Vlad Masters: Father

Chapter 9 Part Two: Bedtime Story

Vlad Masters' POV:

Coming from the pool area, I felt this was one very interesting night – what with me rescuing Kathy from drowning. I was helping Kathy get into her new bed at this point, and she was wearing those new PJs that I got for her at the local mall in Madison, Wisconsin.

"Dad?" Kathy asked.

"What is it Kathy?" I asked.

"Would you mind telling me a bedtime story?"

I smiled warmly, knowing she would ask sometime soon. "Absolutely," I said. My brows were furrowed with thought. "What story would you like to hear?"

"One of your first adventures…" she replied.

I smirked. "What makes you think I had adventures? That's mostly reserved for good guys – and I was a bad guy for a time…"

She had a knowing smile on her face. "My mom told me you weren't a bad guy – well, at least when she met you. She told me that you and her had some fantastic adventures together, that you were a good guy." Her face turned serious. "I want to know if that is true."

I put some thought into this, and I replied with a smile. "Yes. What she said was true."

Kathryn was giggling with pleasure. "Then you must've had some adventures! I want to hear about one of them. Will you tell me, please!" She gave me the world-class puppy dog-look. I knew I couldn't resist that so adorable look of innocence. So I just gave in.

"Alright, alright!" I said laughing. I regained my sanity. I was thinking really hard. "What story should I tell you? Hmmm…"

"Oh yes!" I yelled with triumph. I turned back to Kathy and smiled. "You ready and listening?"

Kathy nodded her head, and then the story began.

"Once upon a time, there was this very evil warlock named Donovan Rugal, who's power and lifespan spawned many lifetimes. His great power resonated from the Phantom Sapphire, a mystical jewel stolen from the witchdoctors of Nubia…

"He has taken on many identities – the most notorious being that of Grigori Rasputin.

"He even managed to survive the Salem Witch Trials during the colonial era! He is considered one of the few remaining warlocks on earth.

"Because people have gone on to believe that witches, warlocks and wizards do not exist, the world has let their guard down and these vile beings have spread their influence for generations. Rugal took this to his advantage and planned to enslave the world…

"But he did not imagine he would face an enemy that would rival him to the end – the great human-ghost hybrid Vlad Plasmius! Although Plasmius knew he would not stand much of a chance against this villain, and the warlock had powers that nearly weakened the hero, Plasmius had one thing that Rugal could never overcome – a human heart.

"Plasmius managed to destroy the Phantom Sapphire and reduce Rugal to a powerless human. Instead of killing off Rugal then and there, Plasmius instead exiled him to the deepest reaches of an ancient, abandoned Roman city.

"The end." I smiled as I saw Kathy was getting tired.

"Wow," Kathy said sleepily. "Good story, dad." Kathy yawns.

I put the covers over her and kiss her forehead. "Good night, Kathy."

"Good night, daddy." As she said this, I shut the door. What a blessing this child has turned out to be.

Disclaimer: Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman.