Very long chapter, it could easily be two, but what the heck!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Appearances are deceiving, there's no 'can be' about it.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally I realized that I had to land. I didn't know how long I had been flying, but a very deep exhaustion had settled into me. My legs almost gave out when I landed, but I leaned against a tree for support and looked around.
I was in a small clearing in the middle of some forest. If I had felt lost before, it was nothing compared to what I was now. There was no sign of human life anywhere. I looked down at my black and white costume and my eyes focused on the DP symbol. Sam- how could she have given up on me so easily?
I sank farther down the tree, not even feeling my back scrape against the bark. What now? I had nowhere left to go. Everyone was gone. Vlad… I dropped the ground with my head in my hands. Vlad was dead. I had killed him. I had killed him. How could I have done that? I didn't mean to. I didn't want to. Right?
My stomach flipped over as his lifeless body floated in front of my eyes. It had to be an accident. He was old. What was he thinking anyway? He knew that he was close to dying, but he still attacked me. I had to fight back. Besides, I had a lot of new powers that I couldn't control yet.
But something activated the power. It wasn't just an accident. I shut my eyes and listened to the silence. There wasn't even the sound of my heartbeat. I forced myself to remember what I was thinking the moment… the moment I killed him, just to figure out what had caused the blast.
"It was because of you that they're dead. Because of you…" His hands tightened… I wanted him to let go…And then…
It was instinct. Some sort of ghost reflex that I had no control over. So Vlad died because of an unknown feature of my ghost half. But that wasn't what bothered me. I knew, that some small part of me enjoyed killing him. It loved watching the man who had caused me so much pain finally choke on his breath and end his life. And there was nothing I could do about it. I wasn't a hero anymore, I was a murderer.
Suddenly everything cracked down on me and it was too much. I took a deep breath and screamed. My powers went bezerk, following the same pattern as my emotions. Trees burst into green flame and then froze, the ground in front of me shook and was blown away and I ended up floating in the air. Ghost energy streamed from my every pore, like my body was trying desperately to rid itself from my other half. Strange beams and powers revealed themselves. Flashes of color in green, black, and red.
I stopped, panting and exhausted, but I was still in my ghost form. Even after using up all of that power I still had more. I landed and forced myself to change back. After the shift at first nothing happened. Then gravity, which I had been free from for a week, slammed into me and knocked me onto the ground. My body couldn't take the pain and I blacked out.
When I woke up I was screaming Sam's name. I had had a nightmare, and it's meaning was extremely clear.
I was standing at the front of an altar, wearing a tuxedo. The crowd was full of people who looked ecstatic. I smiled widely, getting caught up in the mood. It was my big day, my wedding. Then she started down the aisle, Sam Manson holding her father's arm and smiling back at me under her veil. The church lit up with a magnificent light as she came down the long path.
Then I noticed that the faces in the crowd weren't ones I recognized, and the happy smiles were now almost sinister. I tried to get Sam to notice, but she was too excited to look anywhere but at the front of the church. And she was going so slowly. Even the priest seemed to be looking at me like I didn't belong there.
Suddenly there was a horrible pain in my back and I turned my head and stared into Tucker's smiling face. He pulled a knife dripping with blood out of me and said, "Oh, I stabbed you. It was only an accident though." I couldn't stand to look at him, and tried desperately to make it to Sam. My feet took me a few steps towards Sam, who was still too far to reach, before I collapsed facing my murderer and the altar.
My body was frozen and I could do nothing but watch as Sam finally made it up to the front, looked surprised for a moment at seeing Tucker instead of me, but accepted him anyway. It was like she couldn't see me lying still in the aisle. As they kissed I tried to close my eyes, but they refused to respond. Then Tucker glanced at me, smirked while still holding Sam, and plunged the knife with my blood on it into Sam's back.
Then I found myself lying on the ground of the destroyed forest back in reality. My body was shaking uncontrollably, and I wished that I had taken the clothes Jazz had offered before I flew away. I forced myself to stand and stretch, before changing into my ghost half. Tucker was going to pay for what he had done, I was sure of that now. Promises meant nothing anymore.
I looked around at the destruction again, trying to decide how to react. Ashamed or… impressed. Then something strange caught my eye. It was daytime, and the sun was shining, but there appeared to be a dark hole in the air. I walked toward it slowly, stepping over fallen trees. It was about the size of my fist, and about three feet off of the ground. I kneeled down and gasped as I realized that it was a small portal into the ghost zone.
