Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Danny Phantom, I'm a big fan and was feeling nostalgic.
(Chapter Updated 03/04/2018)
~Chapter 6~
Rekindled Flame
Meanwhile, in Amity Park…
"Hey! I was watching that!" Tucker moped when Danny abruptly turned off the plasma TV at Sam's house without warning when the breaking news about Vlad Masters appeared on screen. They watched the first half of it but when Danny couldn't stand to watch Vlad's nauseatingly good acting in front of the reporters he shut it off in disgust.
"I know. So was I, but we all know exactly where Vlad was going with the rest of those bald-faced lies. Leave it to a snake like Vlad Masters to get the media wrapped around his little finger and eating right out of his hands," Danny glowered, staring hatefully at the now-blank screen. When his two best friends didn't respond he suddenly raised his arms and exclaimed, "Oh come on! You both saw the kid being admitted to the hospital at the beginning of the news report too, right? His hair was almost completely white! Just like a certain 'Phantom' we know. And there's only one explanation for why he'd look like that..."
Glancing up at her fuming half-ghost friend, Sam replied skeptically, "So what you're saying is you think that he's just another of Vlad's half-ghost clones of you? Like your cousin Dani with an 'i'?"
"Yes! That's exactly what I'm saying! What else could he be? Vlad probably blew up his own laboratory or rigged that heater to explode on purpose just to make it LOOK like an accident after his newest clone was finished. I bet you anything Vlad's been brainwashing this one so he can't disobey him like Dani did. And causing this accident was somehow a part of it! Oh and if that wasn't bad enough, Vlad's probably planning to reintroduce this new clone to people as his adopted son just to rub it in my face! He'll tell everyone that kid is someone he decided to adopt out of the goodness of his heart from that so-called Mistveil Orphanage place. Pfft, I doubt it even exists just like that one Dalv company that sent my mom some made up invitation that landed us in the Rockies right on top of his lonely rich-man cabin in the woods!" Danny ranted, his eyes glowing green as he angrily paced the length of the room. "Even Vlad isn't stupid enough to think that you can pretend to adopt a kid the same way you adopt a cat or a new puppy. If this one rebels against him like Dani did and I convince him that sticking with Vlad is a bad idea, it's not like Vlad can just pretend things didn't work out and send him back to the orphanage. He also can't destroy him either if he misbehaves, not when everyone believes that guy is a real person from that orphanage. Because if he suddenly disappears off the face of the earth they'll see it as what it is, murder, and Vlad wouldn't risk that unless he was absolutely certain that this clone is stable enough not to begin falling apart like the other failed clones did and is incapable of ever betraying him. I just can't believe he's really doing this again after what happened the last time he tried to clone me. Stupid fruitloop..."
Adjusting his glasses and leaning back in the bean-bag chair he was relaxing in, the ever-reliable Tucker Folly whipped out his PDA to do a quick search and motioned his friends over to take a look. "Hey dude, it turns out that orphanage is a real place after all. Check it out."
Looking at the official web page, Danny's frown only deepened.
"Ok fine. Maybe this place is real but I'll bet you anything that the person in that hospital right now is nothing but another half-baked copy of me. I thought he gave up on the whole cloning scheme after all the other clones melted and Dani got away. Looks like I was wrong. The only thing that could make this worse is if that kid IS a real person and Vlad tried to turn him into another half-ghost by recreating the accident that made us both like this. I'm telling you guys, Vlad's losing it. We have to stop him before he does something worse to the poor guy then just land him in the hospital."
Looking worried, Sam grabbed his shoulder and asked Danny worriedly, "Danny, you're not really thinking of doing what I think you are, are you? Please say no."
Meeting her gaze Danny nodded and answered by transforming into his ghost form. "That's exactly what I'm thinking Sam. I think it's about time I paid dear old Uncle Vlad a surprise visit and put a stop to his plans, whatever they turn out to be and get that guy out of there before Vlad ruins his life too."
