A/N: I'm back. I know it has been a LONG time since I had last posted to this story. I hope the wait was worth it to those of you who follow it. Please Enjoy.
A/N 2: Added a some extra lines. Nothing major, but still something last minute that should have made the final cut but didn't.
Danny Phantom Confessions of an A-Lister
Chapter 10: Confessions of a Jealous Nemesis
Vlad Plasmius watched on the monitors around his personal office as the citizens of Amity Park went about their daily lives. Vlad was sure none of the citizens knew that they were being watched and that everything that they did was being recorded by Vlad for use later if he ever needed some dirt on a person. Vlad knew who was doing what at all times and could even manipulate their lives a little if he chose to. He was the King of this city and these were his subjects…even if they did not know that. Still despite his power and wealth he lacked two things, a wife and a loyal son. Vlad watched as Danny walked hand in hand with his girlfriend Star Knight. Vlad sneered at the happy couple out of both jealously and anger at having lost out on a Ghost Zone betting pool that went well into the millions. Still it was the happiness that the two seemed to be enjoying that galled him the most. Vlad knew that such happiness should be his and that Danny should be his and, most important of all, that Maddie should be his.
A light blinked on his desk and Vlad smiled. He went to a mirror on the wall and pressed a button causing an elevator to appear. Vlad stepped inside and went down the shaft to his lab that was built under the mayor's office paid by the tax payers of Amity Park and walked around the medical tank that stood at the center of the room and tapped on the glass. The being inside struggled to open his one remaining eye. "You know," said Vlad. "I have almost everything that I have ever wanted in life. I have money and power. I have the ability to strike fear in the hearts of my enemies and subordinates. I am for all intents and purposes unrivaled in the living world and the ghost zone. There are only two things that I lack, the first is the Green Bay Packers and the second (and most important of them all) is Maddie Fenton." He looked down at his subject. "Despite my best efforts, it would seem that I'm forever thwarted by Danny Phantom and until he is neutralized, I will never be able to..." Vlad saw that his subject eye was closed and he seemed to not be paying attention. Vlad banged his hand on the glass. "Excuse me," he said. "It is rude for you to fall asleep when your host is telling a story." The ghost in the tank didn't say anything but he did wake up. Vlad smiled. "Good," he said. "Now like I was saying, I won't be able to attain what I want until Danny is taken out of the picture. I have the plan, but I need you to get the material."
The ghost in the tank spoke with a voice that had a mechanical buzzing undertone to it due to damage done to his vocal chords. "As you can see I'm not exactly in shape to do anything right now."
Vlad nodded sagely. "Yes I had noticed that," he said. "But I would not have brought you back from the brink of oblivion if I did not have the ability and resources to not only heal you, but give you armor and equipment along with a major upgrade at the same time." Vlad walked over to a panel and let his finger hover over a red button. "If you meet my price I will also give you the other thing I know you want beyond all other things…Revenge." Vlad regarded the ghost. "Do we have an agreement, Skulker?"
Skulker smiled at him from torn lips. "For what you offer how could I refuse?" Vlad nodded and pushed the button and stepped back. Electricity coursed through the medical tank causing Skulker's diminutive body to spasm as a mechanical laser descended. The laser fired causing the cuts on his body to close and a black opaque ocular device was lowered into the hole where his right eye had been. More mechanical arms descended into the tank and started to attach the robotic components of Skulker's new battle suit. Silver and black pieces connected and were wielded into place and power cables charged the suit to maximum power. Ammunition was loaded into storage areas and bombs were armed. Vlad pressed another button and the liquid was drained from the tank. The tank opened and Skulker stepped out letting the cables snap out of the connection slots shooting steam into the air as his heavy boots made indents on the steel floor.
"Your armor is state of the art," said Vlad pacing around Skulker with his hands behind his back. "The best technology money can buy or that I can steal. Fully upgraded cannons, computer assisted targeting array, fully operational radar, jet pack capable of going Mach 2.3, advanced shield technology," A ding came from the suit and a panel on the side opened up. Vlad smiled and held out a mug. "And a built in coffee maker." Vlad took a sip. "Oh that's good." Vlad cleared his throat. "With this suit nothing in the Ghost Zone can beat you."