Memories of Dan Phantom came back, and I realized that I must have accidentally made it. I put my hand on the edge of the opening and concentrated. I could feel it widening and focused harder. A black glow surrounded my hand and the portal grew until it was as tall as I was. Excitement filled me. I could go into the ghost zone and find Sam's portal, then Tucker would be in for a nasty surprise.
But wait, there were flaws. Vlad never seemed to realize that if he had killed my father then my mom wouldn't turn to him; she would hate him, especially after I told her that Vlad was Plasmius. Even after twelve years Sam and Tucker would recognize my ghost form. Also there was the disturbing fact that Vlad had aged five times faster than he should have in there.
I glanced around the clearing, then at the portal. Nothing mattered anymore, not even my own life. I had nowhere else to go anyways. I stepped through the hole in the air and pulled it closed behind me.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
As I floated through the endless purple and green void I realized that ghosts were staring at me. They had been before, but this time I could here them whispering my name. How did so many of them still recognize me? Every now and then I'd see a ghost vanish as I approached, and I was beginning to get annoyed.
Just as I was deciding that I wasn't going to put up with any more whispers I ran into a few ghosts who hadn't realized I was coming. I was suddenly bashed in the side of the head with something heavy. I glared at my attacker and realized that her green hair and red coat looked very familiar. "Kitty?"
She blinked and said, "Danny?"
There was a creaking noise behind her. "Who is it?" Johnny 13 said. I looked past Kitty and saw Johnny exactly like he had been after Dan Phantom had hurt him somehow. Clockwork couldn't stop him from becoming bound to a wheelchair with his shadow on his lap. "Well if it isn't Danny Phantom. I suppose I should be surprised you woke up, but I always figured you would."
"How did you know?" I watched Shadow's eye's focus on me, but instead of looking ready to fight, it seemed bored.
Johnny laughed. "We may be ghosts, but we still talk about what's going on. Practically every ghost in the zone lined up at the portal to visit a Phantom free Amity Park." He noticed that I was focused on Shadow. "I got in a cycle accident a few years after you fell asleep. Apparently ghosts can't break their spines without bad side effects." So I've been pretending to be a blanket for this cripple ever since.
I blinked and looked around. That wasn't Johnny or Kitty. Shadow was staring up at me again.
"So when did you, um, get up?" Kitty looked like she had just seen a ghost, no joke intended. "I mean, you've been out for so long, things must seem pretty different now." Wow, thanks for stating the obvious.
"Yeah, things are… different." The voice could hear what we were saying quite clearly. Was it Shadow?
'Bingo. I'm bored with the Broken Biker and Hello Kitty. Trust me, they are not a couple you want to spend an eternity with. Something's different about you, something that I like. Mind if I join you?'
"Hellloooo! Danny! What's the matter with you?" Kitty waved her hand in front of my face and Johnny suddenly looked very suspicious. "You spaced out for a while there. So how are things out there in the land of the living? John and I don't get out there very often, especially since we don't know where the portal is anymore." Whether she meant to or not, I felt like she was purposely mentioning my parents' death.
"Kitten, you know he probably doesn't want to talk about it. He came in here for a reason after all." He looked up at me. "So how's it going hero? Still feel like it's worth it to protect a city that forgot about you as soon as you left? A world that hurt you when you did so much for it?" Johnny smiled wickedly. "Even your girl?"
I was seething. Shadow's voice pierced my anger like a needle. "Listen Danny, I know that you're sick of being to good guy. I'm sick of doing nothing but warm a ghost's lap. Your power, your anger, I haven't felt anything so strong in decades."
"You honestly think you're better off than me?" I said, smirking. "You live in this empty void while I can travel between both worlds. I can do anything I want, while you- well, you're stuck in a wheelchair. Even your shadow doesn't feel loyal to you anymore."
Suddenly Johnny realized that what I said was true. "Shadow, don't think about it…" I heard him mutter under his breath. Then he swore loudly. "Stupid thing, how dare you break our connection!"
'Now or never Danny. I can change your appearance and help you like I used to help 13. You need help, I can tell. Let me join you. Please!' It sounded desperate.
"Fine!" I said out loud. Johnny grabbed Shadow and tried to stop it from leaving, but the dark ghost just slipped through his fingers and launched itself at me. Before I could stop it the ghost surrounded me. Black smoke swirled around my frame, and I could feel it seeping into my costume, changing it. Even my hair changed. "And for the finishing touch." Shadow settled itself on my back and became a cape.
