Chapter Nine: Things Happen

**Jazz's POV**

My conversation with Sam honestly lasted longer than I expected. I was surprised at some of the answers she had given me considering that I wasn't expecting them to be truthful. I hadn't exactly wanted to analyze their relationship but to give Sam a chance to have one of those feminine moments that she seems to despise. Whether she wanted it to be true or not, all girls had their moments and some needed to vent. Being one of the few females that Sam actually hangs around, I decided to be there for her, and I had made it known to her.

The two of us had a good laugh at Danny's expense and Sam even opened up to me about their relationship beforehand. I had always known that Danny was clueless, but never to such an extent. I couldn't help but tell Sam, now that I could, that Danny had felt exactly the same way. The conversation continued well on into the morning to my surprise. My mom and dad had both awakened, one coming from upstairs and the other from the lab.

They stopped when they saw each other, my mother from the bottom of the stairs that led to the upstairs bedrooms, and my father from the kitchen which led down into the lab. My dad had a hopeful gleam in his eye, but my mother just ignored it and walked into the kitchen. I sighed, knowing that this was not helping my dad with his out of control emotions, but a part of me felt that he deserved the cold treatment. Besides, it's not like my mom went to stay with her sister like last time. That made me feel hopeful.

I covered my mouth as I felt a yawn coming my way. I had been up a lot longer than I'm used to, and I knew I had to get some sleep. Sam smiled at me, the conversation we just had still lingering in her head.

"Get some sleep, Jazz. Your parents are awake now. They've got this."

"I hope so. That fight they had was pretty nasty."

Sam didn't respond to that with words, but instead her gaze went over to my parents. Both of them were in the kitchen. My mother was making a light breakfast and my father, well, he was just sitting at the kitchen table. I sighed and shook my head. I needed my rest, but I knew I couldn't sleep all day.

"See you later, Sam." I said as I nodded towards the younger girl.

She gave me a reassuring smile and I headed up to my bedroom to prepare for bed. The first thing I did though, was set my alarm clock.

**Jack's POV**

I had thought I did a pretty good job when I apologized to my wife, but I knew I couldn't expect her to come around so soon. She was devastated at the horrible things I had said. Even so I was hopeful. I had gone to sleep in the lab, though a part of me had a feeling that I had forgotten something. I frowned as I tried to recall what it was, but there was no use. Meh. When I came up the stairs and into the kitchen, I wore a small smile on my face. It would hopefully help Maddie forgive me sooner. She had always said it was my smile that attracted her.

When I reached the entryway to the main room, I saw my wife at the bottom of the stairs and the children that littered the room. I smiled at Maddie, but she didn't seem to acknowledge me. I could feel my heart ache at the treatment that she was giving me. I just looked down at the ground and let her into the kitchen. She muttered a simple morning to me and I nodded in her direction while turning back to her. I took notice of the children for a moment, but they didn't seem to notice me, at least that was what I thought.

I watched as Maddie began to make breakfast. My intention was to help, but the moment I tried, I was turned down silently. The only thing I could do was just sit in the kitchen and watch helplessly as the woman I loved decided my fate. She just ignored my presence as she continued to walk around the kitchen preparing eggs and toast, and something that I knew was for Sam.

"Maddie," I started, trying not to sound as pathetic as I felt. "I really want to help."

She looked at me for a moment before she sighed. She rubbed her forehead and looked at me patiently. I merely kept my mouth shut to give her time to think. I honestly didn't know what to expect from her. She was being difficult, and rightly so. I admit that I was most likely not her favorite person in the world at the moment.

"Get some milk out of the fridge," she stated before turning back to the oven.

Immediately I hopped up from the kitchen table and began to do as I was instructed.

"On it, baby!" I shouted happily as I opened the door to the fridge, nearly breaking the handle.

I don't really think Maddie took notice of this because she didn't tell me to be careful or anything. Happily, I removed the milk from the fridge and put it on the kitchen table. Maddie tended to the eggs while I merely stood there, waiting for anything else my wife may have wanted me to do. When she said nothing more, I felt myself become upset. She was still angry with me, I knew, but I had hoped that she would be more...tolerant this morning.

I sat back down at the kitchen table and continued to watch her. A few minutes later and the eggs were ready, but it seemed that Maddie had neglected to retrieve plates to put then in. Taking this as an opportunity, I once again stood to my feet and walked over to the kitchen cabinets which were hung over the the sink. I grabbed enough plates to compensate for myself and the children, then I stood near Maddie, holding the items carefully in my hands as to not break them. Maddie turned to me and for a second, I thought she was going to smile at me for being considerate, but I was wrong. She merely took a plate and put the food on them which I then sat at the table.

The last plate was clearly for Sam considering that there was nothing that could honestly be deemed as food. There was some Fenton Toast, but that was the only real food I could identify.

"Is that...grass?" I questioned, trying to elicit some reply from my wife.

Maddie just gave the food an odd look before shrugging.

"Danny bought it just in case Sam were to stay overnight," she answered simply.

Well, it was a start at least.

"Maddie, I-"

I hadn't had time to finish my statement. An explosion was heard from the lab and the house went dark except for the sunlight that flitted in through the windows.

"The generator!" Maddie shouted as she quickly reached in the FFKWD or the Fenton Family Kitchen Weapon Drawer, grabbed a flashlight, and ran down into the lab with me hot on her heels.

Normally a generator is never supposed to be installed in the house, ever, but our generator isn't harmful nor does it run on gas. It was an earlier invention of Maddie's which converts a ghost's ecto energy into fuel to run at least half of the electronic devices in our household. At first the generator sucked a ghost dry, but when Danny came clean about being...well, Danny Phantom, he provided the generator as well as other ecto-powered items with his ectoplasm.

"Impossible," stated Maddie as she looked at the generator which was located in the far back corner of the lab.

I couldn't help but agree with her statement. The generator was smoking, most likely from a small explosion emanating from the inside. I rubbed my wrist through my black gloves, and watched as Maddie began to run her gloved fingers gingerly across the item.

"It would seem as though it's been completely overloaded."

I looked at Maddie as she looked at me, finally, with some emotion. Sadly, her emotion was of worry and fear.

"But that would require some major power. Not even Danny had enough juice to get this baby workin' full power, and he's a level eight on the ecto-scale!"

Maddie nodded her head at the observation before she folded her arms over her chest. She stood beside me and began to think. I too, began to think, but it didn't take much for the two of us to come to a logical conclusion.

"Dan Phantom," we muttered simultaneously.

"But he couldn't...not without our sensors picking up on him, right?" I asked with a shake of my head.

"He has the properties of Danny's ghost half as well as Vlad's. It would have registered under Vlad's ghost half since his ghostly traits were never recorded as a friendly."

"Then again...he's been in the lab enough times to have changed something to his liking, especially with everything Danny's told us about. His ability to duplicate himself..."

"...Would allow him to be in our sight while being in an entirely different part of the house! Jack, if that's true then not only could that dark alternative form of our son get into the house undetected, but it would also allow Vlad's clone to-"

"-Enter your home without the two of you being the wiser."

That voice was the last one I wanted to hear.

"Vlad," I snarled angrily before I felt a sharp pain in my chest; my vision growing dark.

The last thing I heard was Maddie screaming my name before the silence beckoned.

**Alucard's POV**

"The name is Alucard, you simpleton."

Really, was it that hard to comprehend? I was not Vladimir Masters. I was created from his DNA in order to act as his apprentice so to speak. It was an act of vanity and loneliness that brought about my existence, but I do exist as my own being. A being who was specifically created with the title of Alucard. I find the name hilarious though oddly fitting when considering my creator's appearance, at least in his ghostly form.

Vladimir, or Plasmius in ghost form, looked more so like a vampire than a ghost. His hair was turned upward like devil horns and was jet black with a simple gray streak running through the middle of it. His skin had been an aquamarine blue color and his eyes had been an almost demonic red. His canines were sharpened to perfection; the perfect teeth for piercing some poor fool's neck. He didn't wear a black suit thinking that it would be much to gaudy with his current appearance. No, he wore a white cape lined in red velvet which was clasped to a matching white tunic. Beneath the white tunic he wore white tights which were tucked into black boots.

Now, as a vampire-esque ghost, the name Vladimir was definitely considered a joke which prompted him to use the name Plasmius instead which, in my honest opinion, was a bit more discreet than Vladimir or Vlad, though there was still a pun there to those who aren't complete and utter morons. Vlad resembles a vampire in his ghost form, and vampires are notorious blood suckers. Plasma is the fluid part of blood thus the name Plasmius. My name, though I look nothing like a vampire in my Pre or Post transformation, is merely the name of a very famous vampire spelled backwards, but I digress.

"Jack," shouted Maddie who had promptly made her way over to the oversized pumpkin on the floor.

The oaf didn't respond, though I knew he was not dead. No, that would serve me no purpose. I was here for one thing and one thing only. I turned away from Jack and the woman of whom I shared Vlad's feelings for, and with my ghostly vision I began to walk forward.

"Freeze you putrid pile of ectoplasm!"

I sigh and shake my head as I continued, though the sound of a weapon being cocked gave me momentary pause.

"Please Madeline. You and I both know how this will end. I will walk out of here successful, and you will either be unconscious beside your husband or you will stand aside and let me get what I want."

"I don't think so."

"Perhaps you do not think so, but I know so."

I didn't have to turn around to feel Maddie hesitate, nor did I have to turn around to realize that the two of us were no longer alone. With a slight smirk on my face, I reached into my core to activate my ghostly powers. A red shield appeared around my being just as a green blast of energy came my way.