Most people hate hospitals either because of all the strange smells and other unpleasant things often associated with them like sickness, laying in bed feeling helpless and often in pain. But Owen, he disliked them for an entirely different reason. The reason why Owen detested hospitals was because they were full of the ghosts of people who had either died in agony or died so suddenly that they didn't even know they were dead and kept wandering the halls, lost, unable to reach out to anyone for help to understand.
Unlike the ghosts Vlad was familiar with, these were earthbound ones that had no true forms like the ones made of ectoplasmic energy in the Ghost Zone. They were like a faded black and white photograph, they were these wisp-like souls that couldn't leave this place because they had long forgotten their earthly attachments to another place that was dear to them or a person and the sad thing was that they were more like mere echoes of themselves. Souls who were unable to find their way to the light, because their minds were forever trapped in a linger daze that comes from dying in a blinding pain or in the time it took to blink once, their lives were snuffed out along with any chance of finding that light on their own. So it was only a matter of time before they were unconsciously drawn to Owen, because for some reason, they've always thought he WAS that light and would beg him for help he didn't always know how to give...
It was obvious that Owen was very uncomfortable being here by the time he regained consciousness again and he wanted to go back to the castle, because even that was better then risking those wandering spirits from finding him in this weakened state. Though this time the clueless nurses blamed Owen's discomfort on his abnormally high fever. And even Vlad was none the wiser because he could not see these other types of spirits. The kind that without any attachment, were lost to the world.
Ever since Owen unleashed that eruption of blue fire from his hands after something deep and unknown bellowed forth from within him, he felt very strange. And the more Owen suppressed that power so the room wouldn't suddenly catch fire or something, the higher his temperature rose, even as he tried in vain to contain it. The doctor did his best to keep Owen from overheating with cooling pads and such, but this wasn't exactly something they could cure with their normal treatments. This had something to do with Owen's powers. The very ones Vlad was so set on bringing to the surface before were now overwhelming Owen's frail mind and body and putting his life in grave danger. Realizing this, Vlad thought it might be time for him to take matters in to his own hands if things continued like this for much longer. After all, he didn't want Owen to die on him. Explaining THAT to the press would be much more difficult. But more then that, the elder halfa felt guilty for not realizing sooner just how broken the boy already was before he further shattered his defenses as if they were little more then glass...
While Owen was most certainly human, it was clear that he possessed powers that were strikingly similar to a ghost's. Even if they were characteristically opposite in nature in that they were designed to combat ghost powers. Owen's abilities seemed aimed more towards repelling and defending against ghosts than possessing any sort of raw destructive power. Aside from his new ability to call forth blue fire of course. Whatever his powers were meant for, they effected Owen in ways Vlad never anticipated mainly because even now, he did not know their true source, only that they were a part of Owen's entire being not unlike his own ghost powers. But whether they had some other source or came from within, that didn't change the fact that now they were slowly killing the poor boy and it was all his fault. And Vlad knew when it was time to make amends, even for his willing committed crimes.
Between doctors and nurses constantly coming in to check up on Owen and change out his cooling pads, there hadn't been a chance to catch Owen alone while he was conscious so Vlad decided to make better use of his time by stepping out of the room to make a few calls and have the damage to his castle repaired. And in the meantime the hospital staff themselves kept chasing off any reporters that blatantly snuck inside and kept trying to get another interview with Vlad or if they were lucky, Owen himself. Because of the odds stacked against them there simply hadn't been any time for Vlad and Owen to talk even when he was awake. And there was so much they needed to talk about too. About what happened, and what needed to happen next.
Eventually they did manage to finally take advantage of a small opening when the doctor was paged and called out of the room to take care of another emergency on the opposite side of the hospital. Thankfully, it was a real one so Vlad didn't have to waste energy overshadowing him or one of the nurses or a patient and fake an emergency. He was sorely tempted to though after how many times they'd been interrupted today. It was hard enough not to catch Owen when he was conscious anyway what with the fever draining what little energy the boy had to stay awake…
"Finally," Vlad groaned in exasperation, shutting the door behind the doctor once the man rushed out and dropped his calm facade. "We're alone at last. I thought that blasted doctor would never leave."
