Yay! Here's chapter ten! Only two more to go after this.

Author's Note:

I am so incredibly sorry this took so long to upload. I wish I had a legitimate excuse, but honestly, I got Fallout 4 the other day and everything else has taken a back seat (including my social life and my sleep schedule). I promise you will not have to ever wait a ridiculously long time between updates though. I wouldn't do that to you guys.

Also, there's going to be three version of Danny appearing in the this chapter and the next so to avoid confusion (although for the most part I specify-particularly with older human Danny), Dan is 24 year old ghost hybrid Danny, Danny Phantom is 14 year old Danny, and Danny Fenton is 24 year old human Danny. Hopefully it doesn't get too confusing!

Thanks so much to everyone who reviewed. It means the world to know you guys are sticking with me!

Chapter 10

2015

"This..." Sam eyes the dead and dreary landscape around her, "is not exactly what I was expecting."

"The future rarely is." Clockwork informs her.

Sam shakes her head. "It's bigger than that." She turns in a complete circle, taking in all the dead trees and grass around her, the small bit of Amity that she can see in the distance that's protected by what looks like a blue Ghost Shield. "I'm the first person that will fight to protect Mother Nature, but there's no way humans could have done this. Not in ten years. Not without some kind of nuclear war or something."

Clockwork is silent and so is Tucker, but his silence is thicker, like he's trying to hide something in it. She'd always been good at reading her friends like that and death and ten years have apparently done little to change that. She turns to where her friend is setting what's left of Danny Fenton onto the ground where the older human immediately tries to curl up into himself again. He'd been using his powers to keep the 24 year old floating next to him as they'd traveled from the Ghost Zone to what's left of Amity Park.

"Humans didn't do this, did they?"

Clockwork remains silent, but Tucker shakes his head. "No. Dan Phantom did this."

The Goth girl turns back to look at her surroundings in shock. She leans down and picks up a single leaf, brown and withered with age and watches sadly as it crumbles to pieces with the slight trembling of her arm. "I can't believe. I mean, I know you said Dan Phantom had the obsession of destroying the world but I...I guess I never thought he'd actually be able to do it. Even without Danny Phantom there to stop him."

Tucker shrugs, coming to stand beside her as they both look out towards Amity Park. "It's kind of hard to explain, but Phantom and Plasmius were both a lot more powerful than other ghosts. Most other ghosts." Tucker amends, thinking of Pariah Dark and the battle that nearly took their friend away from them. "I think it must have had something to do with their ties to the human world. Or maybe the fact that they weren't created naturally. I could never figure out which. But I do know that they were definitely more powerful than even strongest ghosts. Mostly." He sighs. "And splitting them from their human halves didn't lessen that power. So when they joined together..."

"They created a ghost that would have brought even the Ghost King to his knees." Sam finishes grimly.

Tucker nods. "Even without the Ecto-Skeleton. I slipped in and out of the Fenton Portal when I could for a while and Valerie tried to take over ghost hunting duties, she even did okay, but she...she was never going to be a match for this ghost hybrid." His shoulders slump. "After the ghost shield went up around the town, I had to stop leaving the Ghost Zone. It was too risky. I don't even know if my parents are okay..."

Sam places a comforting hand on his shoulder, ignoring the cold that seeps into her skin at the contact. "I'm sure they are. Valerie would have made sure they were protected. My parents too." She smiles. "We don't always see eye-to-eye, but she's a good person and I know she'd do that for us."

Clockwork glances down at the clock in his chest and turns to face the two teens. "Listen, I realize that this future is far from perfect. And that's why we're here to correct it. But now is the time to stay silent and out of sight. Everyone has their parts to play-"

"I knew there was a reason you were letting Tucker come along!" Sam cries in triumph.

The ghost of time shoots her a glare and she clamps a hand over her mouth, trying her best to cooperate. She doesn't like this ghost, but she likes this future even less and if he says they're on the same side, she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt...for now.

"Yes. As the ghost of time, I knew how this would play out from the start. Why do you think I've put up with all of your sarcasm and screaming and anger? Not for my own amusement, I assure you. Now, no matter what, you will do as you're told and stay silent and out of sight until it's time for you to be otherwise. Is that clear?" He's speaking to both Tucker and Sam now, and they nod obediently.

"Good." He motions for them to go behind a fallen tree trunk and they go and stand behind it, Tucker having to drag the unresponsive human Danny with him. He places a hand on the man's shoulder and ghost and Fenton both disappear from sight. Sam feels Clockwork's hand on her shoulder and almost immediately the tingling sensation that means she's now invisible sweeps over her body.

Sam kicks at the tree trunk lightly, just to see if she's intangible too. Too her surprise, the tree trunk moves easily, probably completely rotted out and gives her a small glimpse of the earth beneath it. She smiles.

Just after they disappear from sight, a loud sound rips through the air. Sam wants to shoot Tucker a questioning look, but she knows he won't be able to see it so she bites her tongue and settles for waiting until after the drama is over to get her questions answered. There's nothing but silence for a few seconds before the sound of feet crunching over the dead grass reaches her ears as a figure comes into view from around the only standing tree left in the park.

Clockwork's free hand (free being a term Sam uses loosely because she technically does get smacked in the head with his staff) comes up to slap across her mouth. She's been angrier, if it hadn't kept the involuntary gasp she'd given silent.

Because standing not even ten feet away is Danny. Her Danny; the one who'd raced through the time stream to find her. He's looking around him in horror and shock and it takes every ounce of self control that Sam has not to run to him and let him take her home. Only Clockwork's words about the other Danny, the evil one, existing outside of time keep her standing still. Tucker's made her watch enough sci-fi over the course of their friendship to know that when Clockwork said that, he'd meant that they'd have to do more than just make sure Danny doesn't cheat on a test.

But it's hard because he looks heartbroken and scared as he winces and asks himself, "What could have done this?" Even though he obviously doesn't expect to get an answer.

She feels Clockwork's grip on her shoulder tighten and she knows that he can tell what she's thinking. But she also knows that, unfortunately, all she can do for now is sit and wait.

Tucker's invisible hand reaches out and fumbles for a moment before it finds her and he gives it a reassuring squeeze. Sam has always been grateful for her other friend, but never more so than right now, when he silently reminders that she doesn't have to wait alone.

As it turns out, this is actually the worst thing has Danny has faced and no matter how much he struggles, or what power he tries to summon, he can't break the bonds that are wrapped around him.

"You know," He groans in frustration, "if I get out of this and find Sam and get everything fixed, I'm really going to enjoy this new power. But right now it's just really, really annoying."

As he continues to struggle, the familiar sound of the portal opening fills the air and Dan Phantom appears before him, grinning triumphantly. "Well," He crosses his arms over his chest, his grinning widening as he watches his past self struggle, "that takes care of that."

"How did you-There's no way you could have done all that! You were barely gone five minutes!" Then he catches sight of the medallion hanging around Dan's neck. "Right. Time travel. Duh Fenton."

"Do not call us that!" Dan snaps, his eyes growing brighter with his rage.

"Why not?" Danny struggles to his feet. "It's who we are, after all."

Instead of getting angry, the bigger ghost just starts chuckling, lifting Danny off his feet. "Not for long. I'm going to send you back just in time to watch your world blow up right in front of your face."

"I doesn't matter what you do." Danny spits out, furious at this future version of himself, at this future in general, in the fact that he could ever become this, "Because now that I know about you, I'm going to make sure I do whatever it takes to never become you!"

This just makes Dan laugh harder. "You have no idea do you? It doesn't matter what changes you make to our future. I already exist and I will continue to exist. You can try and change your past all you want. But I am always going to exist now. It's one of the...perks."

"The perks of what?" Danny continues to struggle against his binds. He's sick and tired of being left out of the loop. He just wants this whole stupid adventure to end.

"Oh my new title." Dan taps his finger thoughtfully to his chin. "Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I probably shouldn't tell you. Wouldn't want there to be two of me after all."

Danny takes the briefest second to just be absolutely annoyed at the entire situation. "I am getting so sick of this. Either speak in clear sentences or shut up and let me go so I can fight you fair and square."

"There's not going to be any fighting today." Dan shakes his head. "Not from you." He presses the gold button on the medallion and the swirling portal blinks into existence behind Danny. "It's time for you to go home. Don't worry. I'll you again very soon."

"Why would even go through all of this trouble?" Danny asks desperately, partly in an attempt to stall the ghost from throwing him back into the past and partly because he's curious. "If you already exist no matter what, what does it matter what future I end up having?"

Dan's eyes flash dangerously. "Because you might be the only person who can stop me." He lifts Danny up higher and moves to throw him into the portal. "I had to make sure that I got rid of that pesky hero part of you. Just to be safe. So I say again," he smirks evilly, "goodbye, Danny Phantom."

"Stop!"

A new voice pulls Danny and Dan up short and they both blink in shock as they suddenly find themselves looking at the ghost of Tucker Foley.

"What the-Tuck!" Danny is too shocked at the sight of his best friend here, at the scene of this final showdown, to be curious about why he's posing with his hand stretched out in front of him. He wants to be shocked by the tell tale ethereal glow that radiates from his friend, but Valerie's story is still fresh in his mind. He is, however, shocked to see him outside of the Ghost Zone.

"How did you even get here?" Dan snarls, turning away from the portal to focus of the newest addition to the party.

"That's-" Tucker's eyes slide nervously from side to side before he steels himself and stares down the bigger ghost, "That's not important. All that matters is that I'm here and I'm here to help Danny defeat you!"

Dan's eyebrow rises skeptically and he smirks. "What are you going to do? Throw your PDA at my head?"

Tucker's eyes narrow, but he doesn't back down from the threat. He never did when it really mattered, even in life. But instead of throwing a retort back at Dan, he turns to Danny, eyes softening. "You have to make sure you don't become that, dude. No matter what. We're you're friends and we've never left you alone to fight before. And we weren't about to start now, especially not with this creep."

"We?" Danny looks behind Tucker but he can't see anything but empty space. But Danny's been dealing with ghosts long enough to know better than to assume anything just because he can't see it. "Does that mean-"

Tucker shakes his head, cutting off Danny's question. "Just, please. We don't ever want you to become that." He jerks his head at Dan. "Or this."

And then he lifts his hand up and Danny's stomach nearly drops through his feet.

It's himself. His human half, looking utterly lost and broken, like he's trying to block out the entire world by wrapping his arms around his legs. And as shocking as it is to see himself like that, there's something else that jumps out at Danny. Something even bigger.

"Wait..." He looks between his very human self and the ghost holding him up. "How I am Fenton and Phantom at the same time? Please tell me we didn't use the Fenton Ghost Catcher again."

"Not quite." Dan smiles cruelly, though his gaze his locked on Danny Fenton. He throws the younger Danny to the ground and stalks towards where the older one is still huddled in on himself, starring up at the ghost in absolute terror. "I thought I'd killed you years ago." He whispers threateningly.

"Don't touch him." Tucker stands between his friend and Dan, arms spread out to cover the human more thoroughly.

"Get out of the way." Dan waves his hand dismissively at Tucker's threat before grabbing the techno geek by the front of his shirt and throwing him over his shoulder. He lands with a solid thud next to fourteen year old Danny.

"Sorry man," Tucker shakes his head as he sits up. "I'm afraid I never got any really useful ghost powers."

"It's okay, Tuck." Danny gets back to his feet, while Dan is distracted with advancing on Danny Fenton. "This was never your battle to fight. It's mine. And I may not be able to break these stupid bonds..." He can feel the anger and frustration building up in his throat again, only this time, he's summoning them. "But that doesn't mean I'm completely helpless. Cover your ears."

Tucker doesn't even ask questions; just slaps his hands over his hears and shoots his friend a reassuring smile.

"Get...AWAY!" Danny can feel the power vibrating through the air around him as he lets loose another ghostly wail. This time he's better prepared for the power drain, though it's still an exhausting task keeping the wail going.

"What the-" Dan looks back and his eyes widen in shock at the sight of the ectoplasmic rings hurdling towards him. "How...how is this possible?"

He's hit with the ghostly wail and it sends him sailing back several feet. He hits the ground with a thud, skidding back several more feet, dislodging bits of dirt and rock and a strange metal contraption. The last of Danny's ghostly wail disappears into the air, along with the bonds that had been holding him captive. He doesn't even have the energy to celebrate it properly though, too drained from his second ghostly wail in less than an hour. He collapses forward, resting his hands on his thighs as he struggles to stay upright. "Guess..." he pants at the fallen form of his enemy, "you were wrong about the future."

Then, to his horror, Dan gets back up, shaking off the bits of debris that he'd collected when he'd gone skidding.

"What?" Danny sways, trying desperately to keep upright. He shakes his head as his anger momentarily steadies him. "No." He clenches his fist. "This is not happening. I did not go through all that trouble, hurtling through the time stream, falling flat on my face and my butt more than once, trying to find my best friend only to be met with this awful future. You don't get to just get up again. This future isn't going to happen. I promised. And I'm not going home until you're gone and I've found Sam."