"Danny, trouble!" shouted Samantha as the orb of energy ricocheted off my shield and back towards the source.

"Cute," I merely stated before I finally found what it was that I had been looking for.

I floated over to the far side of the wall and pressed around while being bombarded by two very feisty females and their toys. They were causing my shield minimal damage, but that was before a third person joined our little party.

"Where's Danny?" I heard Samantha question.

"Both of them are occupied with other things right now," was the reply from one Tucker Foley.

I heard Samantha mutter something while Maddie constantly bombarded me with her attacks. My concentration, clearly divided, caused my mind to momentarily overload and my transformation occurred. My white lab coat and hooded shirt were replaced with a white hooded cloak. Beneath the cloak was a dark gray, skin tight leotard with a black sash my waist. On the side of my arms and legs where the seams were had thin wires which glowed a vibrant red. The wire also contained material which absorbed my body heat and amplified it. It's more useful than one thinks. From the middle of my chest down to my belly button was a longer wire which was golden in color and did the same thing. Like Vladimir, my hands were covered in black gloves and boots. My hair, like Daniel's, had gone from black to white during my transformation.

"You idiots do not know who you are dealing with, but I will be more than welcome to show you exactly who I am."

With a flourish not unlike Vlad, I removed my cloak and turned to face everyone who had graced me with their presence. My eyes flashed magenta while I let my energy flow outwardly. I saw Madeline hesitantly take a step back while Samantha gasped and Tucker squeaked in fear. I then saw the look in their eyes change. It seemed that they had no intention of backing down. That was certainly fine with me. My purpose was clear. It was my time to shine.

"Fools," I stated as the wires on my leotard began to grow extremely hot.

I smirked as I took note of Madeline's confusion. The heat in the lab was rising and she had no idea where it was coming from. Her momentary confusion was all that I needed. I attacked.

"Mrs. Fenton!" the children cried as I grabbed her by her wrist and tossed her into the wall.

I had something much more..luxurious in mind for her. I then aimed my blood red blasts at the children who seemed frozen to the spot. I smirked, but the smirked was almost instantly wiped from my face. Samantha and Tucker were both pushed out of the way by Jasmine who had also managed to dodge the blast.

"Where do you little nuisances keep appearing from?" I growled angrily.

"You're in our house, you jerk. Where do you think we're coming from?" Jasmine responded sarcastically. "Are you two alright?"

"I'm still breathing if that's what you're asking," replied Samantha while Tucker gave a simple nod.

If it had been completely dark like I had wanted it to be then I would have been in and out as easy as one two three. Angrily, I turned to Madeline who had the flashlight in the first place. I then turned back around towards the table which housed the flashlight. She had positioned it so that the light was aimed towards the ceiling which illuminated the immediate area. I aimed my animosity and ecto-blast towards the flashlight, instantly extinguishing the light.

"No fair!" I heard Tucker shout in response to me taking away their sight. "He can see in the dark!"

"Quite right, my dear boy. The game is over and I am the victor. You should have stayed where you were."

"BACK UPSTAIRS!" I heard Madeline yell, but it was much too late for them.

I watched as Jasmine felt around for the others to pull them towards the steps, but she stumbled herself due to her rising panic. I felt a malicious grin tugging at my lips as I took aim for the three children. The light from my hand illuminated my face, and I watched as the children watched me, frozen to their spot like statues.

"Night-y night, children!"

I fired my blast, my aim being straight and true, but something very...unexpected occurred. If I hadn't been there myself, I wouldn't have believed it. My blast hit...something and fizzled out. I wasn't the only one startled by these events.

"What just-" started Tucker only to be cut off by Samantha.

"Are you really about to question our luck, techno-geek?! Up the stairs, let's go!"

Samantha pushed Tucker while Jasmine pulled him up the stairs, at least until he found that moving on his own was much more effective.

Out of my peripheral vision I saw Madeline off to my left with Jack in her arms. She had put a belt, most likely a Specter Deflector, around her husband's waist. That meant that I couldn't touch him, but it didn't mean I couldn't blast him to kingdom come.

I turned to the couple, confusion and annoyance etched into my face. Madeline merely frowned at me, and I felt my composure slip. I hated seeing that look on her face, especially when it was directed at me, but for the moment it couldn't be helped. I turned back to what I had been doing at first, and threw caution to the wind. I thrust my hand forward and released a barrage of ecto-blast towards the Fenton Ghost portal until I hit my mark which was the ecto-filtrator. I heard Madeline scream because she knew what I had done. I smirked before I turned invisible and flew towards her. I grabbed her by her shoulders, ignored her struggling and turned us both intangible. I then flew us through the floor while the Fenton Portal began to malfunction.