Owen nodded slowly in agreement, having had enough of being poked and prodded and then he looked vacantly out the nearest window while trying to gather his thoughts. It was calm and clear outside, though a bit chilly with the telltale signs of winter coming as if silently mocking how tense the last 48 hours had been for both of them.
"Before you say anything, can I go first? Who knows when I'll pass out again," Owen began with with a calm resigned tone, or at least he tried to sound calm but his voice betrayed his true feelings when it cracked the moment he said, "Next time I…might not wake up."
"Come now Owen, don't talk like that. We discussed this," Vlad scolded, hating that utterly defeated tone in Owen's voice. "There's no need to be melodramatic over a simple fever. Stress weakens the immune system so it's no wonder this fever took a hold of you so easily. But I digress, please go ahead and say what you need to say. I'll listen."
Silently though Vlad added remorsefully to himself, Just like I should have listened when the director told me you've been through the most horrifying near-death experience, one caused by the very hands of your loved ones. My friends may have betrayed me, but they were not the ones who physically struck me down like your parents did. You only know betrayal because the world turned their backs on you, as did your so-called childhood friends, leaving you as desolate as myself. Yet, by choice I have made you fear me as though I am one of the monsters who forced the only people who would never betray you...to forever leave you scarred and as broken as I was in a hospital not unlike this one. To think, that I've pushed you to this extreme for my own selfish ends when I should have known better. I don't know if you can forgive me, but for once I need to put your needs before my own because you did nothing to deserve being treated this way, to be broken by my betrayal when all I wanted was to understand what you are...
"Thanks," Owen nodded gratefully when he finally back to look at him and noticed the dark circles under Vlad's eyes. Looking at the man before him thoughtfully Owen began quietly, "I'm…sorry about all of this. I bet you're probably regretting having ever gone to Mistveil and finding out about me because of how much trouble I've caused you. It's no secret that my life is pretty messed up in ways that no one could ever hope to understand even if...my my mom and dad really had tried to kill our entire family in one fell swoop. Most teenage boys only have to worry about asking a girl out for the first time, having 'the talk' with their dad, learning how to drive a car, taking said girl to the prom; as for me I have to worry about being noticed by homicidal ghosts and every other ghost in the area whether I want to or not. And this time, I was noticed by you. The most perilous ghost of all found out what I can do because I couldn't keep quiet anymore. I brought this on myself. I had the chance to run and I didn't take it. Something inside me kept saying that maybe I could help you overcome that darkness you've been carrying for so long. But I was wrong. I can't save you. I can't even save myself. And now, after two years of watching and waiting for the end, it's finally here. It's over. I can't run from what I am anymore. Just like I can't run from you..."
Raising an eyebrow Vlad scowled and replied harshly, "I see that you're still unconvinced that I have no intention of letting anything bad happen to you. You wound me, Owen. If your senses are as attuned to the feelings of others as you say then you should already know that I have never once so much as thought of killing you. Killing you would be pointless and although admittedly it's true that my behavior recently hasn't exactly proven otherwise, I am not an evil man. I would never stoop so low as to endanger the life of an innocent boy who hasn't done anything wrong or worth hating him for. All I care about is finding out what you are then I am planning on sending you on your merry way. Problem solved. You'll never have to put up with this sort of thing ever again, I swear it…"
"You're wrong." Owen said, shaking his head.
Vlad just stared at him and breathed, "What did you say?"
"I said, you're wrong," Owen repeated as he smiled softly, reaching out to show Vlad the palm of his right hand as he explained what he meant by those two simple yet profound words that Vlad wasn't used to hearing, least of all with such clarity from someone so young. "Last night when I had that last panic attack you held my hand the entire time. I know I wasn't imagining it this time. Duplicate or not, it was like you were right there beside me helping me get through it. And you haven't left the hospital either since we got here." With a chuckle Owen added with a small smirk, "I don't need my powers to know that. I can tell because you look like crap."
Vlad smiled impishly and retorted right back at him, "Trust me, you look much worse my boy."
