Chapter 3: Blast from the Past

Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom or any of its characters.

Vlad Plasmius soared through the Ghost Zone, annoyed and bruised. Not only from the beating he'd taken at that blasted Phantom's hands, but also from the second administered by all the other ghosts once they had been released into the Ghost Zone. For their humiliation at the hands of the human ghost-fighters, of course. They hadn't even had a crack at their real enemy, Danny Phantom. Plasmius was strong as ghosts went, but not strong enough to stand against six other ghosts, each with myriad and unique powers.

"It wasn't my fault," Plasmius had whined. "He wasn't supposed to be able to change into Danny Phantom because of my cleverly hidden cameras. It should have been easy to defeat human Danny Fenton."

"Oh, stop," growled Skulker. "We agreed to help because we assumed you'd done your scouting beforehand. Surely you realized some things would have changed when you were gone for three years. You completely underestimated the ghost-child." The metal-encased ghost bared his blocky steel teeth. "Or did you also fail to notice he's not a child anymore?"

Vlad had lost his temper and shot a Ghost Ray at Skulker, who of course retaliated. The other ghosts, eager to take their defeat out on someone else, joined in. When Plasmius had been suitably pounded, they flew off to their own pursuits, leaving him to stew in his own pain, rage, and disappointment.

"It should have worked!" he groused aloud. But now he realized the flaw in his plan: he'd been planning for the Danny Phantom he knew from three years previous. Much as it rankled, Skulker was right. He hadn't taken into account the changes the child would go through. Plasmius almost hadn't believed it when he first laid eyes on the boy the school vice principal had introduced as "Daniel Fenton." The short, scrawny kid had metamorphosed into a tall, athletic-looking young man. Plasmius only recognized him by the characteristic spiky dark hair. Still a little clumsy—Plasmius hadn't missed the trip—and not really what he would term a bodybuilder physique, but impressive nonetheless. And not only was he physically strong, but his powers on the ghost side had grown exponentially. If he was being honest with himself, Plasmius had to admit that his advantage of more years as a human-ghost hybrid was rapidly slipping away. Perhaps because the boy had gained his powers at a much younger age, his abilities and strength were developing much more rapidly than Plasmius' ever had. The difference between becoming half-ghost at fourteen rather than twenty-one was striking. If Danny Phantom wasn't stopped soon he might…possibly…surpass Plasmius.

Plasmius growled. That could never be tolerated. Yet he knew he'd have to have a serious tactical advantage before he went near Danny again. Obviously numbers wasn't much help; the boy had his little friends, his too-smart sister, and his clueless parents on his side now. Plasmius sighed. Dear Maddie. Years of work wooing her away from Jack Fenton, wasted. Years more work to reverse the damage.

What to do?

Firepower. That's what Plasmius needed more than anything. A force so overwhelming even New Model Danny Phantom couldn't withstand it.

Plasmius glanced around. He was in a part of the Ghost Zone he'd never seen before; but then, that wasn't surprising. He hadn't done a whole lot of exploring of the Zone, just enough to know where to find things that he'd needed to aid his plans in the human world. The Zone itself hadn't interested him much.

This part of the Zone was an island built like an enormous clock tower. Plasmius studied it curiously. He did know that ghostly homes tended to reflect the ghosts that lived in them. A Clock Ghost, perhaps? A little odd, but then, you never could tell with the full-ghosts. The Box Ghost was proof of that.

Plasmius drifted closer to the tower. Nothing flew out to challenge him, which led him to believe no one was home. Ghosts within the Ghost Zone were fairly territorial. If they didn't come out to intercept trespassers to their home ground themselves, they usually set some sort of guard to do so.

As it turned out, the enormous clock face was in fact open to the tower inside. Plasmius flew through it and looked around.

"Hmmm. How interesting."

The inside of the tower seemed to be made up of one large open space, punctuated by cogs, gears, and other myriad internal clock workings. Multiple ticking clocks presented a noise that should have been annoying, but instead was just a pleasant sort of background hum.