**Dani's POV**

I had been sleeping pretty well despite my place on the floor. It was cozier than what I was used to so I couldn't complain, especially when I had a choice on where to sleep. I had my own room at Fenton Works after all. It had been a storage room at one point, but Danny and Jazz helped me clean it out when Mrs. Fenton offered me a place to stay, at least when I was in town. I was so used to being on my own that staying with the Fentons, though a dream come true, was out of the question. I was an explorer by nature, and to confine me was...well, not at all something I would recommend. Mrs. Fenton was disappointed, but she understood.

Anyway, I had been sleeping good until my ghost sense alerted me to something nearby. Honestly, I was hoping that it was the Box Ghost so I could just ignore it, but there was an instant when I heard an alarm go off. Good ole Boxie didn't really set off red alerts so I knew this was important. When I opened my eyes I noticed that Danny was already in ghost form, though he was slightly hesitant about leaving. Sam had been resting on the two seat chair that I had seen Jazz in before I went to sleep, and Tucker was leaning over the armrest of the couch, snoring it up. I was going to volunteer going out to see if it wasn't someone like Skulker or something, because I could handle the self-proclaimed greatest hunter of the Ghost Zone, but when I looked out the window, my voice got caught in my throat.

"Dark Phantom's makin' a house call?" I asked curiously as I changed into my ghost form while Danny snapped out of, well, whatever.

He gritted his teeth together and flew through the side of the house, closest to where Dark Phantom was located. It took me a moment to decide on whether I should follow him or not, but in the end I did, but only because the moment Danny stuck his head out of the window, Dark Phantom knocked him clear across the front yard.

My eyes flashed vibrantly as I flew with my fists out in front of me, clenched in a ball and glowing green. Once I flew through the side of the house, I came up behind the Dark One and held my hands together over my head before I slammed them down on his head. He took the hit directly and was sent hurtling head first into the ground below. I watched him from my spot in the air then looked towards Danny for a moment. Danny was standing now and was glaring at the spot where Phantom had landed.

"Nice," I heard Danny say, though he didn't avert his gaze and his tone wasn't jovial at all.

"Thanks," I muttered as my attention went back to the hole in the yard.

It had only been a few seconds before Phantom began to rise from where he had landed. I floated back a few paces and shook my head. He looked as though my attack hadn't fazed him at all.

"Though I don't think it did much," I said with a disbelieving shake of my head.

Just then, Phantom began to spin in place. I had no idea what he was doing until his ecto-blasts began to fly every which way. Danny and I were stuck partially dodging attacks and throwing up shields to protect Fenton Works and other residences in the immediate area. Suffice to say it hadn't been enough. Danny had to duplicate himself and I ended up expending more energy than I wanted to by using my ecto-blasts to counter and extinguish Phantom's before they could cause too much damage.

This process went on for about ten minutes due to us not being able to get close. Both Danny and myself were tired and frustrated. I had an idea, but it would leave Danny picking up my slack. I looked towards Danny and give him an apologetic look which resulted in him looking confused before he shakes his head. I merely shrug my shoulders and turn intangible.

It was a reckless move, I know, but I had to get Phantom to stop with his attack. There was no better way to do it than to get in close and make him hurt. With my plan already underway, Danny had no choice but to really stay quiet otherwise I could get hurt. I sigh at the slight guilt I feel, but hopefully my actions would succeed, ya know?

Intangibly, I made it close to Phantom who hadn't taken immediate notice of me. That little fact brought a smile to my face. Taking a deep breath I began charging energy into my hands and my feet. I then move closer and closer to the deranged phantom and point both hands and feet at him, releasing all the pent up energy that I stored. Phantom yells in, what I can only guess as anger and pain, and his attacks cease as well as his spinning. Luckily for me though, my attack pushed me away from my target which meant I was out of physical reach.

Danny floated up beside me and hit Phantom with his icy powers which caused Phantom's front half to freeze over. Before Phantom could break free of the ice, however, both Danny and I launched ourselves forward, fists ablaze with ecto-energy.

"HAVE SOME PUNCH WITH THAT ICE," we both yelled together as our fists connected with the third Phantom.

The ice covering Phantom shattered with the impact of our combined punches and Phantom began to once again plummet towards the ground where a few jagged shards of ice were waiting below. I covered my eyes, though I peeked through the cracks in my fingers as Phantom landed with a painful thud and shattering of ice.

"That's gotta be painful," I stated as I removed my hands from my face.

"It isn't enough," I heard Danny muttered as his hand glowed vibrantly.

The moment Danny started to fire Phantom turned intangible. Danny gritted his teeth while I shook my head.

"He's like the Hulk! He takes a beating and gets right back up."

Danny's hand lost its glow while a conflicted look formed in his eyes.

"As much as I totally hate the guy, he's being controlled. Believe me when I say we'd be in his position if he was let off his leash."

"So...he's weaker now because the guy controlling him has no idea how to use his powers?"

"Something like that."