"Oh yeah? Well, ok you got me there because it's probably true. I'd have to look into the nearest mirror to know for sure though," Owen admitted with a tired shrug. "You know, I can't believe I'm saying this but remember when the nurse's were taking my temperature earlier before they left to go help the doctor with that emergency call?" After Vlad nodded Owen continued with a slight blush, "I remember stupidly thinking about how I've always wanted a cute girl to tell me that I'm hot. All the nurses kept saying I was 'too hot,' and for some reason -even though part of me knew full well that they didn't mean it that way- I began daydreaming about this one girl I had this crush on back in middle school. And I must've had the stupidest grin on my face while I was thinking about her because I saw you snickering out of the corner of my eye. At first, I was angry and embarrassed when it suddenly hit me that you're still here. You haven't left my side since this all started. You're a Billionaire! You could have just as easily called someone, even one your ghost goons, to keep an eye on me instead of staying here with me all night and even during the ride over here in the ambulance." Then with a look Vlad could only describe as warm and knowing as if Owen already understood the answer, he asked gently, "So why did you stay…? Why would you do that if I really mean nothing to you?"
Taken aback by his honesty, Vlad cleared his throat and stood up, taking Owen's hand in both of his and told him what he'd been thinking ever since the moment in question, surprising himself when he answered truthfully in return, "I've been wondering about that myself actually. At first I thought I was merely protecting my investment but, when I saw you laying there, completely helpless, looking over at me -the man who drove you to this- with those utterly terrified eyes that reflected the fear I too once had at the prospect of being left alone I was reminded of the time in my life when I was in the exact same position. I don't have any living relatives left anymore to support me either, and the two people I trusted and loved like they were family, the two that caused the accident that ruined my life were nowhere to be found. I'm sure that with those astounding powers of perception you have you can imagine how frightened I felt back then too when I realized that there was no one to reassure me that I'd be alright." Closing his eyes, Vlad confessed, "I am many things, but even I'm not that heartless. I simply wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did the same thing to you. Because unlike myself, the two most important people in YOUR life, the ones that should be here instead of someone as thoughtless and selfish as me, are gone as well. Not by choice the way my friends were, but because of something truly evil took their lives and left you to fend for yourself in this cruel unforgiving world that doesn't understand that there is more to it then what they can see or touch, a world that for some reason only you can see with clarity, both the beautiful and ugly sides. That's why I decided that I need to be here for you in their stead and get you safely back home once you've recovered. I…Owen, I know I went too far. Compared to everything else I've done, this is by far the worst. In my arrogance, I was blind to the fact that you've been suffering alone all this time too just like I have, only it's much worse for you. You've been bearing the burden of having these strange powers you barely understand, even now, try as you might to pretend otherwise ever since you came into this world. For not realizing that until it was too late I'm truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. I am especially sorry for allowing my greed to harm someone I find myself caring for as if you were my own son, someone worth protecting and caring for. You didn't deserve to be put through all this. Please forgive me."
Owen was about to reply when they both felt a ghostly chill and heard another voice enter the conversation. A voice that this time, only one of them recognized. "Someone you love like your own 'son' huh? What a bunch of garbage! Don't let him fool you with those stupid lies! Trust me. They're as transparent as he is when he's in his intangibility mode!"
Looking over at their unexpected visitor Vlad and Owen saw none other then Danny Phantom floating above the hospital bed in his ghost form, his arms crossed with deeply furrowed brows. Owen of course had no idea who he was and just stared at him, more curious than anything since his presence was very similar to Vlad's. Although his was notably more…pleasant if that made any sense. As for Vlad, since he knew exactly who the ghost boy was he promptly let go of Owen's hand and turned to face their intruder with his usual demeanor that looked eerily calm though only Owen could sense the resentful aura the billionaire was radiating.