Plasmius swooped down to the floor. Still, no one appeared to challenge him. The resident ghost was clearly…well, not in residence.

Whoever this ghost was, Plasmius was not particularly interested in meeting him or her. The place was not really intriguing after a cursory glance. Just clocks ticking. A thing like a scythe leaning against one wall. A weird circular device that looked sort of like an empty picture frame set on a stand in the floor. A…was that a Fenton Thermos?

Plasmius shot over to the low shelf. It was indeed a Fenton Thermos, and a very battered one. There were protrusions all over its metal sides, as if whatever was contained within had been fighting to get out. In fact, as Plasmius watched, it rattled a little on the shelf, vibrating like an angry bee.

Well, this was interesting. What was one of these blasted contraptions doing here? There was no other sign of Fenton meddling. In fact, the rest of this place no more belonged to a Fenton than it belonged to Vlad himself. Vlad knew the Fentons' designs. The silvery Thermos stood out among all the cogs and whistles because it did not fit in with the tower décor.

So how had it gotten here? Was it the tower's resident ghost, sealed up by Danny Phantom and left here, imprisoned in his own home? Plasmius somehow doubted it. That wasn't the boy's style. He simply dumped any ghost captured through the Fenton Portal and left them to their own devices, as he'd done with Plasmius himself and all the other ghosts from the fiasco today. Unless…

Unless this ghost was too dangerous to be allowed to roam free.

Now here was an idea, and one that might in fact be a solution to Vlad's current predicament of how to get rid of Danny Phantom. Not only would this unknown ghost be very powerful, but likely would also hold a grudge against the one that imprisoned him.

Plasmius picked up the Thermos eagerly. He had no idea how to operate it, but it couldn't be that hard—he'd seen bungling Jack Fenton use one with ease.

As it turned out, it wasn't needed. The very act of picking it up apparently damaged the Thermos's already weak structural integrity beyond repair. The thing split apart in his hands. Steam hissed from it, smelling of rust and something else Plasmius couldn't quite place. Something like lightning, or ozone.

And a laugh. A triumphant laugh came pouring out with the steam and filled the tower. Plasmius squinted, but all he could see through the smoke was something vaguely man-shaped, tall and powerfully built. He had to admit, the former occupant of the Fenton Thermos had a better chilling laugh than Plasmius himself. And it sounded oddly familiar as well. As if it was someone he knew well, but whose name he couldn't quite place.

The mist cleared, and Plasmius couldn't help but step back a pace at the creature that faced him. It was definitely a ghost. The bluish skin, similar to his own in ghost state, proved that beyond doubt. He'd been right about the human shape, and the enormous build. In fact, it was even more impressive now that the mist had cleared. This thing had a body worthy of Schwarzenegger in his prime. Definitely powerful enough to take on Danny Phantom, even the New Model. The current Danny would have to do nothing but lift weights for years in order to obtain this kind of physique.

Speaking of Danny Phantom, the costume this new ghost wore was eerily similar to the boy's. Black and white, with a "DP" on the chest. The ghost had white hair, too, like Phantom in ghost form, but this hair looked less like spikes and a lot more like constantly-rippling flame. The ghost glared at him out of cold red eyes.

Then, surprisingly, the eyebrows went up. "You," said the ghost. Its voice was deep and smooth, like the rumble of a tiger eyeing helpless prey. The eyebrows went down. "How ironic that it would be you." Now Plasmius could hear a slight chuckle in with the dangerous purr.

"You know me?" asked Vlad. "Have we ever met?"

"In a sense. I haven't seen you for at least ten years. Possibly more." The ghost took a step forward, examining Plasmius from top to toe. "How old is Danny Fenton?" he rapped out.

"Seventeen, I believe," answered Plasmius.

"Seventeen. Hmmm." The bigger ghost digested this momentarily. "So he survived."