Danny watched Phantom carefully before landing a few feet in front of him. Phantom turned tangible and bared his fangs. Danny, on the other hand, began to examine him. I landed closely behind Danny and looked Phantom over myself. His suit was torn and his hair was extinguished in places, but it was slowly reigniting itself. Danny's mouth turned downward angrily, but I couldn't understand why he was hesitating.

"Danny, if this guy's so powerful or whatever and he's totally weak right now, then shouldn't we take him out now?"

"I...can't."

I think the words were more surprising to Danny than they were to me just by the look on his face.

**Danny's POV**

Danni looked at me as though I had grown a second head or something, but what I said was totally true. Every part of me wanted to end Phantom's existence...every part of me except my morals or my heart or something. I don't know which. It's really, really stupid. Right now though, I can't help but feel sorry for Phantom. Ha, that's really rich, isn't it? I'm started to pity the thing that's in front of me because he's being controlled and can't properly react to our bombarding him with attacks.

I bit my lower lip as I thought it over in my head. Anyone else might be able to rid themselves of their nightmares if they had this very opportunity, but me? Oh noooo, me being the hero causes me to lower my hand and shake my head.

"Well, a part of him is you..."

I turn to look at Danni who's still behind me. Phantom, on the other hand...

"He's also part Vlad," I point out as I turn and watch Phantom.

I can see something in his clouded eyes, almost like he's trying to communicate with me, but I shake my head of that thought. It's just me and my hero complex. What more can it be?

"He's made from the worst of each of us."

"Not the worst, maybe..."

"What are you getting at, Danni?"

"In his world, you said that their Danny lost everyone he loved and went to Vlad."

"Yeah?"

"Well, that version of you was lonely."

"Not quite following you."

"Then shut up and listen! I'm trying to explain!"

I open my mouth to respond to Danni, but she continued on.

"Again, that version of you was lonely to the point that he sought out his version of Vlad. Chances are everything didn't happen at once, right? Don't answer that. He probably stayed with Vlad for a certain amount of time before he realized that...well, Vlad isn't into the same things you are and he can't keep you entertained all the time, and that mansion is huge."

"It would have amplified that Danny's loneliness," I mumbled only for Danni to shush me.

"Eventually that and the inability to cope with guilt, sadness, and loneliness caused him to get Vlad to do what he did. Now, when that Danny's ghost half was ripped from his human half, the separation wasn't natural and it probably drove that already emotional creature mad which caused him to lash out at his enemy which just so happened to be Vlad."

"And Vlad was lonely too. That's why he wanted me and mom as a family."

"Yep, so when that Ghost Danny ripped out Ghost Vlad and merged, Danny's sadness and loneliness took refuge with Vlad's dark traits and formed that creature over there."

I stayed quiet as I thought about this. Danni had a lot of points, and I knew that some of what she said was true. That made it even more difficult to destroy Phantom in his current state. Maybe all he needed was to be introduced to kindness and sympathy again? Danni looked at me and I could tell she was thinking along the same lines but...Phantom was dangerous, and there was no way love and kindness would effect him if he were off his current leash...

The moment I was about to speculate out loud for Danni's sake, I found my feet suddenly swept from beneath me. I hit the ground hard while chortling and muffled cries were coming from above.

"We're done here, Phantom."

"AL!" shouted Danni while I rubbed my head.

I turn to face the stupid clone of Vlad only to do a double take.

"MOM!" I shouted while Danni poured everything she has into her speed of flight.

Danni's hands glowed vibrantly and she growled as she made her approach. I knew she wouldn't risk shooting Al because she might him mom, but I also knew there was no way she was going to get close enough to hit the other ghost, who I noticed, was in his ghost form.

Al merely shook his head at Danni while Phantom blindsided her with a shoulder ram.

"Danni!" I shouted while shooting up in the air beside her, ignoring how awkward calling Danni out loud sounded in my head.

Danni merely waved me away which prompted me to keep going. I flew upward towards Al while Danni flew vertically towards Phantom to keep him occupied for me.

"What's with you and Vlad? Seriously, why don't you try to find a woman who's not married and who's actually interested in you?"

"Like Vlad, your mother obviously interests me which is all that matters. Unlike Vlad, however, I tend to take what I want consequences be darned."

"Consider this a warning, Al. If you don't let my mother go you're gonna wish you stayed in whatever test tube you crawled out of."

Al gave me this look that I knew all to well.

"You jerk!" I shouted as Al let go of my mom.

I dove downward to catch her only to be intercepted by Al and knocked through the front door of Fenton Works. Jazz, Sam and Tucker barely missed being flattened by my entrance.

"Danny!" shouted Sam who had dropped to her knees behind me.

I shook my head until the random birds stopped chirping, then raised my hand to try to bring my aching noggin comfort. By the time I looked up I noticed that Phantom was standing between two Al's. One was holding my mother while the other had his palm on Phantom's shoulder. Both Al's were smiling at me with that smug look of satisfaction.

