[Author's notes: So, you say the 16th and I say what about the 10th? I must say that I love a challenge. Again I'd like to thank everyone for reading so far this story has been put onto 33 peoples alert's page, which is fantastic (seriously thank you everyone), but with the volume of visits it receives there are many more who check in regularly to see if it has been updated. Thank you everyone.

Unfortunately I have come to realize, with the completion of this chapter, that Glint of Gold is almost through. It has been a blast. One heck of a ride. I might be able to squeeze two more chapters out of the story but believe me that the end will be worth it. As the timer ticks down the plot points will be wrapped up in a nice bow and I've still got one more shock left for you. So please enjoy the 7th chapter of Glint of Gold and I'll see you in the next chapter before Christmas. Will it be the conclusion? We'll just have to find out together.

I don't own Danny Phantom or related materials.]

Glint of Gold

Chapter 7

"Nothing?" Danny asked with disbelief, "You're not going to help at all?"

Clockwork went about the process of rebuilding his Hall of Time while paying little attention to Danny or the others.

"No." Clockwork replied, not even looking back.

Sam walked up and stood behind Clockwork, "But why? You've helped before and with situations less dire than this. This affects us all. It could be the end of everything that we know."

Clockwork let the huge gear that he had been floating back to its place fall to the ground with a large clang and turned to face Sam.

"I am well aware, Sam Manson, of how dire this situation is; more than you could possibly comprehend," Clockwork said looking deeply into her eyes, "But I cannot help. This is something that Danny must do, on his own, for all our sakes.

There is a power inside Danny that can defeat any foe. When we first met it was in its infancy and could easily have been destroyed, as we have all seen, but now it has begun to manifest itself and he must embrace it alone. I cannot help him in this."

Danny chuffed, "More riddles, I should have known."

"Great, another waste of time." Ember added, and turned back the way that they had come, heading for the Mach2.

Slowly the others turned to follow her. Danny waited for Sam. He took her hand, stopping her, and looked into her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Danny said emotions welling up inside, "I shouldn't have left on my own."

Sam gave him a little smile, "No, you shouldn't have, but if I got mad every time you rushed off to save the world I'd be pretty neurotic by now."

"I know." Danny said giving her a sad little smile, "I don't know where I'd be without you but I do know that I wouldn't be the person that I am today."

Sam blushed and playfully slapped his chest, "Oh stop. Now you're just embarrassing me."

"No I mean it." Danny said changing back to his human form and reaching for the box in his jeans, "This isn't the time or the place, and it definitely isn't how I planned it but God knows if I'll get another chance and I don't want to end up waiting too long again."

"What are you talking about?" Sam asked quizzically.

Danny got down on one knee and held the box aloft. It contained a single diamond engagement ring with a braided gold and platinum band that was engraved inside with a simple message: I love you Sam.

Sam would have gasped but she was having trouble drawing breath. Tears began to well up in her eyes.

"I can quip with my enemies without a problem, but I've been thinking about this for months and I'm still not sure what I should say." Danny said, nervously, "What I know is this: As long as I draw breath I will love you and as long as I love you I want to be beside you. Samantha Manson, will you fill my life, however long it maybe, with more joy than man should be allowed to know? Will you be my wife?"

Tears began to flow down Sam's cheeks and she urged him to his feet.

"I know it's not the best ring and it's not really your style" He stammered, "but when I saw it I thought of you, of us, and I ended up having just enough..."

"Shut up." She told him, laughing, crying, and grinning, "Of course. Yes, Danny, yes!"

"Yes?" Danny asked in disbelief, a grin breaking out on his face.

He kissed her, she kissed him, and they held each other laughing and crying.

Clockwork looked at the happy couple and let out a sigh that was a mixture of relief and remorse.

"Danny" He called out to them and without letting each other they looked back at Clockwork, "I have one more thing to tell you. Call it an engagement gift. Seek out the' spark of creation' within yourself and others. It will guide your destiny."

They thanked him and, after Sam slipped on the ring, the two strode away to rejoin the others, leaving Clockwork to mull over the weight of all possible realities.

Alone again in the hall of time Clockwork sighed again.


Danny and Skullker, on Valerie's flying surfboard, flew in front of the Mach 2. From inside the Mach 2 came a chorus of screams and giggles as the girls marveled over Sam's ring.