Skulker looked himself over and rotated his arms. He opened and closed his fist repeatedly and smiled. With a quick thrust of his right arm a panel on his forearm opened and a laser cannon sprang out. Skulker pointed the laser at Vlad. "Thanks for the upgrades," he said. "But I think instead of helping you, I'll just go get my revenge on that wench Ember and the Whelp and his woman."
Vlad gave Skulker a hurtful look. "Oh butter-snaps," he said in an exaggerated dismayed voice. "My hope of forging an alliance with you has fallen apart because I didn't think to put in an override device in case you decided to betray me or just run off on your own." Vlad snapped his fingers. "Oh wait," he said pulling a remote from his belt and pointing it at Skulker. "I did."
Vlad pushed the button and Skulker felt incredible amounts of pain shot through him. Skulker dropped to one knee and struggled to stay awake. "E…e…enough," he said trying to speak through the pain. Vlad turned the device off and Skulker got to his feet. "You bastard," he said. "You seek to make the greatest hunter in the Ghost Zone your slave?"
Vlad shrugged. "I was thinking something more along the lines of indentured servitude," he said. "You do what I ask and I release you and allow you to keep what I have given you." Vlad put the remote back on his belt and crossed his arms.
Skulker sneered. "Very well," he said. "What is it you would have me do?"
Vlad grinned. "I want you to do a few things for me," he said. "First, and the primary reason I saved you, I want you to track down Desiree and bring her to me alive. I spent far too long looking for her and she has hidden herself very well." Vlad pointed a finger at Skulker. "You are the only being in all the Ghost Zone that can find her."
Skulker nodded. "I am the greatest hunter in the Ghost Zone. She will not stay hidden for long."
"Yes I'm sure you will employ your customary skills in tracking her," said Vlad. "The second thing will difficult but it is necessary for my plan. I need you to head to the source of the Ghost Zone and get me a sample of pure ectoplasm."
Skulker's eyes widened. "You want me to go to the Source? That is full of dangers from animals to strange weather. Only the most powerful Ghosts dare go there."
Vlad just placed a finger on the remote on his belt. "I'm sure you will be willing to brave the attempt," he said tapping the button lightly.
Skulker's eyes flickered to the remote and then back to Vlad. Vlad could see the wheels turning in Skulker's head deciding to either take his chances with Vlad or the Source. "How do you expect me to get there and back? How do I transport it? The Source is highly unstable."
Vlad held his hands behind his back. "The armor I gave you has advance weapons and shielding. They should be more than enough to take on whatever it is that frightens you about the Source. It's not like you need to get all of it, I just need a tiny drop of it…no more than a thimble full really." Vlad reached over to a table and pulled a canister off and tossed it to Skulker. "This is the containment unit for the ectoplasm."
Skulker hefted the container and eyed Vlad warily. "You said you only needed a drop of the stuff. Why such a big container full?"
Vlad's smile showed off his gleaming white fangs. "It is mostly shielding and stabilization equipment in that container. One false move or drop and you could destroy half the Ghost Zone," he said. "So do be careful." Skulker looked the container over then strapped it to his belt. Vlad continued. "After you have secured the pure ectoplasm, I want you to head to Axiom Industries and procure some equipment for me." Vlad pulled a USB Drive from a pocket and gave it to Skulker. "Everything I need is on that drive."
Skulker took it and inserted it into a slot and began to study the readouts. "Is there anything else you would like?"
Vlad nodded. "In fact there is," he said. "I also need your ex-girlfriends guitar. There is a certain function that it possess that I have use for."
Skulker grinned maliciously. "I will enjoy taking Ember's guitar from her cold dead fingers."
"I thought you might," said Vlad.
Skulker's eyes narrowed. "And what are you going to do while I'm doing all of this?"
Vlad turned into his human form and smiled menacingly as he looked into a mirror and adjusted his tie. "I'm going to start to claim what should have been mine a long time ago," said Vlad Masters.
FENTON WORKS
"HEY DANNY!" yelled Jack Fenton bursting into Danny's room. "Time to get up and smell the ham."
Danny groaned and pushed his head under his pillow. "Mmmhph," said Danny.