"Survived what?" Plasmius was feeling more and more lost by the second. "The Disasteroid?"

Up went the eyebrows again. "'Disasteroid?' What a name. No. Something else that never happened, apparently. I smell Clockwork's meddling."

Rather than try to follow these statements, which were getting more and more bizarre, Plasmius asked, "Clockwork?"

"Who do you think owns this place?" the other ghost demanded with a sweep of his hand to indicate the tower. "Me? Of course not. I could never be so tacky. This tower is the home of Clockwork. The Ghost of Time. Don't you…no, of course you don't. If I recall, you were never interested in the more passive breed of ghost."

Startled with this accurate assessment from someone he was sure he'd never laid eyes on before, Plasmius finally burst out, "How do you know me?"

The ghost chuckled, a sound that inadvertently sent shivers up Plasmius' spine. "I know you because I am you. Or was. Part of you, at least."

"What!? Explain!"

"It is quite a long story, which I don't have time to tell," the other ghost sighed. "The short version: I am from a time stream that was altered, a future that never was. A future that merged your ghost half with Danny Phantom's ghost half, and created me. I spent ten glorious years destroying both the human world and the Ghost Zone until Clockwork saw fit to interfere. He sent my naïve younger self—the so-called Danny Phantom, not you, of course—to prevent me from ever existing by halting the catalyst of my creation. It appears the catalyst was indeed averted if Danny Phantom survived. The last I saw of him he was about to attempt to save his family and closest friends from a massive explosion at the Nasty Burger. However, Clockwork's plan backfired somewhat."

"In what way?" asked Vlad, still trying to process all of this.

The bigger ghost gave him a condescending look. "I still exist. Apparently outside the time stream." His expression added 'you idiot' to the end of this statement.

Plasmius did not appreciate being talked down to. He stood his tallest, which brought him only an inch or so shorter than the other ghost. "Now just a minute. If you're really made of…of Vlad Plasmius and Danny Phantom, then what happened to human Vlad Masters and Danny Fenton?"

"Masters?" the fire-headed ghost appeared almost thoughtful. "Left him alive. Not sure why, now. I suppose because he was no longer a threat. Danny Fenton, however…" His smile became terrible, showing the pointed canines Plasmius recognized from his own ghost form. "He was the work of a few short seconds."

Despite his fear, Vlad bristled at the thought that his human self was not considered a threat, while a teenage boy was worth immediately destroying.

The object of his annoyance, however, ignored Plasmius' glare. "What has happened in the past three years, then?"

"I don't know."

"You don't—" Narrowed eyes. If possible, the silky voice got even more dangerous. "And why not?"

"I've spent the last three years in space. An asteroid made of ectoranium was headed for Earth, and—"

"Ecto-what?" the bigger ghost snorted, distracted from his irritation for a moment.

"Don't look at me. I didn't name it. In fact, I suspect the Fentons may have had a hand in the name somehow. In any case it's a rare element that is anti-ghost in nature. I learned that the hard way," grumbled Plasmius. "I had the world in my palm, cowering at my feet, and then I find out I can't make the asteroid intangible. I remained in space, certain that I was to be the last surviving member of my species, when the Earth itself became intangible long enough for the asteroid to pass through harmlessly. I'm not certain how he managed it, but I know Danny Phantom had a hand in it. I decided to remain in space, but eventually I returned to wreak my vengeance. Unfortunately, I missed a few details."

"Such as?"

"Well, for one thing, Danny Phantom has openly made known to the world that he and Danny Fenton are one and the same. I never thought he would have the guts to do it. He has also managed somehow to grow irritatingly strong. He actually had the gall to put me in one of those blasted things!" Plasmius waved at the destroyed Fenton Thermos.

"And threw you into the Ghost Zone, just like any other ghost," finished the other. He nodded. "I see his methods, at least, haven't changed a bit. Toss an enemy into the Ghost Zone knowing full well they'll reappear to challenge him again eventually. An interesting strategy, if one wanted to waste a great deal of time and effort. I prefer a more direct approach." Again that jagged smile.