"Foolish child, you really aren't very bright, are you? You think I'd drop Madeline without something being there to catch her."

"I'm already tired of you and it hasn't been a full twenty-four hours," I yelled heatedly as I get to my feet.

I had just rushed towards them when Al joined with his duplicate and created a portal to whatever crevice he was hiding in.

"NO!" I yelled as I realized that I wasn't going to catch them.

The trio had vanished while I landed face first in the grass. I grit my teeth and hissed as my transformation from ghost to human occurred. I wasn't as sore as the previous night, but it was clear that I needed to rest some more.

"Danny," cried Sam and Jazz as they made their way over to me along with Tucker.

"Dude, are you alright?" Tuck asked to which I just raised my head slightly and spit out a small wad of grass that made it's way into my mouth upon impact.

"Dude, grass is Sam's thing."

Sam and I both frowned at Tucker while Jazz made her way over to Danni. Like me, she had lost her transformation and was laying on her side. Tucker helped me into a sitting position and I turned my attention towards my sisters. Danni was cradling her arm while Jazz was fretting over her. Danni looked towards me like she was pleading me to get Jazz away from her. Before I could say something though, Jazz had hoisted Danni over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, much to the younger girl's chagrin and carried her over to the rest of us.

"Jazz, put me down! My legs are fine!"

"I don't want to take that chance."

"Jazz, seriously, put me down I can walk."

Jazz sighed somewhat angrily as she put Danni down. I wanted to point out that Danni was capable of flight, but like myself she had exerted a lot of her energy fighting Phantom. Again I noticed Danni cradling her arm, and I noticed that it looked off. I was just about to point it out, but Tucker beat me to it.

"Ouch, Danni. I'm pretty sure your arm is broken."

Danni gave Tucker this look that I was hoping wouldn't be deadly to my best friend, but by the way her eyes glowed, it wouldn't surprise me if beams shot forth from them. Tucker just looked confused because, no doubt, he thought he had pointed out the obvious. Of course Jazz knew of her injury which was most likely why she was fretting, but I hadn't really been sure and Sam seemed genuinely surprised. I guess it had to sink in that just because we were in ghost form...it didn't mean we were indestructible. It was just harder to break us than cause slight cuts and bruises, and even then...

"It'll heal in no time, trust me," stated Danni offhandedly which, for her sake, I wish she hadn't.

"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Jazz asked disapprovingly.

Danni, who wasn't used to this side of Jazz frowned before she responded.

"I mean that a break usually takes a day or so to heal."

"And how many broken limbs have you sustained to know that?"

"Enough," was Danni's reply, though Jazz was not done with the conversation by a long shot.

"Yeah. Enough," I intervened with anger in my voice.

I wasn't about to point out that I had a few broken bones of my own in the past because that would bring about a thousand new issues, and I really didn't feel up to pleading my case. There was something much more important happening at the moment after all.

"Just a recap since you guys seem to have forgotten just that fast or, perhaps, you weren't aware to begin with, Al just kidnapped mom. This means two things. One, whatever plan Tucker was going to come up with just became obsolete. Two, completion of that ED 2.0 has just been delayed by who knows how long."

Tucker opened his mouth, no doubt to give me some calculations as to how long it would take with probably himself and my dad working on the formula, but I turned to him with my hand raised. I lowered the tips of my fingers to my thumb, shushing my best friend.

"Don't care about the calculations Tuck, I care about my mom's well-being, and her well-being does not include being with Al."

Tucker glared at me while pouting before folding his arms over his chest. I had hurt his feelings obviously. Looking around at my friends and my sisters, I realized that someone was missing. My eyes widened slightly at the realization. For Al to have gotten to my mom, he had to have been in the house, and since my parents had been fighting there was a huge chance that my dad had been following my mom around in an attempt to make up for what he did. If Al was anything like Vlad, which he totally was when you put everything that's happened together...

"DAD!" I shouted, startling the others before they began to understand my concern.

I ran in the house and turned intangible, letting myself drop through the floor and into the basement below. With my ghostly vision I looked around taking notice of what appeared to be the remnants of a flashlight. Al must have cut off their vision to give himself a much better advantage. I looked around frantically wishing that my dad would say something to help me find him.

"Mmmuhhhgh," came a groan which I knew was my dad.

"Dad?" I asked as I turned towards the sound of his voice.

He groaned once more as I made my way over to him. He was slowly getting into a sitting position. I knelt down beside him, my eyes, despite being in my human guise, were emitting a bright green glow.

"Dad?" I asked again which caused my dad to look at me.

He jumped a bit at the sight of my eyes, but then he calmed down. No sooner did he calm down did he get angry. He slammed his hand onto the ground, and hissed as a shard from something got caught in his hand. I winced before I turned his hand intangible, letting a small shard of glass fall from it. He rubbed his slightly bleeding hand gingerly before he shook his head. I could see the defeat written across his face, which did not bode well.

