Guess what I had for breakfast? *grins* I ate Vlad.
Vlad: No you didn't. You had fruit loops.
Me: Yah, that's what I said.
Vlad: But that doesn't even make s-*realizes what I'm saying and grumbles*
LOL. Anyways, I'm going to center this chapter a lot on Danny. Why? Because I just want to get some things straight. Confusing? You'll see what I mean when you start. Please enjoy.
Danny's friends and sister's just stared in disbelief at the young halfa. Danny just stood there, his hands clenched in fists, head hanging and tears dripping to the ground. Vlad floated in front of the four, his arms crossed and an evil grin on his face.
Everybody was silent, shocked by his decision, but each in a different reason.
His friends and sister were shocked just because of what he had said.
Vlad was shocked, but only slightly by how easy it had been.
And Danny? Danny was shocked by the words he had finally said, the words he had vowed never to say-or at least in this case. How could he let such distasteful words roll across his tongue to his arch-enemy? How? Because he cared about his friends and family. He didn't want them to get hurt. He would much rather take the fall then them getting harmed.
And it was this that was Danny's downfall. He was just so noble. He always put other's before him. He could be on his death bed, and he would worry about his friend acing a test they had been studying for weeks for. He could be failing every class-which, in fact he was almost-and he would only worry about the ghosts that invaded the town.
Yes, Danny was a very giving person. Even before he got his powers. Before he even became half ghost, he would always stand himself between a fellow friend and a bully, taking the hit or being stuffed in a locker. He would back up his parents whenever his sister, even though he loved her, would scold them for their ghost obsessions. Heck, he would even try and help Sam if he was at her house and her parents, who defiantly did not like him, were trying to make her try some silly dress on.
But what Danny didn't realize, was that even though it was a good thing for everybody else, it was terrible for him. The battle scars. The sleep deprivation. The failing grades. Everything. He noticed these things, but never paid them much mind as his ghost sense would go off and he would go and save the city yet again for who knows which time that week, that day alone.
His friends could defiantly see the results of the constant heroism that flooded his veins. And they were always trying to help. To help him see that he needed to worry about himself too. And just like Danny's nobleness going back even before his powers, it was the same for his friends and family. They always backed him up, knowing that if somebody didn't, he would get into some big trouble for his constant butting in.
And yet, Danny chose not to listen. He was far more concerned about their safety then his own. When they saw the injuries he acquired from the battles, he would simply say something like, "Don't worry about me. It'll heal fine. How's your arm?" or something else to turn the attention from him. And when he came home late, and his parents scolded him for being so, he would just take the punishment and go up to his room, just waiting for the next ghost to appear.
He knew that to protect those he loved, and everybody else, he had to sacrifice these things. Such as wanting to get good grades, to not get in trouble for coming home late almost every night, his dream of becoming an astronaut, for he knew that as long as he was Danny Phantom and protected the town, he could never go off for long increments of time to voyage through space. And maybe, yes maybe another sacrifice was being with the one he loved…
Perhaps that was the reason he never had told Sam, his one true love, that he cared so much about her. Not the kind of care that she had always seen, as her just being a friend, but much, much more. He wanted to be with her, but he knew better. His ghostly enemies already used his loved ones against him, so he knew that if they knew he cared more about her than he let on, then that would just make matters worse. They would start to target her, knowing he would do anything to save her.
And what a bittersweet thought that was now. The situation right now, was partially spotlighted on her. If he didn't do what he had just done, Vlad would've surely tried to harm them to get to him. So really, he had had no choice in the matter but to do the unthinkable.
And he knew what this decision would bring him. Pain, loneliness, and other feelings from being torn away from his loved ones.
But then there was the good things it would bring.
Like how Vlad would probably stop his schemes as long as he had Daniel by his side. And maybe he could give up his hate towards Jack-although it would probably always be there, he could at least swallow the feelings. And maybe, just maybe he could let Maddie go as long as he had his perfect half ghost son.
And surely the ghost numbers would go down, right? With Danny no longer interfering with them, and then not being able to fight him, they would very most likely leave the small town alone, having no true reason to go there.
And as much as he hated to admit it, Danny knew that with the power Vlad held, he could learn so much from him. He would still hold onto his own morals, not caving in to Vlad's bitterness, so as not to turn into him.
And so, honestly, it was better for everybody like this. Wasn't it? It had to be, didn't it? There really was no other way…Was there…?
"A very good choice, Daniel." Vlad finally said, snapping everybody back to reality. Danny just clenched his fists tighter and closed his eyes in an attempt to halt his spiraling, emotional sickness.
"Danny, you can't! Take it back Danny!" Sam exclaimed, tears running down her face as well. She had her arms folded upwards, pointing towards her face, her hands in sad fists.
"Danny, don't do this…" Jazz added, tears pouring down her face also.
"Dude, you can't." Tucker continued with tears of his own slipping from his eyes.
Danny took a shaky breath before looking up at them. They could see the obvious emotions swimming in his eyes as he shakily replied, "I have to. This is the way it has to be. Now just go. I can't let you guys get hurt." And not wanting to see the pained expressions on their face, he turned around and faced Vlad.
"There will be conditions towards this-" Danny gulped before continuing, "-agreement."
"Of course, I'll let you pick a few minor things. But first…" Vlad shot a glance at Danny's friends and sister, who were just staring at Danny, shock and pain in their tear filled eyes.
"Guys, go. I'll be fine. I promise." Danny said softly, unable to look at them, knowing the looks that their faces held.
But they didn't move. They didn't plan on leaving unless Danny was going too.
And able to tell his friends were refusing to go, he turned around, letting his pained eyes turn into cold ones to persuade them.
"I said leave. I can handle myself." he pleaded, seriousness in his voice.
"We'll be back to save you Danny. Don't forget that." Jazz said before grabbing Sam and Tucker by the hand and yanked them away towards the front of the mansion.
Danny closed his eyes sadly, turning back around to face Vlad, but he let his head hang low.
"Now then, those conditions…?" Vlad started with a curious, evil grin spreading on his pale blue face.
Wow. I had my brother pre-read this, and he said it was very good. Well, the first half right before Vlad said it was a good choice. Why did I decide to get all emotional in those mixed musings? Because I just started a series that I thought wouldn't be good before and now I'm totally sucked in. Yes, the kind of book you turn the pages, not a fanfiction book. LOL. If you wanna know what I'm reading, ask in a review and I'll message back. But please, leave your own musings on this chapter.