Jack reached down and pulled the pillow off Danny's head. "Come on son we have work to do," said Jack excitedly. "Its Founders Day and we need to get there early so we can set up our new Ghost Defense and Eradication Education Booth." Jack stood proudly as Danny tried vainly to pull his blanket over his head and tune his father out. Danny had been up half the night dealing with, what was becoming a regular nemesis, Inferno. The fire ghost was still pissed at him for sending him back to Walker's prison and since his latest escape had been trying to kill Danny. The fight had been brutal with the old Amityville Theater being burned down along with a few older stores. Danny shuddered to think about how much money the insurance companies were going to have to shell out. Just as he was going to catch Inferno, the fire ghost had decided that discretion was the better part of valor and escaped after blowing up a few idle vehicles that threatened to hurt some bystanders. By the time Danny had saved them, Inferno was gone.
Danny suddenly felt the blankets fly off of him and he shot up. "Come on dad," said Danny vainly reaching for the blankets. "It's Saturday and I had a late night with my friends."
Jack just grinned and held the blankets out of Danny's reach. "You're young," he said tossing the blanket into the floor. "You can afford to lose a few hours of sleep. Now get out of bed and get dressed." Jack clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "It's time to educate the masses." Danny and Jack heard a ding downstairs. "But first it time for some breakfast ham." Jack jogged out of Danny's room. Danny sighed and fell back into bed. Jack stuck his head in. "Danny…."
Danny got out of bed and began to pulling clothes out of his closet. "Fine I'm going, I'm going."
Danny started putting on his clothes and winced as the soft cloth brushed against a burn on his side he had gotten from Inferno last night. After a separate incident with Inferno a couple of days ago, Jack had approached Vlad about doing a ghost defense booth for Founder's Day and to Danny's surprise, Vlad had given him permission. Jack had come home talking about his good buddy Vladdy and how this was going to help Amity Park fight off the Ghosts. Danny knew that Vlad only gave his father permission to do this so that he could somehow embarrass Jack in front of the town, but Jack was so enthusiastic there was no way to avoid it.
Danny finished putting on his clothes as his eyes drifted to the framed picture of him and Star and smiled. The two of them had been together for the last 6 months and Danny couldn't be happier. School had just started and things were shaping up to make his Junior Year of high school his best one yet. Better yet, aside from Inferno making himself a nuisance and the almost weekly visit from the Box Ghost, the Ghost Zone denizens had been relatively quiet since the Skulker fight. Danny trudged down stairs and helped himself to some breakfast and sat down His father was happily munching on some fried ham as his mom fine-tuned a rather large looking laser gun. Danny hesitated as his mom swung the gun towards him.
"Hey watch it mom," he said ducking.
Maddie Fenton smiled. "Sorry sweetie," she said. "Just testing the optical sites, besides you know this will only hurt rogue ecto plasmatic manifestations."
Danny nodded. "Yeah, them and me," said Danny under his breath.
Jack finished the last bite of his breakfast and took a satisfied belch. "That was good sweetums," said Jack patting his belly. "Just the thing that a man needs before starting his busy day of catching Ghosts." Jack pulled out a notebook and started going over his plans for his booth. "The first thing we should do is a Ghost Blaster firing range," he said eagerly to his wife Maddie. "The sweet feel of the trigger and the thrill of seeing those targets blow up will really get the people interested in fighting the ectoplasmic threats our city faces."
Maddie put a gloved hand on her husband's arm. "Now Jack," she said sweetly. "I don't think it is a good idea to put dangerous firearms into the hands of untrained individuals. Maybe just a nice information lecture will be better before moving on to combat."
Jack shook his head as he looked down the sites of his newest gun the Ghost Destroyer Mark IX. "No better to toss them into the thick of it so we are better prepared for Ecto War I." Maddie gave Jack a stern look. Jack's face fell and he began to pout. "Awww," he said with his arms crossed. "Fine we will just do a lecture."
Maddie's face broke into a grin. "That's my boy," she said reaching into one of the many pockets that were on her hazmat suit. "Here have a cookie." As Jack happily ate the cookie, Maddie turned to Danny. "Is Star going to come over before you leave?"