"C'mon dad," I said as I helped him to his feet.

He staggered a bit, but I let him put a majority of his weight on me, despite being tired myself. It took us longer to make it up the stairs, but luckily for us, Tucker and Sam were waiting at the top. With their help I sat my dad down at the kitchen table and I brought him some water. I looked around for Jazz and Danni, only to see them both in the next room. Jazz was putting Danni's arm in a sling while Danni was watching the rest of us.

I turned back to my dad and looked at him as he took a sip of water.

"He took her," my dad said, though there wasn't any real emotion behind it.

"He did, and we need your help to get her back."

My dad looked at me skeptical before he snorted. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He actually snorted at what I had said.

"My help? What can I do other than mess things up?"

I blinked, not thinking I heard my dad correctly. I looked from Sam to Tucker, both or which were at a complete loss of words. No, I had heard correctly.

"Alright, I've had enough," I said as I slammed my fists down on to the kitchen table, momentarily letting my emotions take control of my ghostly powers.

The table buckled and fell to the ground causing Tucker and Sam to back away, and my dad to look at me in disbelief. I hadn't meant to break the table at all, but since it seemed to work in my favor for the time being, I was definitely going to utilize the opportunity.

"I've had enough of you and this stupid funk you seem to be in. Your wife is in trouble and you snort as if you don't care anymore, and I know you care. I know you're angry. I know this because I saw how you reacted to Vlad once you found out the truth. I know this because of how you and mom argued late last night."

My dad looked at me, a bit surprised, but I was on a roll. I wasn't about to stop now, no way.

"I didn't hear your entire argument, but I head what you said to her. I heard her slap you. I saw her run out the room, and you know what? After all this time, I think I finally get you. Dad, you are an idiot."

"Danny!" shouted Jazz from the other room, but I turned to her and shook my head.

"No Jazz. Dad's an idiot. He has a loving family who, despite whatever flaws he has, would give their lives for him. They'd listen to him babble on about his ghost hunting and sit through equipment tests. They sit there and listen to the glory days despite hearing them since they were young, and they endure the never ending embarrassment, but all he can see is his failures and I'm tired of it. Mom's in danger, there are two extremely powerful ghosts roaming around doing who knows what in who knows where and he's having the world's biggest and longest pity party, and I'm sick of it."

The entirely house was quiet, and that was good. I could actually hear myself think, and myself was telling me how totally grounded I was going to be when this was all over.

"Everyone has flaws. Everyone messes up. That's what makes us human. Dad had no way of defending himself or mom against Al in the dark. Al took her so what do we do now? Do we sit on our butts and twiddle our thumbs?"

I look at my dad, expecting an answer, but he is far too surprised with my behavior. I growl in annoyance before turning to my second in command.

"Well?!"

Tucker looks at me, startled for a moment, before he shakes his head with a smirk on his face.

"Heck no we don't!"

I turn my attention to Sam who has a devious smirk of her own.

"Not even in death will we sit on our butts and twiddle our thumbs."

I can't help but smile at her serious sarcasm. I turn my back to my dad and look at both Jazz and Danni.

"How about the two of you?" I question.

Danni jumps from where she was sitting, balls her fists and shakes her head.

"No way! Not only do I owe Phantom, but I owe Al a little payback as well."

"Jazz?" I asked as I looked at my big sister.

I know she figured out what I was doing by the smile on her face and the subtle look she gave to my dad.

"Just tell me what to do, little brother."

I smile and nod at Jazz before I turn back to look at my dad. The look on his face is uncertainty by this point. I ignore him and turned to Tucker.

"Alright Mayor Tuck, since you have your connections, I need you to find someone who'd be able to get that Ecto-Dejecto 2.0 updated. We need that stuff like yesterday."

Tucker nodded his head and snapped his fingers.

"I have the GiW somewhat under my thumb since I'm friends with the guy that they want as a specimen."

"I honestly have no idea how to feel about that, Tuck."

Tucker gave me a thumbs up before he rushed to the nearest phone. Meanwhile, Danni and Jazz had come into the kitchen with me and dad.

"What about us?" Sam asked as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I need you and Danni to head into the Ghost Zone."

"Wow, seriously?" Sam asked, her violet eyes seemingly doubtful.

"Yes, but only because the two of you are the more capable fighters and can handle yourselves in the speeder. Sam, just make sure to wear the Specter Deflector. Take as many weapons as you can handle at once and-"

"I shouldn't have asked," stated Sam with a wave of her hand.

"What will we be doing in the Ghost Zone?" Danni asked.

"Recruiting helpers."

Everyone, with the exception of my dad, looked at me as though I had said something stupid.

"Alright look guys, ever since Al showed up all of the other ghosts have vanished. Honestly, I thought it was refreshing in the beginning until Tucker brought up the fact that Skulker wasn't the type to stay away for long unless he's passed on, was under Vlad's orders, or something else. I want to know what's going on, and if possible, get some ghosts on my side."

