I don't own Danny Phantom or Kingdom Hearts.
Ch. 10: Countdown
Danny arrived with his family and friends at Axion Labs at exactly 9:00AM just like Valerie said. Instead of flying, he rode in the Fenton Assault Vehicle, aka the Fenton RV. It was cramped considering that he was sitting in the back with Jazz, Tucker, and Sam, but he could care less. He'd been in tighter spots before, literally and figuratively, so he was okay. Danny was just eager to actually hang out with his friends again and actually meet an astronaut.
Since he was little, Danny had always dreamed of becoming an astronaut, despite his Dad's attempts to make him a ghost hunter. To meet an actual astronaut was an honor for Danny like meeting a celebrity. Tucker, who was back to wearing his usual clothes consisting of his red beret, yellow shirt, green pants, and boots, was more excited than Sam, mostly because of all the technology at Axion Labs and less about the space part. Danny was lucky that Tucker and Sam were able to come thanks to Tucker's new secretary rearranged Tucker's schedule so he could go and Sam's parents allowing her to go, provided that there was an adult supervising them.
It was a bumpy ride there, mainly because of Jack's driving, but they managed to reach Axion Labs in one piece. Once they were parked, everyone in the back quickly got out to stretch their legs and straighten themselves out, as Tucker wiped off his glasses. Danny was the first to notice that Valerie was waiting outside for them.
Valerie is a tall teenaged girl with long, curly black hair, and dark skin just like Tucker. She wore a yellow shirt with an orange skirt, white tennis shoes, and an orange head band in her hair.
"Hey Danny. Have a nice ride?" she joked.
"I've had better." Danny said as he rubbed his sore neck. "Thanks again for setting this up."
"It's the least I could do. Considering…. Well you know." She said nervously.
"You hunting me for the past few years? Don't worry; you're not the first person to do that." Said Danny.
"It's true." interrupted Jack. His sudden interruption startled the two teens a bit. "Boy, if I had a nickel for every time I tried to blow up Danny." Chuckled Jack.
Danny smiled sheepishly as he explained, "Sorry about my parents. Sam's parents wouldn't let her come unless there were some responsible adults watching me and Sam."
"Sorry to hear that." Valerie said.
"It's actually more of a compliment. They're starting to actually view my parents as responsible." joked Danny.
Valerie chuckled a little and said, "We should get going. Something tells me Tucker wants to go in."
Danny looked past her and saw Tucker pressing himself against the door like a dog waiting for his master to let him inside. The two chuckled and decided to head inside.
The International Space Station was only hours away from floating exactly over Amity Park. Danny wasn't the only one who was waiting for the college-sized space station to get into position. In fact, there were three.
Two of them were dangerous criminals; life-threatening beings that have made an alliance with a dangerous woman in exchange for revenge on a common enemy. The two had never met and were thousands of miles apart. One was on Earth, and the other in space waiting to strike. Both of them patiently waited to attack using the "gifts" provided by the woman who was the third person who was waiting for the space station to get into position.
Her name is Maleficent.
"Am I the only one wondering why there's going to be a giant space station hovering above Amity Park?" Sam asked.
Very few people were actually listening because they were either distracted by the advanced technology or patiently waiting the communications room to get contact with the space station. Valerie was the only one who heard because she was used Axion Labs and was bored.
"I know a little about it. Originally, our ex-mayor wanted Axion to design a new type of space resort for families, but after his "resignation" the station has been used to study the effects of plant life and ectoplasm in space." Valerie said. While Sam was intrigued by the idea of plants being able to survive in space, Sam thought she heard Valerie's tone turn dark and hateful when she mentioned the mayor, Vlad Masters.
"So basically, it's a space hotel that's being used to see if plants and ghosts can survive in space?" Sam asked.
"Pretty much." Valerie said.
"Attention: Communication with the MAD-1 will be achieved in 45 seconds." Said a voice over the intercom.
Without hesitation, everyone headed into the communications room, which looked like a control room for a space station with a huge movie-theatre sized screen. The employees in there were working hard on their monitors and those that did look up just stared to look at Danny.
Danny just waited soberly as he waited for the screen to turn on. Although he looked serious and professional, inside he felt as giddy as a school girl or like his Dad trying out a new invention. His friends stood next to him while his family stayed back and let Danny enjoy his moment as the screen turned on. The image was slightly blurred but it cleared up and showed on the monitor. It showed a man in his late 30's in a blue space suit with blonde hair.
"Hello? Amity Park, do you read me? This is Hank Fystrum." Hank said.
"We hear you loud and clear." Said one of the workers on a monitor. "Do you copy?"
"Yeah, I can see you guys. Wait, isn't that the ghost kid?" said Hank.
All eyes were on Danny as he smiled nervously and said, "Uh yeah. Danny Phantom, sir."
"Wow! I can't believe I'm talking to the kid who saved the world. Let me be the first up here to say it's an honor to talk to you."
Danny couldn't help but blush and say, "The feelings mutual."
