So, thoughts on life. First things first, this story will be finished someday, however, I'm going on Hiatus for 18 months or so and will not be back until sometime mid 2017. That being said I know that's a long time, but I do promise to be back. So in conclusion, for the people who have stuck with me: Thank you, I'll be back.

So it's been a week since I last wrote, and a part of that is just the fact that I couldn't really look at my last entry without feeling like a failure and a jerk, but I guess you should know that I didn't end up leaving Townsville. It's been an interesting week. School followed by a couple hours in the simulator room, interspaced with monster fights of course, it feels dangerously like a routine I could get used to. Still once the girls are done training I'm going to say goodbye. Speaking of training, the girls have been doing really well. I think you would really like them. At least I hope you would. I wish you were here to tell me that I'm not going crazy and that it's okay, but you know I'm not really sure what you would say in this type of situation. I'm not sure what about that scares me more, the fact that I don't really know what you would say or the fact that I'm not sure if what I'm doing is right.

"I don't know exactly what's going on, but when Mojo starts complaining about the lack of dragons you start to get worried." Blossom said as she finished up an essay for English.

"I'm just surprised that you all fight enough dragons to notice when they start to go missing." I admitted while writing down random notes about lack of dragons down in my notebook. It really was suspicious seeing as the last dragon they had fought had made it's way into the ghost zone, which was dangerous in it's own ways and I made a mental note to start going over the politics of the ghost zone in some of our next training sessions. If there was something big going down in the ghost zone it always found a way to blow up at the worst possible time.

"I've never really liked fighting dragons." Bubbles said absently as she doodled a chibi dragon in the corner of her math homework. "Sure they're a little grumpy but some of them are really nice."

"Doesn't matter whether or not they're nice, what matters is that they tend to smash things when they come to town. It's the fact that they've all gone missing right about the same time that's got me worried." Buttercup said from where she was balancing her pencil on her nose.

"We tend to smash things too when we're not careful," Bubbles pointed out, "They're really just misunderstood."

"I've got to side with Buttercup on this one," Blossom said with a nod as she wrote her final lines. "The fact that they've dropped off our fight roster all at once worries me too. And while you're right there have been some kind dragons, they're not usually on our fight roster so we wouldn't notice if they went missing."

"Once again I'm just going to state my surprise at the fact that you fight enough DRAGONS to know both good and bad ones. Also the roster is a bit weird as well." I snickered at the expressions they shot at me. In all reality I wasn't actually surprised. I knew Danny had something similar to a roster as well. He would definitely notice if one type of ghost just stopped showing up. "But I'll admit that I'm worried too if only for the fact that the last dragon you fought ended up in the ghost zone."

"The last one WE fought." Buttercup said with a pointed look, "You were there too."

I shrugged "Sure I was, but it was still your fight. I just showed up because I sensed the ghostly energy." I looked back down at my notebook and cursed myself internally for the slip. It had been happening more and more often, my only consolation was the fact that the girls really didn't seem to notice. The Professor however tended to have sharper ears, which was a problem. But, I wasn't even sure how to handle the Professor normally, let alone how to confront him about listening too closely to my accidental hints.

"Well that's not the only fight you've been too." Buttercup continued stubbornly, "Just this last week you showed up to a little under half of them."

"I worry about you guys." I said uncomfortable with the truth, even though it really was the best answer to give in this case. Also I had been to more than half their fights I just wasn't always seen. I really did worry about them; it was going to be hard to leave when it was time, they were swiftly becoming some of my favorite people.

"We worry about you too Dani," Blossom said seriously, "But you have to realize that even with some of the past experience you've had, what we do is dangerous. You've done a really good job so far of keeping safe but we're not used to someone trying to take care of us while we're on the field. Like Bubbles said, we tend to smash things when we're not careful."

I gave Blossom a smile, "Yah, I know, and you do have each other when you're out there, but in a way it's almost more for my sake then for yours." It really was, but we were getting dangerously off track, "Anyways, back to focus. I think it's safe to assume that the dragons are disappearing and are probably in the ghost zone based off of where the last one we saw went."

Blossom seemed a bit disgruntled but Buttercup was paying close attention and Bubbles had stopped her doodling. Blossom sighed before waving me on to continue. "And you're the ghost expert so go ahead, tell us what's on your mind."