"Ghosts can't be killed," Plasmius reminded. It felt more like a reassurance to himself than anything else. It was starting to occur to him that this situation might just be beyond his control.

"No, unfortunately. But they can be incapacitated for a much greater length of time than Danny Phantom is ever likely to accomplish."

Plasmius remembered his original purpose in opening the Fenton Thermos. Better to divert this obviously more powerful ghost's thoughts away from himself and towards his intended target. "What about Danny Phantom? Aren't you going to have your revenge for imprisoning you for so many years?"

"An interesting question." The ghost gripped his goateed chin in two fingers, a gesture eerily familiar to Plasmius as it was one of his own favored methods of dastardly plotting. "Eventually, yes. But certain things will have to take place first. After all, even though I am outside the time stream I can't be sure eliminating him won't eliminate me as well. The two of us may still be irritatingly connected."

Plasmius was reassured. This also meant, in theory, that this bizarre version of himself and Danny Phantom couldn't eliminate him as well, for fear of damaging his Vlad Plasmius half.

"Which leaves what to do with you," the other said, as if following his thoughts. Plasmius thought about rocketing away. But where could he go? This ghost had his own ghost-powers combined with those of Danny Phantom. He'd be caught in seconds.

The big ghost rolled his eyes suddenly, looking so much like Danny Phantom Vlad found himself sucking in his breath. This…thing…clearly was a manifestation of all that was bad about himself and Danny Phantom. Vlad was only just now beginning to grasp what incredible heights of evil that might mean. He looked at the bizarre hybrid, and was met with a completely pitiless red-eyed stare.

"Of course! This is the Ghost of Time's domain. Why didn't I think of this before? Clockwork has been more helpful than he may ever realize. What a pity he isn't here as well, so I can deal with him for his meddling ways. Which I will, soon enough."

"I—" Vlad started, but was seized by his shirtfront. For the second time that day, he was completely powerless. How was he going to get out of this one? "What are you going to do to me?"

"Just get you out of my way. As you've probably guessed, I can't risk destroying you outright. But you're not of any more use to me, either. You barely know more than I do about this time stream's incarnation of Danny Phantom. What a disappointment. I expected better from my more…evil half."

"Wait! Wait!" cried Plasmius, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. He was lifted off his feet and dragged forcibly to the thing he had taken earlier for an empty picture frame. As they approached, the hybrid held out a hand. The space inside the frame began to glow green. Then it showed a picture, like a TV screen: dinosaurs snarling at one another in a leafy jungle.

"Perfect," said that silky voice, not even a bit strained despite the fact that its owner was hefting all of Plasmius' weight by one arm. That powerful arm shifted, and with a scream Plasmius pitched through the green glowing picture frame and into…somewhere else.

Giant leaves slapped his arms, and his ears echoed with the roars of unknown beasts. And something else: a cruel, gleeful laugh that faded behind him into nothing.

Vlad turned, but there wasn't even a hint of a green glow to mark where the portal had just been.

"Noooo!"

Author's Note: Writing from Vlad's perspective for this chapter was pretty tough-getting inside his head is no easy task. Writing about the evil Phantom-Plasmius hybrid from Vlad's perspective when Vlad has no past experience with him was even tougher. Keeping the hybrid from outright destroying Vlad (he's sort of a strong personality and doesn't like anyone telling him what to do, even the intrepid authoress) was the hardest task of all. At the same time, this is admittedly one of my favorite chapters because of the delicate dance of clashing personalities going on.

I have refrained from giving the hybrid a name, though I know there are several that have been applied to him since Ultimate Enemy aired. If I've done my job right in the upcoming chapters, then you should be able to tell when he's speaking or being referred to. If at any point there's some ambiguity, please let me know. I am striving to be as clear as possible.

SamoaPhoenix9