Skullker turned to Danny, his voice box was not quite repaired, and though still a bit glitchy he spoke up, "Thanks for that Ghost-boy. Now I know what I have to look forward to if we manage to make it through this alive."

Danny laughed, "I guess you won't be throwing me a bachelor party then?"

Skullker thought it over, "Maybe, but I will be using you to blow off steam when I've heard 'but the Ghost-boy and the Goth-girl are getting married' for the 700th time."

Danny laughed again, "Deal."

Despite Vlad, despite the capture of their parents, despite everything, he was happy to the point of being giddy, and he didn't care if it was inappropriate or inconvenient because his mind was clear for the first time in days and he knew where to find Vlad. No need for an extensive search or tracking down someone to take them to Vlad and the exhaustive battles that would follow. They could jump straight to the boss battle even though Vlad was sure to have surrounded himself with foot soldiers loyal to his cause. Still the sooner ended the better.

Skullker looked back at the Mach 2 and saw that Ember was busy studying Sam's ring. Dismayed he turned back to Danny.

"So, what do we do now?" Skullker asked, suddenly restless and ready for battle again.

Danny replied without hesitation, "We take the fight to Vlad."

"And where will he be? How are we going to find him?"

Danny looked at Skullker with confidence, "Where else could he be? We head for the lair of the Ghost King."


He couldn't help but be reminded of the last time he had made a raid on the lair of the Ghost King. The circumstances had been similar, Amity Park and his family's safety in the balance, but more than that was the amount of ghost activity around the lair. An army of ghosts, all ready to do Vlad's bidding, stood watch outside of the massive castle and all of the way up to the gates. Inside the new self-styled Ghost King, Vlad Masters, waited to finish Danny off.

Last time he had used equipment to boost his power level in order to get through to the Ghost King and defeat him, but his current power level was well above even that mark and he was confident that it would work out.

The Mach 2, guns blazing, did a bombing raid as Danny and Skullker dropped into the thick of a group of ghosts. Danny immediately split into four and began to decimate the ghost army ranks in separate directions. Eventually they had opened up a space large enough for the Mach 2 to land in after its third bombing run. The girls piled out armed to the teeth and firing into the group of enemies in front of them while Danny and Skullker played defense, keeping the area around them clear. Together they made their way to the castle gates which lay open before them; inviting them to enter. The main hallway was empty so the girls turned around and fired at the mass of ghosts that followed them while Danny and Skullker managed to close the massive doors.

They took a moment to catch their breath.

Ember expelled a lungful of air as she wiped sweat from her brow, "Oh my god, its so much easier being the bad guy!"

Valerie laughed; she'd never spent this much time with ghosts that didn't involve battling them. She was beginning to understand why Danny had a problem with her style of ghost fighting. She hadn't thought that talking to them might even be an option, but in the car, all of them marveling over Sam's ring, she had seen Ember as just another girl. Even though she had seen Ember at her worst and she was one of Danny's worst ghostly enemies, but Ember even went so far as to offer to play at Danny and Sam's wedding. Maybe when she returned to her life in Wisconsin she'd try talking to the ghosts, or at least some of them.

Just as they had finally caught their breath their shadows suddenly darkened and then reached up to trap them. Johnny 13's pet unlucky shadow fully formed around them drawing Skullker and the girls together but keeping Danny separate. It smiled a toothy grin at Danny who struggled to no avail.

"I wouldn't try your little glowing trick if I were you, Danny." Johnny 13 said from where he leaned on a nearby pillar, "Did you happen to notice this hallway is lit only by torchlight? Shadow's more powerful the darker it is and even if you are able to get free he'll squash your friends before you can stop him, little buddy."

Danny stopped struggling, but the golden glow had returned to his eyes, "Johnny? You're working for Vlad? Why? Don't you realize he'll destroy both our worlds?"

Johnny 13 kicked off of the pillar and shrugged. He walked up to Danny and threw back his hair.

"It's like Ember said, 'It's easier being the bad guy'. Now let's not keep the boss waiting."

Johnny 13 set off, his pet shadow unceremoniously dragging them along, heading for the throne room. Two ghostly traitors opened the large doors in front of them and ushered them in, closing the doors behind them. Vlad sat center stage in a crudely fashioned throne. He looked too comfortable in it, and Maddy Fenton and Mrs. Manson were chained to the foot of the throne like trophy slaves of a barbarian king. Danny and Sam's fathers were chained to the sarcophagus of the Ghost King behind Vlad. Jack Fenton was the worse for wear. His clothing was torn and his face looked as if it someone had taken a rusty cheese grater to it.

"Mom! Dad!" Sam screamed, struggling to get out of the shadow's grasp, "What have you done to them Vlad!"

"Sam?" Mrs. Manson asked, terrified to see her daughter in what she had become convinced was the pit of Hell.

Maddy Fenton strained against her chains trying desperately to get to her children.

"Danny, Jazz!" Maddy pulled madly at her chains, "Let them go Vlad!"

"Mom!" Jazz yelled.

"Mom, is Dad okay?" Danny asked.

Jack Fenton raised his head, "I could really go for a ham."

Jazz smiled, "At least Dad's okay."

Vlad stood and looked down at them.

"Yes, your idiot father is fine for now," Vlad explained, his self satisfied grin maddening, "That will soon change for you all though."

Danny struggled against the shadow, "You wanted me Vlad and now you have me. Let the others go!"

Vlad laughed, "Oh, my dear boy, I didn't want you. I wanted you out of the way. I'm afraid you've got it all wrong.

Now that I have you though I can't help but remember all of the trouble you've caused me over the years, and I think I might want to play with you a little, or better yet..."

Vlad turned to the others and continued, "I might just play with them while you watch."

"No!" Danny screamed as he continued to struggle.

Vlad gestured and the shadow slid its tail around everyone but Sam and separated her from the others. Sam looked at Danny with terror in her eyes.

"I think I'll start with your little Goth girl." Vlad laughed evilly pointing a hand at Sam.

"NO!" Danny screamed, breaking through the shadow just as fire began to erupt from Vlad's outstretched hand heading straight for Sam.

Again it seemed as if time had slowed for Danny and he rushed in front of Sam. No time to shield them he would take the blast for her. He would save her by taking her place. He closed his eyes and let his love for Sam be the only thing that mattered to him at that moment. He was enveloped in a warm peaceful calm that spread out from his very core. He embraced the warmth and let it fill him as he waited for Vlad's final, killing blow.

It didn't come and Danny opened his eyes.

Time hadn't simply seemed to have slowed for him; it had actually stopped all together. The flames lay less than six inches in front of him, frozen in mid-air as was everything else.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever show up." Said the voice of a man from somewhere to the side of Danny.

Danny stared at the man. He was obviously someone who was use to hard labor, short and stocky with close cropped hair over a lined but not unpleasant or hard face. He was wearing a flannel shirt over jeans but his feet were bare and everywhere his bare feet touched, as he walked over to Danny with no sense of urgency or hurry, was replaced by a spreading white void.

Danny looked around himself and at the man, asking, "What's going on? What's happening?"

The man smiled pleasantly, in a grandfatherly way, and stuffed his large hands in his pockets.

"What's happening is that you've passed into a higher plane of existence." The man told Danny.

Danny looked at the man and asked, "Am I dead?"

The man ran a hand, laughing, through the flames in front of Danny and they disappeared along with Vlad and the others.

"No, you're not dead." The man assured him, "I've been waiting for you to show up so I can help you to get back and repay you for all the help you've given me."

Danny looked at the unknown man puzzled, "What help have I given you? I've never met you before."

"Sure you have." The man said.

The looked at Danny, laughed and shook his head.

"You really don't recognize me, do you?" the man asked.

Danny shook his head.

The man laughed again.

"Okay, but I really didn't want to have to do this." The man said with a grin as he raised his hands above his head, "Beware!"

[Final thoughts: As I finished this chapter I thought to myself of how close to the end of the story I was getting and it made me kind of sad. I've enjoyed the time that I have had with you, dear reader, and I can't say that I want that to end but it wouldn't be fair to you to just let this drag out for forever. You deserve to see this through to the end, and while I know that I can always write other stories, this experience has been utterly fulfilling and, even though I might see you all on another fic, nothing is ever quite as good as the first time. Thank you all for this wonderful experience and all of your beautiful words of encouragement.

If you enjoy Glint of Gold please check out some of my other fics: A New Beginning, Once, and Henchman: the Revenge of 21.

Also be on the lookout for my novel Gaia Rebirth hopefully to be released at the beginning of the year.

Thank you]