Roanoke
By Lacey52
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
A note: Okay, so about Danny…Think of red eyes and a scythe like in the first Freakshow cartoon, hair like from Micromanagement, and a completely black suit minus the DP symbol…I think he'd be rather scary no? I don't know about you but I'd probably pass out.
Oh, and please remember that Time passes however Clockwork wants it to. It might not be time like we think of.
Hm, oh, this is getting intense my friends…Hope you enjoy!
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Chapter Seven: Convolutions
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"My Lord," one of his many servants appeared before his bed, hesitantly waking his master in dire fear of being eradicated, "My Lord, something's happened."
"What," Vlad growled as he turned in his bed to face the cowering ghost-creature he had engineered, "It had better be good to wake me so early in the morning. I despise rising before ten on Fridays and you'd do well to remember that."
The purple ectoplasm burning around his first had the ghost dropping to the ground, shying away from the sight, "The portal in the Fentons' house was just activated. I didn't get there in time to see what did it, but that Manson girl, that one that was always following the halfa, she went through it in some sort of machine."
"Samantha went into the portal," Vlad rolled this thought delicately through his mind, "and she went alone. Did the Fentons' just allow her to go?"
"No, they broke down the door right before she managed to get out," he gained confidence as his master sounded more and more interested, "They were practically begging her not to go. There was also an ectoplasmic disturbance visiting several places around town right before she left. It visited her last, then headed in the same direction she did."
"Interesting," Vlad dismissed his servant with a shot of fire-like purple, then rose to greet the day, "Very interesting indeed."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Tucker stood, chest heaving, at the door to Fenton Works, his blood rushing in his ears and feeling as though he might loose his heart it was beating so fast, 'I hate her right now for being such a fast runner.'
The door was ajar, and she had obviously already passed through as black smudges of mud in the shape of boots covered the stairs and entryway. Tucker cursed lividly and pushed open the door, hearing several shouts from down in the lab. Jack and Maddie were furious about something, and were hopefully venting their frustration on a very contrite Sam.
Then again, as Tucker entered the lab and found Maddie and Jack yelling at one another, he realized that luck had never truly been on his side.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Plasmius sat in his own lab, pulling up every file he had on Samantha Elizabeth Manson and pouring over them. It was not like the girl to impulsively run off into the ghost zone unless someone was in danger, or she herself had very good reason for doing so. She was level headed, and had shied away from the Fenton household after Danny's disappearance.
For her to return there after so long and go into the ghosts' world alone…
"Samantha, Samantha, what have you found?"
He had been watching her, keeping an eye on her. If there was one person in the world who could possibly find Daniel Fenton it would be her, and for that reason he had begun to study her. She would succeed where the Fentons would not because of her relationship with the boy. Knowing her would allow him to see when she changed, when she started to act differently. Acting differently would indicate one of two things; she had either finally given up, or she had finally found him.
'Acting impulsively is a good sign that something has happened…' he sat back in his chair, chuckling to himself as he looked over her latest online conversations with Tucker Foley and Valerie Gray, 'Roanoke, a school history research paper…and it was actually done by Pariah Dark. I would have never guessed, but that is of no matter. Her interest and mine only turned up this fact, and a distant ancestor who was present when the second colony was built. It is far more interesting that something so drastic has happened.'
"Fright Knight," Vlad stood and the ghost appeared before him, "You will accompany me to the Fentons'. I have a feeling that something of benefit is about to happen."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Yeah, that's right, she went through the portal."
Tucker was getting an earful, as a tired and irritated and worried, Valerie chewed him out on the other end of the phone. She was stuck in the hospital until that evening, and had no way to repair or retrieve her hover board until then.
"No, I don't know," he sighed as he listened to her anger turn to fear, "I'm sure she's fine Val, she's been in the ghost zone more times than you have. No, not really. Just get some rest and we'll get her out. We can…I'm sure. No sleeping now…"
The gentle teasing had both their frayed nerves at rest for a moment, and they said their goodbyes. The Fentons had finally stopped their yelling and the blaming of one another. The world wasn't exactly at peace, but it was close enough for Tucker.
"You don't have anything else that can help me get around in there?" Tucker was ready to get on his knees and beg, even though he knew that if the older couple had something, they would have already been gone to find Sam, "Please tell me you have something?"
"We don't have anything Tucker," Maddie held a hand to her chest for a second as though her heart hurt, "I don't even have any plans thought up for alternative transportation through the ghost zone."
"We can make something though," Jack placed a massive hand on the boy's back, "It might not be perfect, but it will be something."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"We're almost there. We'll go in, destroy anything that looks like it could help them find young Samantha, and then I shall go in and follow her to wherever she might be. Knowing them, they'll be working on something even as we speak."
"Yes, my Lord. It shall be done as you wish."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"We're almost done. We'll go in, use the Boo-merang to hone in on Sam after we recalibrate it to pick up on real world items, and then get the heck out of dodge."
"And give her a serious talking to."
"Yes Tucker, a very serious talking to."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Done!" Jack Fenton stood proudly, holding up the jet-pack-like creation, "I'll call it the Jack-Pack!"
"That's nice dear," Maddie smiled as she pulled it out of his hands, "The Boo-merang has been recalibrated, and I'm ready to go. I shouldn't be too long."
"Mrs. Fenton," Tucker stepped forward hesitantly, "I don't think you should go. I think…I need to find Sam."
A momentary understanding was passing between the three and before the equipment could change hands again, a sword split the Boo-merang and a heavy blast sent Jack flying across the room into the shelving that held various odds and ends. Tucker found himself being pushed back by Maddie as the Fright Knight swung heavily at the pair. Vlad appeared a moment later, cruelly smiling straight at Tucker as he destroyed the only chance he had at reaching Sam.
"Too bad it will not be you who finds young Samantha," he laughed as their faces first fell, then tightened in fury, "It is also too bad that I will not be staying to kill you. I have a girl to find and something to gain."
"No!" Tucker tore himself out of Maddie's grasp and lunged as Vlad flew into the portal. He would die kicking and screaming, float through the ghost zone if he had to, before he would allow Vlad to find Sam first.
The Fright Knight flung him back, nearly as hard as he had thrown Jack, and proceeded after Plasmius. It wasn't even nine in the morning yet and Maddie found herself crying silently, stoically as she looked after the injured pair.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
With his servant guarding the portal on the ghost's side, Vlad was guaranteed that no one was coming in, and certainly nothing that might give aide would be able to get out. Hours passed as Vlad weaved his way through the ghost zone, questioning whoever happened in his path. Few ghosts had seen her, but they were easy enough to get to talk. A few threats and a little coercion and they were more than willing to point him to the south.
This would be far easier than he had originally planned, and certainly more than worth his time, as several ghosts had mentioned that the human child had been asking after Danny Phantom again.
The castle in his path intrigued him, and so carefully slipping inside, Vlad was pleased to find no one home. He had done his research and knew as soon as he saw the viewing portals that he was in the home of the Time Ghost. It would behoove him greatly to not be caught, but the largest portal loomed before him, with a very interesting timeline.
He saw many things, before he made up his mind to reach for a medallion, but mainly he saw his wildest dreams coming true, a boy who looked ridiculously like Daniel doing the dirty work of Pariah Dark, and Sam Manson staring in horror as that same Danny look alike advanced on her.
"Soon Danny," Vlad smiled as he slipped the heavy medallion over his head, "Soon you will work with me, America shall belong to the Masters, and the world will be right."
He had never felt more confident in all his life as he leaped into one of the time streams that had been left open.
"Not yet, but soon," a chuckle sounded from around the corner as an ever changing shadow loomed, "Now, and soon, and then. And only after, will the world be right."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Don't you dare scream," he growled out as his frozen breath raced across the side of her neck, "I swear Sam, if you scream I'll…I'll knock you out or something."
The hand slowly slid away from her mouth and time sped back up, unfreezing from the never ending fifteen seconds Sam had felt stuck in when he had slipped a hand over her mouth and pulled her further into the shadows. He had pushed her against the wall, and Sam wasn't sure if she was dead, hallucinating, or so angry at him she could hit him. Instead she had settled for a vague feeling of shock and decided to deal with reality later.
Later, apparently, came now after only fifteen seconds respite.
"Sam?" He was looking slightly worried, which also looked rather strange because of his darker appearance and red glowing eyes, "I didn't break you or anything did I?"
That stupid, blessed statement was so like Danny that tears and laughter bubbled out of the poor, abused girl before she could bring her hands up to slap over her own mouth. Wide, fearful eyes turned in his direction to gauge how displeased the ghost was at her outburst. She was shocked again to see mirth dancing in those familiar, unfamiliar eyes.
"Sam," he brought a black gloved hand up to her face, gently pushing a strand of hair from her forehead, "Please tell me you're my Sam, not some ancestor or something weird like that."
"I…I don't think any of my ancestors are in America yet," she shakily got out, half afraid he was just messing with her, half desperate that he wasn't, "Especially not in Roanoke."
She grabbed his hand and latched onto him, not caring if this was some evil version of her halfa, not caring if he was about to kill her or do something terrible to this place. The only thing she cared about was being near him, finally finding him, finally being able to rest and never having to run again.
Let the others run, she'd never do it again if she could help it.
"Sam," his voice broke, the ghostly, echoing tone causing her to burrow further into her protector, her friend, and possibly her enemy, "Sam you can't be here. You can't."
And suddenly he sounded so angry.
Everything rushed back to her in that moment. He had been violent, threatening, scornful. He looked different, scarily so. He could very possibly not care anymore, he could just be in a state of confusion because she had been found here of all places. Just because he had made one or two statements that sounded like he was still himself didn't mean anything, and she could very possibly have been hugging a ghost that could go homicidal on her at any second.
She pushed him back, trying to get away from him then, but he had grown, and was definitely a lot stronger than she was now. Trying to jerk away didn't work either as the wall was to her back. The hand that she had been holding twisted roughly to catch her wrist, and held her firmly in place.
'This is no time to panic,' Sam grew still, trying to be as passive as she could, and after a moment his grip loosened on her wrist, 'Think this through, okay. He obviously recognizes me, that's good.'
"Sam, don't fight me," Danny's voice cut through her thoughts, commanding and different because of how serious he sounded, "I don't want to end up hurting you just because you're freaking out on me or something."
"Danny," she spoke his name, and after so long it felt like dust in her mouth and rust rolling off her tongue, "Danny please, just let me go."
"If you promise not to freak out on me again," he backed up, then pushed his hand roughly through his two-toned hair, "What's with you, first you hug me, then you push me…I don't get it, what the hell are you doing here anyways?"
"Just calm down okay," she didn't know what was going on, as he bounced between concerned and angry, "No need to get upset."
"There's plenty of need to get upset," he was close to shouting, but still hadn't quite gone past a normal voice for fear of waking the people, "You're here, and damn it, you're scared of me Sam!"
She was about to retort, but found herself staring into blazing, angry red eyes, fists that were starting to glow slightly green, and a man, not a boy, dressed all in black. Her jaws clicked shut, and a weak, "I am not," found it's way to both their ears.
Danny chuckled. Sam glared. Things were starting to balance themselves out between the two, but the tension was still tangible.
"Can't really blame you I guess," he sighed suddenly and frowned, "I know I look different, but it's just a trick…I can change back anytime I want to…except for right now because I'm on the job."
"On the job?" Sam looked up at her best friend, a frown marring her face as well, "but then…that means. No."
'Danny can't be the ghost,' her mind had put the pieces together easily. He was here, in Roanoke. He had a job to do. He looked very different, so different that if a person didn't know him well enough, this Danny and Danny Phantom might look nothing alike. So different that Pariah Dark might not figure out in the future who the boy who beat him was…
"Uh, Sam?"
"How can you be working for Pariah Dark!?"
Danny had never looked more confused or scared in all his life.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Vlad was in time. He was falling into it and he could see it all. The glorious future he was about to make for himself swam before his eyes as he forced himself to recall the name of his ancestor who had been lost in Roanoke some four hundred or so years before.
Jonathan Ezekiel Howe, son of George Howe who had been killed by the Native Americans early on in the town's formation.
What a prize was to be won…falling, floating, feeling…Time.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Time out."
And the world froze.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Every time we open the door he's there," Tucker turned to help Valerie down the stairs, as the crutches for her sprained ankle weren't the easiest thing in the world to get used to, "We can't get into the ghost zone to go after Sam, but on the upside like Mr. Fenton keeps saying, at least nothing has come out."
"This is ridiculous," Valerie's face twisted in pain as she bumped her injured foot, "I hate this! Why can't we do something! Sprained ankle or no sprained ankle, I'm going in."
"And get yourself injured worse?" Tucker angrily berated her, "He was toying with the first time, he'd kill you this time Valerie. I'm not about to loose another friend!"
Both their eyes jerked down to the phone clenched in his hand as it started to ring.
"Hello?"
Tucker just listened and answered two questions, "Yes, I know where she's at…She went into the Fentons' ghost portal."
Valerie and Tucker looked between themselves, then over to the questioning eyes of the Fentons who had been on the phone with Jazz.
"The Mansons are coming."
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"How in the world could you possibly know that?" Danny took a step away from Sam, "What is going on?"
"I…I went looking for you and I eventually found Clockwork, or he found me…and then I ended up here," Sam turned her head away from him, tears threatening to fall again, "You were in my room. You came back, and you were too much of a coward to even show your face."
"Sam, I…"
"Two years, Danny."
"I know."
The silence returned, and it was hateful. The dark felt suffocating, and Danny knew that something had to be done. A green ball was soon hovering between the two strained friends, lighting the small area they shared as he had done earlier with his fist, "I learned a few new tricks."
Silence still, though her eyes were now on the light in front of her.
"Sam, I know I was gone, but I had to…I've been working for Clockwork," he took a deep breath before he continued, thankful that she was looking at him again, "He came to me and told me what needed to be done. I went to work with Pariah Dark after I learned how to change my appearance. I hated it…but the thing I hated the most was loosing my emblem."
His hand rested over his chest as he looked almost pained for a moment, "If I didn't get in with Dark, and if I don't do this tonight, things will go wrong. Terribly wrong, as in, the United States won't be the United States."
"What do you mean?" her eyes slid between him and the ball of light, "How could the United States not be the United States Danny?"
She heard him draw a deep breath. The truth was about to come out about everything that had been happening the past few years.
"If Roanoke doesn't go missing, it will grow into one of the largest cities the New Colonies' will ever have. It will also have one of the most influential families, very powerful politically and all that. The American Revolution will never happen because the Howe family, who currently lives in Roanoke, will marry another old family…the Masters."
Sam stared in disbelief, 'Vlad…'
"With those two families together, there was enough political and military backing to put down the rebels who wanted independence. Vlad's ancestors would eventually inherit North America as Lords and Ladies under England's rule. Their decedents, Vlad included, would be reaping the benefits…and life would be horrible. We'd basically be living under a despotic rule."
He could see the questions boiling behind her eyes, and was prepared to answer as best he could. He was ready for anything, up to all her questions…
"Did you actually just say 'despotic'?"
…except for maybe that one.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
Sitting around the portal wasn't doing anyone any good.
The Fentons' were busy trying to figure out new ways to get past the portal's newly acquired guardian. The only problems being their lab was completely wrecked and Fright Knight had the most advantageous position. Their planning session was slowly starting to wind down, and soon they would settle back into silence or bickering. Tucker didn't think he could handle either.
The Mansons, who had been demanding answers for the past two hours, were running out of steam or tired of being ignored. Tucker and Valerie had done their best to fill them in on what was going on, but it hadn't been enough. The worried parents were now starting to withdraw into themselves, worrying about their only child who they might never see again. Tucker didn't think he could handle seeing them like that much longer.
Valerie was outright pissed. Angry at Sam for going off alone, angry at the Fentons' for not being able to get to her, angry at Tucker for not being able to stop her, angry at the Mansons for not realizing their daughter was running off. But through all her bluster and anger, Tucker knew she was raging at herself, furious that she hadn't been there. Tucker didn't think he could handle watching Valerie silently blame herself.
Tucker didn't think he could handle what he was feeling right then, so he sat silently. He was frustrated, worried, and angry, just like the rest of them, but there was something else in the mix. They all felt guilty sure, but he was pretty sure that he was the only person in the room who hated someone. He hated Danny right then, more than he ever had before…and Tucker wasn't sure that he could handle that, so he didn't.