Danny shook his head. "No she is going to meet us there," he said. "Her Dad got back from Washington and they wanted to spend some of the morning together. I'm just waiting on Sam and Tucker."
Maddie nodded and picked up Jack's gun. "As soon as Tucker and Sam get here head to the booth to help ok sweetie?" she said getting up. "Come on dear, we need to get things ready."
Jack nodded and swallowed his cookie. "Right," he said excitedly. "Let's do this. See you there Danny."
Danny nodded as his parents left and continued to finish his breakfast and a few minutes later heard a knock on the door. "Come in," yelled Danny with a mouthful of bacon. The door opened and Danny turned to see Tucker and Sam walk in.
"Sorry we're late," said Sam. "Tucker wouldn't wake up and it took a call from Valerie to get him to move.
Tucker stifled a yawn. "Come on," he whined. "It's Saturday and we're supposed to sleep in on a Saturday. It's an unwritten rule."
Sam crossed her arms. "Yeah and where did you see this unwritten rule?"
Tucker smiled. "I didn't "see" it Sam," he said. "I heard it because if I had seen it, then it wouldn't be unwritten then would it?"
Sam rolled her eyes and turned her attention to Danny. "So when are you meeting up with Star?"
Danny looked at the wall clock. "In about 10 minutes," he said. "She said she would meet me at Dad's booth after being with her dad and help run things with me. What are you two going to be doing?"
Tucker puffed out his chest. "I'm going to be helping Valerie's dad show off his new Computer processor to everyone. It's a good way for me and Val's dad to bond." Tucker grinned at Danny. "Maybe you should try to bond with Star's dad?"
Danny's eyes widened in fear as images of a military style boot camp ran through his mind complete with Star's dad using him as target practice. "I really don't think I want to do that just yet." Tucker laughed. "So what about you Sam, what are you doing?"
Sam shuffled her feet and rubbed her arm uncomfortably. "I'm…helping my mom give home making tips."
Tucker and Danny's mouth's hung open before they both started to laugh. "You give home making tips?" said Tucker holding his stomach. "That's like asking Dash to teach calculus."
The two boys kept laughing as Sam scowled. "Oh shut up already," she said.
Danny laughed as he looked up at the clock again. "We better get going," he said. "I don't want to keep Star waiting."
The three teens got up and went to downtown Amity Park. The main street had been blocked off by the police and multiple stalls were set up. The town had a festive mood about it as people went from stall to stall listening to the presentations, playing games, or buying food. Danny parted ways with Tucker as they came up to the Axiom booth. Valerie immediately pounced on Tucker for being late as Sam and Danny tried not to laugh at their friend's predicament. Sam's mother soon found her daughter and began to try to get Sam to get out of her Goth outfit and into something frillier and pink. Danny looked around. "I wonder where my Dad's…OOOHHHHHHH." Danny stood in amazement looking up at a twenty foot tall inflatable Danny Phantom Ghost balloon with a big bull's eye painted on the chest instead of his emblem. Danny face palmed. "Where in the world did he get THAT thing?" Danny looked under the balloon and saw the person he was looking for. Star look beautiful with her blonde hair in a ponytail and the ever present orange flower tucked behind her ear.
Danny walked over as Star handed some fliers to people who stopped and stared at the oversized balloon and hugged her from behind and kissed her earlobe. Star smiled and turned into Danny's kiss. "Hey handsome," she said. "If my boyfriend catches you kissing me like that he will get really upset."
Danny smiled. "Your boyfriend is a lucky guy."
Star kissed him on the lips. "Yes he is," she said. "And I'm a very lucky girl."
They kissed again and Danny allowed himself to be lost in her for a moment before they were interrupted. "Ahhh, young love. Such a sweet thing to watch."
The two teens broke the kiss off and Danny instinctively put himself in front of Star. "What do you want Vlad?"
Vlad Masters gave Danny a mock hurt face. "Want…why would I want anything from you."
"Because you're a lonely fruit loop who has only a cat for company," shot Danny.
Vlad grabbed his chest. "Oh that hurts," he said a grin spreading to his face. Vlad turned his attention to Star. "By the way Danny," he said. "You haven't introduced me to your girlfriend."
