truth."
"Uh-huh, sure. Right," Danny moved to his feet, looking up at Vlad. "So how'd you do it? Reality Gauntlet? Clockwork's staff? Desiree? How'd you brainwash my family and friends?"
"I- I've done nothing of the sort!" Vlad actually looked offended now, but Danny wasn't fooled. "…Daniel, exactly what do you think I did?"
"In short? I know you deleted the Disasteroid." He replied, and Vlad blinked twice.
"Excuse me?"
"Wow, did you brainwash yourself too or something?"
Vlad sighed, stepping forwards. "Daniel, look at me. I have not brainwashed- as you have put it- anyone. That is a delusion you have come up with. That Disasteroid you speak of was not real."
Danny rolled his eyes, "Yes, it was."
"No dear boy, it wasn't." Vlad took another step towards him, and Danny took one back. "Daniel, I need you to listen to me. And I will repeat that as many times as it takes before it sticks. What you are experiencing is an early symptom of your current illness. Your mind creates impossible adventures and becomes confused when they are proven to not be true. The Disasteroid was not real. You imagined it."
Danny threw his hands into the air, "Why does everyone think I'm sick?! I'm fine!"
"Your core malfunctioned causing you to pass out for more than twelve hours. That is not, in any way, fine."
"Keep trying Vlad," Danny replied, floating up so he was at eye level with the elder hybrid. "Maybe you'll come up with something that's actually believable!"
Vlad took a moment, seemingly trying to stay calm. "I'm not lying to you. For a situation like this, I would never."
Danny had to admit, he was curious now. "What situation?"
A pause, "Do you intend to listen or to insult me?"
"I haven't figured that part out yet." He landed back on the roof, "Come on, spill. I'm just dying to know."
Vlad hesitated again before stepping forwards. "Daniel… from what I've seen, your symptoms are comparable to those during the early stages of Ecto Acne."
Danny blinked twice, staring up at the older hybrid. "Wait, what?"
"You have Ecto Acne."
"No I don't," Danny replied, running a hand down the side of his face. "I don't know if you've noticed Vlad, but my skin isn't that bad." He ignored the beginnings of a pimple his picky finger ran over.
"The acne feature is being dulled for the moment," Vlad continued, "I've been doing research on the disease, Daniel. My first bout was the abnormality, there's a-"
"You know, I really don't care." Danny cut him off, "I picked one, Vlad. I don't know how many times I've told you this, but you are one seriously crazed up Fruit Loop. Now," Danny coated his hands with ectoplasmic ice, taking a step forwards. "I want my life back."
"You're still stuck on this, are you? Very well," Vlad moved back into a defensive stance, "I don't want to fight you, Daniel."
"No," Danny smirked, recalling how their roles were reversed during their first meeting. "No you don't. One last chance, Plasmius; either you reverse whatever you did, or I'll make you."
"When will you get it through your skull that I haven't done anything?!"
Danny lashed out, upgrading his ectoplasm a few levels from its weaker green form to one that was violet. "You may have fooled everyone else but you can't fool me!" He shot the blast at Vlad, who teleported to avoid it. When the older hybrid did not return fire, Danny shot a blast of ice. Vlad deflected it with a small shield, moving one hand towards his ear. "What's the matter Vlad?" Danny taunted, floating off the edge of the roof. "Scared?"
"No Daniel," Vlad spoke calmly, "I'm impressed, actually. You correctly guessed my plan despite my efforts to prove you wrong. You are correct; I brainwashed the entire town into believing the… Disasteroid did not happen. I should've known my powers would not affect you."
"I knew it!" Danny shouted, pointing a finger at Vlad. "How'd you do it?"
A pause, Vlad moved farther back and Danny followed. "I used the Reality Gauntlet."
"Sounds like something you would do." Danny muttered, trying to work out how to fix his current situation. "But then how- wait a minute. I blew that up!"
Vlad looked horrified, "You exploded the Reality Gauntlet?! That was one of the Ghost Zone's precious artifacts!"
Danny coated his fists in ectoplasm again, "You were just messing with me!"
Vlad moved a hand to his ear, glancing downwards. "No. I was trying to help you, and whether or not you believe it I still am. Now, Jasmine!"
A familiar feeling took over his toes, moving up his body until it coated him. Danny screamed frantically as the thermos in his sister's hands pulled him in, squirming in the sudden cramped space.
"You know, when I said to grab a thermos," He said, "This isn't what I meant."
Ah plot. Now for the real question; what do you people think is going on here? Do you agree with Danny, and believe that A) Vlad did something to cause everything that's happening to him? Or B) do you agree with Vlad's story, and think Danny's sick? Misleading poll 2.0 everyone, send in your votes!
…Well okay it's not misleading, but you get the idea. Voting takes place in reviews for the story, or you can send your thoughts to me via PM! I'll keep track of them on my profile.
Votes, title suggestions, and reviews are all loved! Any flames however, will be used on the crusty muffins.