He instead buried his face in his hands and started to pray.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Listen, Sam," Danny shook his head as he laughed off her question, "I got that drilled into my head by Clockwork, and just because I haven't gone to school in two years doesn't mean I haven't been learning stuff. You'd be surprised at what I know now."
It was the wink at the end of his statement and the suggestive way his voice came off that had Sam's back stiffening, "I don't think I need to know anything about that."
"I was just teasing," he sighed, "I haven't exactly had time to do anything but shape Time and learn stuff."
"Why couldn't Clockwork have gotten you to do all this, then put you back the day he had taken you?" She hadn't meant to sound so hurt, especially when he was trying so hard to lighten the mood, but it was what she felt, and Sam had given up on hiding it from him, "Why couldn't you have just come back to me…to everyone."
The glowing light floated between them, gently pulsing from time to time, burning but never burning out as Danny contemplated her question, "Clockwork said that something would happen that would prevent me from returning the same day. He also said it was unhealthy for a normal human, or almost-normal human, to stay outside of time for as long as this would take."
"Oh."
"I wouldn't have done this if I had had a choice," Danny stuck a finger into the light and watched it swirl around his hand, "I would have never left. I miss you."
"I miss you too," Sam said as she reached out towards the light, ready to stop if it hurt her in any way or if Danny warned her off. Instead he smiled gently and pushed it towards her. Surprisingly, it was cold. Nearly all other ecto-energy she had come into contact with had been warm, the ghosts themselves being what caused the temperature to drop.
Seeing Sam shiver, Danny answered her unspoken question, "I trapped some energy in tiny ice crystals, so they just float there. The crystals make it brighter than if I just let energy float…that's probably why it's cold."
'This is nice,' Sam thought as she withdrew her hand, 'I'm here, yeah, but that doesn't matter…Danny's here.'
"You need to go now," and his hands were around her medallion and jerking it over her head almost before she could process it. She slammed her hands down on his own, forcing him to drop the medallion back onto her chest. He was annoyed, but she didn't care anymore, "Sam…"
She was still Sam Manson, and he was still Danny Fenton and Sam was never afraid of Danny, nor would she ever have reason to be. He was still himself, and she was about to tell him off.
"You won't touch it, and I'm not taking it off," she pushed his hands away, "I wasn't going to take it off until I figured out what was going on. Now I'm not going to take it off until I can get you back home."
"Sam," he laughed, "I have a job to do, and Time isn't always with me…I'm with it. I have a pendant too, and as soon as I get done I'll take it off and then figure out how to get back."
"Danny you've been gone for two years," she was getting upset now, remembering what he had said in her so called dream the previous night, "You could be gone for five or ten more!"
"It doesn't matter Sam," he sighed and stood, and she angrily followed suit, "I have to get this done tonight, Pariah's orders, I don't have time to argue with you. You can either leave or stay and watch me do this."
"Do what?" Sam started to realize what he was about to do, but wanted to hear it coming from him, 'Have you really changed so much?'
"I'm going to destroy their town, and pull them into the ghost zone," the light flickered out and once again they were left in moonlight and shadows, "Now either move so I can start or take off your pendant and leave."
"You're Danny Phantom," Sam stated in disbelief, "You wouldn't just sacrifice innocent people."
"You already know why I'm doing it Sam, I have to."
"You would never have done it! The boy I knew would have tried to figure out a way around this!"
"You don't think I've tried?" He sounded hurt now, "Don't you think I've done everything I could to get out of it? I've begged and pleaded with Clockwork, but he's shown me every, single, stupid outcome of me not doing this. I can't not do this, Sam. History can't be written this way…"
"Then change it."
"I won't."
"So you'll just throw away one hundred and fifteen adult lives, and two babies?" Sam was nearing tears as she remembered her research, remembered names, remembered the numbers.
"How did you know that?" Danny was nearing critical as the weight of what he was going to do and what he had done hit him. He had never known how many until now, and he never thought it would scar him so badly.
"Answer me! You can't just go out there and kill them!"
"Watch me!"
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
"Time In."
And the world moved.
.o.O.o.o.O.o.