Vlad held his hand out to shake Star's hand, but Danny grabbed him by the wrist. "Don't touch her."
Vlad smiled. "Your boyfriend's manners are lacking Miss Knight," said Vlad.
"I think they are perfect when dealing with a psychopath half-Ghost," replied Star.
Vlad's face brightened. "Ah, young Daniel has already told you who I am. That is perfect. And what exactly has he told you."
"That you are one of his worst enemies and you won't stop at nothing to make him miserable," she replied. "You try to embarrass him and try to make his mother leave Jack for you. You also made everyone vote for you using your powers."
Vlad nodded solemnly. "Yes that is all true," he said. "I do all of those things and more." Vlad gave Star a charming smile. "Still it is good to finally meet my future daughter-in-law."
Danny got almost nose to nose with Vlad. "Not…going…to…happen," said Danny. "I'm never going to be your son and you are never going to get my mom to leave my dad."
"Never say never, Daniel," he said. "I always get what I want and nothing will stand in my way of claiming Maddie and you."
Danny's fist glowed green. "I will always stand in your way," snarled Danny.
Vlad's eyes locked with Danny's and for a moment Star thought they were going to fight right then and there when suddenly Vlad found himself wrapped up in a massive bear hug. "Vladdy," yelled Jack excitedly. "You made it to the first lesson on how to fight Ghosts."
Vlad felt pain start to enter his lower back and grimaced. "Yes I did," he said pushing against Jack. "Have to make sure that the people are happy and Founder's Day is going well."
Maddie walked over with her arms crossed. "Hello Vlad," said Maddie her voice full of forced kindness. "It's so good to see you today."
Vlad smiled and took Maddie by the hand and kissed it. "Ah Maddie," he said. "As always you are a bright light in a dark world."
Despite her dislike of Vlad, a slight blush tinged Maddie's cheeks before she jerked her hand out of Vlad's. Jack wrapped an arm around Vlad's shoulder. "That's Vlad for you," he said. "Always the smooth talker. I should tell you the story of how Vlad and I…"
"Yes some other time," interrupted Vlad. "I just wanted to stop by and see how things were going and congratulate young Daniel on his relationship with Star. I'm sure they will be happy together."
Jack grinned and hugged Danny around the neck. "Yep he is a chip off the old block when it comes to getting fine women," said Jack winking at Maddie. "Right, Maddie?"
Maddie giggled as Jack took her by the hand and started to spin her around in an impromptu dance. Danny and Star watched as Vlad's eyes flashed red, but for a brief moment Star thought she could see a hint of sadness in them as well. "Yes well I must be off." Vlad looked at Danny and Star. "Until next time," he said walking off.
Danny didn't take his eyes off Vlad until he was swallowed up by the people. "Yeah," he muttered. "Next time."
Star walked up to Danny and held his hand. "What was that all about?" she asked.
Danny sighed. "It just Vlad trying to ruffle my feathers," he said. "Vlad has always tried to get me to be his "perfect" son and take Mom away from Dad. They were in college together and Vlad has had an unrequited love for Mom that borders on stalking. He even named his cat Maddie."
Star shook her head. "That is weird," said Star. "He was almost broadcasting that he was going to attack you."
Danny shrugged. "I know," he said. "Vlad does that because he thinks I can't stop him." Danny cracked his knuckles. "He's wrong."
"Still something was off about the guy," said Star. "The way he acted around your mother was like a snake."
"That's Vlad," said Danny. "Like he said, he won't stop until my mother and I are with him."
"Love does that to people," said Star. "When you love someone or something, you do everything you can to get it."
Danny gave Star a shocked look. "Love?" he said. "Vlad and me and mom?"
Star nodded. "Yeah," she said. "I saw it when he was looking at your mom and dad dancing. Vlad was mad about it, but there was also a little bit of sadness and hurt in his look."
Danny laughed. "That man loves nothing but money and making my life a living hell."
"Then why are you still alive?" asked Star. "From the stories you told me, he was stronger than you for a while, why didn't he kill you?"
"Because he wants a son," said Danny. "Someone he can make like him."