"Hello Daniel, it's been awhile," Vlad said coolly, briskly walking over to lock the door before returning to his position beside Owen's bed, his hands held behind his back. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Tearing his gaze away from the ghost boy, Owen looked at Vlad and thought. What's going on? Who is this…? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before. Is this who Vlad was talking about in the back of the ambulance when he was comparing the two of us? I thought only I imagined him saying all that but I guess-
"It hasn't been long enough if you ask me, but given your track record it was only a matter of time before you went right back to your evil ways," Danny scowled and rolled his eyes before sparing Owen a glance and continuing with his little rant, "As for why I'm here, take a wild guess. What're you up to this time Vlad? I mean I've always known you are one seriously crazed up fruitloop, but this whole cloning thing you're so hooked up on is really getting old. Seriously, you know I'm never going to join you but it's like you're this...crazy ex-girlfriend or something that just can't get over that you're not going to be able to get your grubby mits on me without doing something underhanded. I'll give you some credit though, at least you're not sick enough to go as far as cloning my mom. Even you've gotta admit that's creepy. Still, you need to learn to let things go man and not drag innocent people into your petty schemes! I'm not going to let you do the same thing you did to those other clones and Dani. They're not tools for you to use and throw away at the first sign of trouble! You can't force anyone to love you Vlad, because when you try to it's not any more real than they are! It's a lie! So do yourself a favor and stop lying to yourself before you drag someone else down with you this time who doesn't deserve to be another one of your stupid pawns! "
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Vlad sighed heavily. "There's been a terrible misunderstanding Daniel. I know what you are insinuating but I can assure you that Owen is not what you think he is. He's human I'll have you know, though a very remarkable one I'll admit. Normally, I'd be all too happy to fight you and put you in your place, but not right now. I have bigger things to worry about," glancing back at Owen, Vlad smiled knowingly then finished with one of his trademark devilishly handsome smirks, "And being the hero you are you're not going to pick a fight here, in public, at a hospital surrounded by all these terribly weak and sick human patients now are you? If you do then perhaps you're not quite the hero you claim to be anymore then I am the villain."
Clenching his fists, the ghost boy snapped angrily in defeat, "Fine, I see your point but this isn't over Plasmius! Like I said, I'm not about to let you manipulate and trick him into becoming your underling the same way you tried to with Dani and me. At least she was smart enough to realize the truth about you and fought back unlike the other ones who just blindly followed your every command. Clones or not, they never deserved to be used and thrown away like that. I realized after Dani left that those other clones you made were just like her, they never deserved to be used and abused like that like they were disposable, like the pawn pieces on a chess board which are almost always the first ones to go. And before you ask, yeah, big surprise! I actually know how to play chess. Not that you care since I'm always just some stupid kid to you. You might know more about my powers then I do if you were able to clone me like that, but you don't know the first thing about ME!"
Getting rather irritated by Danny's ranting and sensing his anger reaching a boiling point, Owen slowly sat up and snapped, "Hey, ghost kid, I don't know who you are but we've been through a lot the past few days and I for one am not in the mood to deal with any more drama. If you two have ghost-related business to take care of, please take it outside and leave me out of it. That is, if what you said is true and you're here to help me and not just vent about those angry bitter feelings you've been holding back even from your friends. Besides, the nurses will be back any minute to…to…" Before he could finish Owen trailed off, feeling woozy again and covering his eyes when the room started spinning and his vision blurred as if the entire room had tilted to the side.
Worried, Vlad turned around and carefully eased him back into bed then deftly grabbed the button hooked up to Owen's bed to alert the nurses to his condition before it escalated again and looked Danny in the eye before pressing it on Owen's behalf, his expression cold and calculating. Vlad didn't say a word after that and Danny just floated there, dumbfounded for a moment before he eventually turned intangible and flew outside to meet up with Tucker and Sam further down the road to tell them what happened.
It was clear now that Danny wasn't going to get any straight answers from Vlad before the nurses hurried back so he had no choice but to call it quits for now and try again later. But then again Danny was sure Vlad would follow him as soon as he left anyway to settle the score after making those slanderous accusations. And that is exactly what happened. At least, the following after him part that is.
As soon as the nurses hurried back and abruptly chased him out of the room again, Vlad turned back just long enough to meet Owen's tired bleary-eyed gaze before he changed into his ghost-form too and followed after Danny, determined to settle things so that he could return to Owen's side as soon as possible which took precedence over everything else right now. He wasn't about to leave Owen alone again after what he just told the boy, after what he admitted, and become the liar Daniel already saw him as as opposed to the person that Owen was willing to see behind the lies…