I smirked. "You're so kind. Anyways, we're going to have to go over Ghost Zone politics soon, the different obsessions, islands, and lairs makes for an interesting mix of power plays." Most of which I had a pretty good grasp on, while Vlad had been willing to train me and the other clones in fighting when it came to other information he deemed important he just had compressed data disks on play for the times he didn't have time for us personally. He was evil and crazy but his observations on the Ghost Zone were some of the most accurate information I had learned during my time at the castle.

"What I'm worried about is the self proclaimed dragon king, from what I know of him wouldn't invite challengers into his realm for any one reason. Also inviting the living into the ghost zone is generally considered to be a bad idea seeing as the living have the same advantages in the ghost zone as ghosts do in the human world."

"So you're saying that this dragon king wouldn't have invited them in unless he had someway to insure their loyalty. Some sort of advantage." Blossom said her eyes narrowed in thought. She did catch on fast.

"Yes," I admitted staring down at my notebook with all of its scribbles and half formed thoughts. "The other question is what's he planning to do? If what you've been saying about how many dragons there are normally is accurate than, that's a lot of fire power sitting in the ghost zone right now."

"Do you think he could force the dragons to attack someone?" Bubbles asked her eyes wide.

I shrugged, "I don't know, he could just be planning a normal ghost zone conquest. The battles in the ghost zone act a bit like wild fires, they actually end up helping in the long run of things. But I've never heard of anyone using living beings as soldiers in the ghost zone."

"Or he could be planning a real world invasion." Buttercup said with a frown. "If he does that where would he try and strike."

I closed my eyes, not wanted to face the truth. "If he's planning a real world invasion it will be in Amity Park. That's the place with the most natural portals and one of the most open stable portals in the world."

The girls all looked over at me in sympathy, but I was just worried. "If he uses living monsters to attack Amity the results could be disastrous, Danny Phantom won't be able to stop them all by himself."

"Hey, you make it sound like we won't be there to help." Buttercup stated, I looked up in surprise and she shrugged. "They're our monsters. Like you said, our fights, we wouldn't let someone unprepared to handle it."

"Danny's not completely unprepared." I protested, but really I just couldn't get the image of the three of them fighting beside Danny and me. I liked the idea a lot, of course the problem with that was that they didn't know that I had ghost powers and it would be a very bad thing if they did.

"We don't know for sure that the dragons are going to hit Amity," Blossom said reasonably, "But I would like it if we could fine out. Like Dani said that's a lot of fire power all in one place if someone's managed to find a way to get the dragons to work together."

I sighed again, "The only sure way we can find out is by a trip to the Ghost Zone and that would mean a trip to Amity anyways." I leaned back in my chair my mind going over different scenarios. "I could probably get there myself and bring back a report to you."

I would actually probably be able to find a natural portal on my own pretty quick. It was one of my quirks that I had never been able to ask Danny about whether or not we shared it. It was a bit like the ghost sense just more internal. That way I could find out without having to go bother Danny unless absolutely necessary.

"By yourself?" Bubbles asked and I looked at her in surprise.

"Well yah, it wouldn't take that long and that way you guys don't have to miss school."

"You're enrolled in school too you know." Blossom said drily, "And that's not why we're worried, remember we care about you too."

"Yah, dum-dum. We're not about to let you go off exploring an entirely different and dangerous dimension by yourself." Buttercup scoffed.

I rolled my eyes, "Look, I've been in the Ghost Zone by myself before. I really don't need the protection." I looked away and continued in a softer voice. "Thank you for the sentiment, it really does mean a lot to me, but it's probably safer for me to go alone this time."

"You just said that you keep showing up for our fights because you worry about us, and that even though you know we can take care of each other it's almost more for your sake." Bubbles said a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Why is it that you're allowed to use that argument against us but we can't use it against you?"