"That's part of it," said Star. "The other part is simply that until you came along, he was one of a kind and being one of a kind tends to increase loneliness and creates a sense of longing for companionship from someone who is like you."
Danny thought for a moment. "Maybe," he admitted. "But that still doesn't justify what he had done and what he plans to do."
Star shrugged. "I'm not giving him justification," she said. "Just looking at what motivates him."
Danny smiled. "Since when did you become a psychologists?"
Star smiled back at Danny. "Keep in mind I am one of the smartest girls in school despite my "ditzy blonde" reputation when I was an A-lister," she said. "I plan to be a councilor when I go to college and try to help students. I figure with my look from both the top of the school's student hierarchy and not being less popular that I can help students who are trying to fit in."
"That's great," said Danny. "I'm sure you will be great at it."
"Thanks, Danny," said Star leaning in and kissing Danny on the cheek. "You're the best boyfriend ever."
Danny's smiled flared brighter for a moment before a serious look clouded his face. "Promise that you will be careful around Vlad," he said. "That fruit loop will stop and nothing to get to me and if that means hurting the people I love then he will do it…he has done it."
Star nodded. "I realize that," she said. "I'll be careful around him so don't worry about me."
Danny chuckled. "I'm always worried about you when I'm not with you."
"Well maybe you should marry me so we don't have to be apart," said Star jokingly.
"I would like that," said Danny. Star smiled and hugged Danny as both teens laughed but the blush in their faces brought up the fact that as juniors that they would soon be adults and going out into the world. For Danny he couldn't honestly see himself without Star and Star had visions of a long happy life with Danny. They both knew that they had a way to go before either of them would seriously consider marriage, but it was something they both wanted and wasn't too far from their minds.
"DANNY!" yelled Jack. "You need to hurry up and pass out the pre-lecture reading so we can educate the masses.
Danny and Star sighed. "Don't worry," said Star. "I'm sure it won't be too bad."
"I hope so," said Danny. "I'm just glad things are peaceful."
The moment the words escaped Danny's lips a scream went out from the people near the Axiom booth. "Ahhhh the new high speed processor that I, Technus, have heard so much about."
Danny hung his head as Star patted him on the shoulder. "You had to open your mouth," she said.
Jack and Maddie rushed past Danny and Star with big guns drawn. "GHOST!" yelled both of the Fentons as they rushed Technus. "Eat hot laser you ecto-based computer Ghost."
Danny turned to an ally way. "I'm going Ghost," he said.
Star grabbed him by the arm and kissed him before letting him go. "Good luck and go get him," she said smiling. Danny smiled and rushed into the ally then flew past Star as Danny Phantom. Star smiled as he fought Technus. "My Hero."
Ghost Zone
"Come on Dez," said Ember. "There has to be something you can do."
The Wishing Ghost Desiree just shook her head and gave Ember and apologetic look. "I'm sorry Ember," she said. "But there really isn't anything I can do. It is against the rules to use my powers to make people fall in love and even if they didn't, would you really want someone to be forced to love you when they might not."
Ember sighed and sunk deeper into the soft futon pillow she was sitting in. Ever since her encounter with Danny Phantom at the bar and when she witnessed what Danny was willing to do for someone that he loved, she had harbored growing feelings for him. At first she had just put it off as a school girl crush or just loneliness taking a temporary hold on her. She had expected the feelings to fade, but they had done the opposite and had gotten stronger. She had come to Desiree for the purpose of trying the get the Wishing Ghost's help in trying to sort out the whole thing and give her advice on approaching Danny. "I wouldn't suggest that," said Ember. "Besides if I wanted to force him, my guitar would do that for me provided there was some attraction between the two of us."
"True," said Desiree. "Which shows me your feelings are true, but I still don't know how I can help you, I'm not a love doctor."
Ember shrugged. "You're the only one I could go to. Kitty's relationship with Johnny is less than stellar and Spectra hasn't had a relationship last longer than a day." Ember shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "And my last relationship didn't end…well."
Desiree held up her hands. "I'm not exactly in a stable relationship myself. In fact I haven't been with anyone in…well it has been a long time."
"I know," said Ember. "I'm just looking for someone to just give some sort of advice."