Johnny and Kitty stared at me with their mouths open. "Wow, and I thought he was good looking before…" Kitty said. Johnny glared at her and then at me.
"First my Shadow, and then my girl? You're going to pay Phantom." Kitty came to her senses and grabbed Johnny's wheelchair. They came towards me, which didn't seem very frightening until Kitty pulled an ectogun from her purse and handed it to Johnny. I tried to put up a shield, but nothing happened.
'Your powers are drained. You didn't happen to destroy a large area all at once in a fit of anger, did you? I suggest flying away.'
I turned and flew as fast as I could just as an ectoblast almost hit my head. Doors sped past and I had to dodge them all. Finally I remembered that I could open portals, but my shield didn't work, so would my other power?
'Look, I did say I would help. I'll go distract them while you open a portal.' Shadow slithered off of me and transformed into a silhouette of me. He waved and took off in a different direction, taking Johnny and Kitty with him. I stared at the space in front of me and focused on making a portal.
First a shield appeared when I opened my palm. Then when I waved my hand in a circle a spiral shaped blast destroyed a nearby door, and although that was cool it wasn't what I needed. I focused on creating the green mist a portal had, and brought both my hands together. Suddenly I could feel the edge of the air in my fists, like silk, and I pulled it apart.
A portal appeared. I grinned and floated in front of it, until Shadow said, 'Good, great, you got it.' And slammed into my back, shoving me through the portal. 'Now close it.' I tried to grab the edge of the portal, panicked when I couldn't, focused, and tried again. This time I was able to hold onto the silky air and pulled it shut.
'Ah, the human world. So many things to destroy. Too bad this place looks like someone else already did it in.' I turned around and suddenly wished I was back in the ghost zone. Books were scattered over the floor, and I recognized the green and gold room. Somehow I was back in Vlad's house.
Then I saw my reflection in a cracked mirror. I didn't recognize myself. Shadow was a red and black cape that went almost all of the way down to the ground. My hair was still silver-white, but two blood red streaks came down and covered some of my face. I had slightly sharper canine teeth, but there weren't any other changes to my face.
My costume was what surprised me. Where it had been white it was now the same red as my hair. Where red met black there was almost a fiery look, like the red was actually flame, and the gloves were only red around the edge, the fists were black. My white collar was also red, but the red extended down my chest and covered up the emblem I had had for so long. I gently touched the face in the mirror and the glass shattered as if it had finally served its purpose and could break.
I was about to turn away when I noticed a lock behind the frame of the mirror. Curiosity won and I turned the safe lock intangible and pulled the door open. Stacks of hundred dollar bills sat in front of me. Ideas began forming in my head. Sam and Tucker would never recognize me now, and I had the money to start a life for myself. Because before Sam could turn to someone after her husband's death, she would need someone to turn to. Danny Fenton may no longer exist to her, but there were an infinite number of other names I could choose from.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sam and Tuck's POV"In other news, Multimillionaire Vlad Masters was found dead today in his Wisconsin Mansion of unknown causes." Tucker glanced up from his laptop to watch the news, which he rarely did. "Much of his house was also destroyed, but many investigators say that the explosion which killed Masters was not responsible for most of the damage."
The screen changed to show a nervous looking man. "Well, many of the rooms appeared to have more controlled scorch marks. Some of our rookies think that the Wisconsin Ghost who was said to haunt these halls caused it. Personally I believe that Masters was insane, and did the damage himself. A guy can't vanish for ten years and come back with his brain intact." Back to the newswoman.
"Vlad Masters left no will, so his fortune will go to charities and to the government." Her face showed quite clearly that she thought the money should be spent in other ways. "More at eleven"
Her co-anchor began with a new story. "For some lighter news, we'll take a look at what's going on in the international small breed dog show. The champion this year is Pookie the Second, who's owner is Das-" Tucker flicked off the TV in disgust. He never liked how the news people could talk about death and dogs with the same tone of voice.
Sam came downstairs and said, "What's wrong? You look like someone died."
"Someone did. Vlad Masters." Sam's eyes widened at familiar name. It brought back so many memories.
"So Danny's archenemy is gone at last." Silence filled the room. "Did it say how?"
Tucker shook his head. "They just said unknown." His thoughts were locked on Danny too. How would his friend react to everything if he woke up? Tucker thought. He had given up hope on Danny ever waking up, but now he wasn't sure that Danny should anyway. What would happen when he found out his parents and Vlad were dead? Or that Sam and him were married? Tucker decided he didn't want to find out.