I froze at her logic and closed my eyes against the proud look Blossom sent her sister, and Buttercup's raised eyebrows. They were right, I was holding double standards, again. It was kind of hard not to when you were keeping secrets though and the desire to tell them everything washed over me. It was getting harder to convince myself that keeping my secret was the best thing for the situation. I had told myself that it would be easier to keep myself off the radar if nobody knew, but what I was doing – staying in the same city for weeks at a time, going to school, hanging out with very public superheroes – wasn't the best way to keep my whereabouts on the low down. I'd probably have to flee to the ghost zone for months after this, just to keep Vlad off my scent.

As usual it was the thought of my dear old creator that brought me back to my senses. Vlad had his evil fingers in a lot of human world pies but in the ghost zone he had eyes and ears everywhere. If I brought living beings into the ghost zone word would get back to him eventually. The only reason it was safe for me was the fact that ghosts wouldn't report other ghosts as abnormal. Three flying super powered girls though… the dream I had of the three of them chained to the wall flashed behind my eyelids and I quickly opened them.

"I know it's a bit of a double standard." I stated, might as well be honest. "But I can sneak in and out without anyone seeing me the three of you being there would cause a lot of commotion."

The looks in their eyes obviously said that they weren't about to be swayed by me admitting that I was holding them to different standards than I was living and I quickly threw my mind around trying to find a good solution.

"Look," I started a desperate idea forming in my mind. "There are other reason's I don't want you in the ghost zone, remember way back when, when I told you that ghosts have energy signatures that stick to people and places they haunt a lot?" I barely waited for their nods before continuing on. "The ghost zone will mark you like that, right now there's only a vague signature on the three of you from your brief encounters," And well from me but as a halfa that would fade a lot faster than a normal ghost's would. "I want to keep you away from that kind of attention for as long as possible." It looked like they were going to protest but I quickly plowed on determined to finish with my case. "And yah, I get your worried, so what if I leave a Fenton phone with you and I'll update you as I go along and if I don't report back within a twenty-four hour period then at least you can track the phone signal."

All three of the girls were giving me looks that ranged from long suffering to glares. But I could be stubborn too and I stared back my head tilted back in defiance. This was the best course of action and if they didn't agree I would do it anyways.

"You're so frustrating sometimes you know that?" Blossom asked her eyes narrowed.

"This is important to me." I snapped back. "It's the best way to keep you safe."

"You keep forgetting that we don't need you to keep us safe." Bubbles stated a frown on her face.

"That doesn't mean I can't try." I was angry, this was the first real argument we had gotten into and I didn't know how to make things light again. "Besides everyone has a weakness and ghost's are very good at finding them. They could tear you apart."

"We've lived through worse than ghosts," Buttercup said as she stood up and glared. "So maybe you had a hard past but that's nothing compared to what we've lived through, not everything is about you! Maybe it's our turn to be stubborn and moody, 'cause you are spectacularly missing the point. You don't trust us."

"Why should I?" I snarled standing up to face Buttercup, her eyes seemed to mock me and all I could feel was the blood pounding in my ear and the desire to force her back down, "Everyone I ever trusted either hurt me or I hurt them myself. Trusting you will just end up hurting all of us in the end." The words echoed strangely in my head and I could see the surprise in all of their eyes. All the fury suddenly drained out of me and I collapsed back into my seat with a thud. There was silence and I heard the scrape of Buttercup's chair as she sat down.

"I'm sorry," I finally whispered. "I shouldn't have said that."

"You meant it though." Bubbles stated quietly.

I shook my head, "Not completely, I trust you three a lot more than I trust just about anyone else right now." I took a deep breath, "Buttercup's right, you all know how to take care of yourselves, but protecting you, even if I don't need to is like my own form of redemption." And there I went again, just being little too honest. "Let me do this. We'll figure out the dragon thing, go to Amity if that's what it comes down to, and then I'll come back and we'll finish your training."

"And then you'll leave." Blossom stated her words hard. "Because you can't trust us and you can't trust yourself."

I turned away. "Sure if that's how you want to look at it." I picked up my books and quickly stuffed them in my bag. I needed to get away, even if it was just for a little bit. "I'll be back later."

None of them protested as I fled from the house.

I didn't even look as I started running as fast as my feet would take me. I never should have gotten involved. They really could take care of themselves. And now I was hopelessly tangled up emotionally with them and their stupid family dynamic and, frustratingly understanding professor, and life that looked just like mine on paper and yet was so much better because the scientist who made them actually cared.