Desiree gave her a sympathetic look. "The only thing I can tell you is just talk to him. Tell him how you feel and let it go from there."
Ember rolled her eyes. "Yeah with his girlfriend right there with him? I can see how that will turn out."
"You don't tell him when she is with him idiot," said Desiree. "You wait until she is somewhere else and then you talk to him." Desiree rolled her eyes. "It's like I'm stuck in some stupid teen drama."
Ember shot her a mock scowl. "Well I'm sorry that my problems are that annoying."
Desiree and Ember paused for a moment then burst out laughing. Desiree gave Ember a smile. "So what are you going to do?"
Ember shrugged. "I'm not…" Ember cocked her head to one side and listened. "Do you hear…"
Both of the girls turned as something came rolling through the flap of her tent. They both saw a shiny metal ball and before either one of them could react; it exploded in a bright flash of light and sound. Ember and Desiree fell to the ground blind and deaf. Ember tried to focus and vainly reached for her guitar when she felt a cold metal hand grab her wrist and haul her up. Ember's vision swam into focus and she found herself looking into the grinning façade of Skulker. "This is a pleasant surprise," he said. "I didn't expect to find you here." Ember felt a slap to her face. "I thought I would have to wait for my revenge for what you did to me wench, but it would seem that it has come early for me."
Ember felt herself be tossed across the room and land in a heap. She looked up as Skulker grabbed Desiree by the hair and hauled her up. Ember got to her feet and tried to throw a punch at Skulker. "Let her go!"
Skulker dropped Desiree and viscously backhanded Ember to the ground. Ember tasted ecto-blood dripping from her lip and nose. She got to her hands and knees, when she felt Skulker haul her up by the back of the neck. "As much as I would like to take my time with you," he whispered in her ear. "I have other things to do."
Ember spat blood in his face. "Go to hell." With a roar Skulker extended his wrist blade and drove it into Ember's chest. Ember felt a white hot lance of pain flash as she cried out.
"Ah my favorite song," said Skulker. "When I hear you sing it, its music to my ears."
"I doubt you will enjoy the next track then," said Desiree. Skulker turned in time to see Desiree swing Ember's Guitar at his head and connect between his eyes. "But I hear it's a hit."
Skulker faced her without so much as bleeding. Desiree dropped the guitar in shock and took a step back as Skulker casually brushed himself off. "It's a shame," he said. "One of the most powerful ghosts in the entire Ghost Zone and yet you are limited by the need for someone to trigger your powers for you." Skulker slowly walked towards Desiree causing her to back up against her wall. Skulker grinned and with snake like speed, shot his hand out and grabbed Desiree by the throat. "Vlad will be very pleased to see you."
Skulker squeezed Desiree's throat choking her into unconsciousness. With Desiree out cold, Skulker looked back at Ember. A puddle of cyan blood was spreading around her as she crawled towards her guitar. Ember's fingers brushed the handle when Skulker picked it up. "Two items for the price of one."
Ember struggled to look at Skulker. "Wh…why are you doing this?"
Skulker grinned. "Business and pleasure," he said. "Vlad wants your guitar and this wench and has hired me to deliver. Killing you was just icing on the cake."
Ember opened her mouth to say something but passed out before she could utter one syllable. Skulker briefly toyed with the idea of taking her head, but decided against it. He didn't want to have her staring at him all the time. "I wish you would heal," he said absently hefting Desiree in one arm and Ember's guitar in the other. "I would have enjoyed making you suffer longer."
As Skulker turned and flew out for Vlad's portal, he didn't notice a brief flicker of energy leap from Desiree's hand and encase Ember for a moment. Ember's eyes opened for a moment as she watched Skulker walk out the hole in Desiree's wall with Desiree swung over one shoulder and her guitar over the other as she finally slipped into the sweet embrace of darkness one thought came to her mind. Find Danny Phantom.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the newest Chapter. I'd like to thank all of you who stuck by this story despite the long hiatus that it went through. My college classes the last two years have been stacked with many 20+ page essays that required me to read many books. It left little time for writing and when I did have time, writers block or just writing fatigue would hit. I cant promise that I will update anytime soon, but I will try. Thank you to all of my readers and please leave reviews.