Dan grins as the advances on Danny. "You're sounding a little frantic."

"Not frantic," Danny shakes his head, "Human. And I'm going to make sure it stays that way."

Except, instead of unleashing another ghostly wail, which is what he'd been attempting to do, Danny finds himself collapsing to his knees, unable to keep himself upright.

Dan chuckles as he reaches where Danny is trying to get back up, kicking his younger self, sending him sprawling back to the ground. He flicks his wrist and Danny finds himself bound again. "I don't think so. All you've done is weaken yourself and you're ally." He gestures to where Tucker is struggling to rise, obviously affected by the ghostly wail, despite his attempts to block it. Another flick of his wrist and Tucker's ghost is bound the same as Danny. "I'm the one enemy you aren't going to be able to defeat. You aren't strong enough to beat me and you aren't strong enough to keep from turning into me. I'm the ultimate enemy, I'm afraid. And I've grown bored with this." He turns back to the human, twenty four year old Danny Fenton. "Time to get rid of one unexpected annoyance and then I'm sending you back to where we came from."

The older Danny Fenton just sits there, shaking in terror, his eyes glued to the ghost that's advancing on him.

"What's wrong with me?" Danny asks, turning to Tucker. "Why aren't I fighting back or running or something?"

Tucker sighs, giving up on his struggle against the binds that hold him. "I don't know that there's anything left in you to make you do that."

"What?" When this is over, he's seriously going to have to sit down with Clockwork or someone and figure out what the heck exactly happened.

"I've been taken care of your human half for ten years, dudes. And the only time since the split that I've seen even a hint of the old you, is when Sam got so upset about your future."

And hope flares to life in Danny's chest, because that's the second time that Tucker has mentioned their missing friends (at least, he's almost positive that the other half of the we that Tucker had been talking about was referring to Sam) and he's sure that means she's close by. She's got to be.

"Sam? Then she is here! Skulktech 9.9 wasn't lying!" If Danny had more energy, he'd probably be doing flips in the air or something equally ridiculous. As it is, he beams at Tucker, a tired smile, but a bright one none the less.

Tucker opens his mouth to reply, hopefully to tell Danny exactly where to find her, but before he can a different, and distinctly more feminine voice, answers the question for him.

Sam watches horrified as Dan Phantom sends her friend sprawling to the ground, binding both Danny and Tucker. Then he turns onto the helpless version of Danny Fenton that Sam is still trying to wrap her mind around and the only thing the human can do is sit and stare at the ghost that had tried to kill him nearly ten years ago as he advances to finish the job.

Something inside Sam snaps with the dead grass that crunch ominously beneath Dan's boots. She'd sat quietly while Danny had listened to Valerie explain the future to him, leaving out some of the most important parts because she had no way of knowing what exactly caused the monster that haunts them. She'd grit her teeth as Dan had come in initially and stolen Danny's time medallion, going back in time to create the ghost of her friend that she's standing next too. She'd used every ounce of self control that she possessed to stop herself from running out with Tucker to help when Dan had reappeared. But watching the future Danny Phantom advance on the helpless future Danny Fenton, chips away the last of her self control.

"I'm sorry," She whispers angrily, "but I can't stand here on the sidelines and do nothing anymore!" And she wrenches herself from where Clockwork's grasp is firmly on her shoulder.

"No," Clockwork deadpans, allowing the girl to slip easily from his grasp, "stop. Comeback."

Sam feels the chill leave her as she loses Clockwork's intangibility. There's a chill in the air that bites at her skin, different than the one she'd just been feeling, but no less ghostly in nature. Being surrounded by four ghosts is bound to drop the temperature a little bit. It doesn't register as more than a fleeting thought to the teen however, because she's busy positioning herself between Dan and the human Danny.

"That's enough!"

And surprisingly, or maybe unsurprisingly (Sam hasn't quite decide which yet), Dan stops short at her words. Or maybe at her sudden appearance that had accompanied them. He just kind of freezes for a second, hand outstretched towards Danny, and stares at her in shock. His mouth is even hanging open and if she hadn't heard from both Tucker and Clockwork about how evil and cruel this ghost really is, she might have giggled. As it is, she crosses her arms across her chest and glares at him.

And even though it's Dan Phantom that is staring at her, looking like he's struggling to figure out exactly who she is or how she got there, it's fourteen year old Danny's voice that reaches her first.

"Sam!"

to be continued...

There's chapter ten. Let me know what you guys think!