IT WASN'T FAIR!

I stopped as I finally made it into the city and sat down at the first bench I came across.

I did my best not to think about anything at all as I stared down at the road, I didn't want to think, I didn't want to feel. It wasn't fair; technically I had nothing more with me than when I had when I first walked into the city. I should be able to walk out just as easily as I walked in and yet I couldn't. I didn't want to leave.

I felt a chill in my bones, and I looked up out of reflex and shock. There was a ghost zone portal somewhere in the city.

Before I could even think about moving there was a loud cracking sound behind me and I spun around, my hands already pulled back into glowing fists.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the costume changing freak."

I blinked several times in shock. It was the same group of green skinned teenagers from the very first day I had arrived. Absently I wondered if some deity out there was laughing at me.

"Go away." I finally settled on before reaching down and grabbing my bag. "I don't have time for you tonight." I had to find that portal before something came through. And maybe it was for the best, if I could use the portal I could be in and out of the ghost zone within hours. Then the argument with the girls would be a moot point anyways.

"Hey, don't you turn your back on me!" One of them cried out as he started to reach for my back, I spun out of his reach and growled at him.

"I told you to leave me alone."

"No," The leader said a sneer on his face, "I don't actually remember much from that night but I want to know exactly who you are thinking you can take on the Green Gang?"

"Like I'd actually tell you." I sneered right back. The five of them all seemed to puff themselves up and they all took a couple of in sync steps towards me, like I could be intimidated like that.

I was about to go invisible and fly away when a faint rushing sound caught my attention. I turned my head to the side as it started to get louder at an alarming pace. Too late I realized what it was and tried to dive to the side desperately.

"Got'cha," The boy in blue shouted, "Hey this saving people thing really isn't that hard. You think Bubbles will be impressed?"

"Shut up, Boomer." A green blur said to my right.

I groaned, this was ridiculous, I spend all of fifteen minutes away from the Puffs and I get ambushed twice. They were going to freak and then we would just argue more.

"Hey, would you mind putting me down?" I asked not wanting to phase and have to deal with the fallout of that just yet. "I've already had this argument today and I don't need you to save me."

"Well, we could do that," The red one (what was his name again?) said, "But you see, you've been hanging out with the girls, and that makes you our business."

I rolled my eyes. These three weren't subtle at all. It was kind of weird to think about but the girls had explained that they weren't actually clones of each other. So I guess it wasn't quiet the same… still, a bit weird though.

"Listen, I really don't have time for anyone tonight and as much as I'd love to sit down and gossip about you and the girls non-existent relationships or aggressive flirting or whatever you want to call it." The reddening of their faces was a beautiful thing and I smirked. "The truth of the matter is I've got places to be, so I can't be any help tonight. Though I'm sure if you asked nicely the girls would be happy to have another beat down session with you boys."

I got some pretty good glares from that one but before anyone could say anything I felt a shiver go up my spine, there was a puff of faint blue mist coming out of my mouth, and I couldn't help but gasp as a rip between the ghost zone and human world formed somewhere below me.

That wasn't good.

"Okay boys, the time I had for you is officially up. I will see you later, and if you see the girls, please tell them not to worry."

And with those words I phased right out Boomers arms and started angling my descent for where the shimmering green was just starting to show up. There were cries of anger and a couple of swears as the three boys tried to figure out what was happening but I wasn't going to give them any hints.

Unfortunately I seemed to have forgotten that they were clones of the girls right down to the powers.

And the girls had always been faster than me.

"I've got her!" Boomer called his voice just behind me.

"You're the one who dropped her in the first place!" Butch yelled back.

"Shut up Butch! Boomer's closer!" Brick snarled.

I turned my head around to see how close they were only to be startled into a scream at focused blue eyes right next to me. Boomer's arms were just reaching for me when we both hit the portal with a snap as the unstable field closed right behind us, the shock wave sending us both rolling across the green tinted landscape.

I recovered first and pushed his weight off of me with a grunt.

Well this is fantastic. I thought as I started at the boy. Absolutely fan-freaking-tastic.

You know of all my stories I feel the worst about leaving this one... especially on that note. Anyways, I do promise to come back to this and until that day I give you all the best of wishes.