"Sounds like a plan," stated Danni, though it was clearly sarcasm. "The only time those guys would ever help you out is during a crisis that has both worlds in danger."

"Or the Christmas Truce," I stated with a shrug which earned curious looks from the others.

"I'll explain later, but for now we have work to do. We already have a few allies. Sam made a friend of Dorathea in the Kingdom of Aragon during that whole wedding incident, and I have followers in the Realm of the Far Frozen."

"Huh, I almost forgot about Dora," stated Sam while Danni gave me a curious look.

"Wedding?" she asked as she turned towards me and then Sam, neither of us answering the questions. "Followers?"

"And Tucker made friends with Technus a little after the Disasteroid incident," I continued while looking towards Tucker who was in a very deep phone conversation.

"Sounds like you have a pretty good line up so far, little brother."

"Yeah, but chances are it won't be enough. Frost Bite and his race are peaceful and I'd rather not get them involved in the actual fighting. Even so, they have something that will definitely locate the lair of my more formidable foes."

"You think he'll let you use the Infi-Map after the Disasteroid thing?" Sam questioned while prodding my shoulder.

Honestly I had no idea if he would or not, and I really hated asking for something so powerful.

"You're right. See if Frostbite will accompany you in recruiting the other ghosts."

"Got'cha. Wanna be specific with the formidable ghosts, or should we question everyone from the Box Ghost to Pandora?"

I knew asking Pandora was probably out of the question, and the Box Ghost would be pretty useless to have around, but it never hurt to try.

"The Box Ghost would be good as a distraction," Danni said with a dark grin on her face.

She had a point, though he wouldn't be too distracting for long.

"Alright, talk to anyone who would listen, but...I want to know what's up with the lack of ghosts too, so make sure you get something."

"Got it," stated Sam and Danni as they both made their way down to the lab, Danni glowing like a giant flashlight and leading the way for Sam.

"And that leaves you and me with what, Danny?" asked Jazz as she turned away from watching the other two girls leave.

"That leaves the two of us to figure out where exactly Alucard is hiding, and maybe figure out what to do about power. We have to monitor what's going on."

"What about dad?"

The question was innocent, sure, but I was still annoyed with my dad.

"We don't have time to try to snap him out of his funk. Alucard's been causing trouble and he's kidnapped mom. We have to act now."

Jazz looked back to our dad while I began to make my way out of the kitchen. I could hear Jazz following behind me, and I could hear Tucker' s muffled voice as well. Before I could flop down on the couch, however, I heard the sound of a chair hitting the floor and a few moments later I saw my dad standing in the entryway staring at me.

"Daniel Fenton!" he said angrily which caused me to bristle slightly.

"Dad?" I questioned as nonchalantly as I could.

"...What do you need me to do."

Jazz and I looked at each other and smiled. I knew my plan would work, and apparently Jazz had faith in my plan. We both turn back to look at our dad, smiles still in place.

"Remember that thing I was telling you about yesterday? The invention that I wanted you and mom to check out?"

My dad looked lost for a minute and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He nodded his head and then looked around, spotting the item where I had left it. He walked over to it and grabbed it before looking it over.

"This looks like that gadget you managed to confiscate from Vladdie's old place. What was it called? The Plasma Enhancer?"

"The Plasmius Maximus," I corrected with a crooked smile on my face.

My dad nodded and looked down at it before carefully removing a small vial of liquid from it.

"I'll have to analyze this, but without electricity..."

"Not to worry, Mr. Fenton!"

Each of us turned to Tucker who had a huge grin on his face.

"How was that conversation with the GiW, Tuck?"

"Oh dude, don't even-I had to go through protocols just to talk to their secretary, and she totally hung up on me when I told her I was the Mayor."

"So no luck?" I asked which caused Tucker's grin to grow.

"Now, I didn't say that. There are more scientists out there. Let's just say that I should have called Axion Labs first."

I smiled at Tucker before I looked to my dad. He and Valerie's dad had become close friends after the Disasteroid incident since they had been working together to try to stop the world from ending. They had exchanged notes and theories among other things while I forced myself to sit down with Valerie and talk about...well, us. She listened this time around, and despite the rocky start and whatever happened in between, the two of us returned to being friends.

"Mr. Grey said that he would get a generator over here for us pronto and that he'd totally help with whatever we need considering he owes us one."

"He owes us?" I asked, not really sure what Val's dad meant by that.

"Well, technically he owes me. Remember he caught me in his security net after you saved the place from Cujo. He would have lost his job again. That and during whatever time I have free when I'm not at school, busting my mayoral butt, or hanging out with you guys, I go help out at Axion."

"Niiiice."

I turn to look at my dad who seems to be relieved, probably because there is a plan and we're going to get all the help that we can to stop Al and get my mom back.

TBC