"Could you wait a second? I'm sure the rest of my team would love to see you."
"Uh sure, go ahead."
Hank went off-screen for a moment which gave Danny a second to relax as his heart was beating like a kettle drum. Danny had experienced a lot in his life, but this one of the most exhilarating moments yet. Danny didn't know how much time had passed, but it almost seemed like time had stopped.
After 10 seconds, Danny calmed down a bit and noticed that Hank had been gone for a long time. He knew the space ship was huge, but it shouldn't have taken this long.
"GAH!" came a scream from the ship.
Everyone in the room had a small heart attack and tensed up when they heard that and began to worry. It didn't take a genius to know that something horrible had gone wrong. When Hank came back on his screen, everyone let out a sigh of relief. However Danny felt that something was off. As if something was different about the astronaut.
Hank now had a sinister smile and unless Danny was mistaken, his eyes had turned red.
"Sorry to scare you all, I found the rest of my crew but I'm afraid I have good news and bad news." Said Hank. Danny was less excited now and was starting to get suspicious. For a second he thought Hank's voice had changed and he almost recognized.
"The bad news is that it seems we've lost control of the station." Hank said calmly. That earned several gasps and worried looks from everyone one in the room except for Danny as he realized that not only were Hank's voice and eyes different but he recognized them.
"The good news is that someone else has regained control of the station for us." Hank said with a smile. Danny gasped because that smile wasn't a cheerful smile, it was a malicious smile. A smile that he had only one person would wear. The same person whose plotted against his family for years, he tried to destroy and several occasions, and last wore it when the Disasteroid threatened to destroy the Earth and he tried to use it to rule the world.
"No. No it can't be." Danny said as he took a step back.
"Danny, what's wrong?" Sam asked.
"That's not Hank." Danny said.
"What are you talking about?" Tucker asked.
"He's right. And this ship isn't controlled by the crew, nor by Hank Fystrum." Said Hank. Suddenly, Hank froze briefly before collapsing as a ghost phased out of him and smiled sinisterly.
"I am." Said Vlad Plasmius
Standing in front of the screen was none other than the evil halfa known as Vlad Plasmius. He stood in front of the screen with his black hair in a horn-shaped curve with turquoise skin, red eyes, a shirt black beard, a flowing white cape with red on the inside, black boots and gloves, a white suit with a collar stuck-up, and black belt.
Everyone in the room was either frightened or shocked, except for Danny, his parents, friends, and sister, who also had anger in them.
Vlad Masters, aka Vlad Plasmius, used to be Jack and Maddie's friend in college, but after an accident occurred when they tested Jack's first Ghost Portal, he became a halfa like Danny. Since that day, he had used his powers to become rich and plot to destroy Jack for stealing the love of his life, Maddie. However, every time he tried Danny would foil his schemes.
Vlad was the one who caused the Disasteroid to hurtle towards the Earth and threatened the world that he could save them if they made him ruler and gave him 500 billion dollars. Unfortunately, he failed to stop the Disasteroid and since he revealed his secret to the world and Jack left him in space, he was unable to return to Earth even after Danny saved the day.
Danny was both angry, but cautious. Vlad was a tricky opponent, and Danny wasn't sure what he would do next.
"V-man, you-you're alive? How?" Jack asked.
"I guess even when you're trying to kill me, you fail. Just like everything else you do." Insulted Vlad. "But if you must know, after you stranded me in space, I nearly died due to having no food or water. Luckily, I managed to….survive and managed to find this space station. I remembered that this was going to be my makeshift palace for me and my queen after I saved the world and took over. So I just phased in and here I am." Vlad said.
"Yeah, great story. Now get out of there and leave those people alone." Ordered Danny.
Vlad just chuckled at Danny and said, "Oh Daniel, always quick to act without thinking. Just like your idiotic father."
Both Danny and Jack angrily furrowed their eyebrows at Vlad. Danny was used to Vlad's insults about his Dad, but it still made him angry.
"Do you really think I came here and took out the entire crew just to say hello?" Vlad said. "No, I have much bigger plans. For you see, in two hours I am going to turn Amity Park into a crater. Everything will be destroyed, including where you all are."
Danny tensed up more and was completely serious now. When it came to Vlad and his threats, he never joked about it. Even though it seemed impossible since Vlad was in space and had no access to any weapons or power to actually destroy the city, he could tell Vlad wasn't bluffing.
"What do you want Plasmius? To rule the world? To be rich again?" Danny asked.
"And don't even think of asking for Maddie." Jack said as he grabbed Maddie and pulled her towards him.
"As tempting as that last offer was, I have something different in mind: you Daniel." Vlad said.
"Me?" Danny said.
"Yes you. If there's one thing I want is to finally defeat you once and for all. So either be here in two hours or Amity Park will be no more." Vlad told them.
"What makes you think we'd listen to you? You could be bluffing for all we know." Jazz said.
"True, I could. I'm sure many of you are even going to risk it. However it doesn't matter what any of you think. It's Daniel's choice, and we all know he won't deny the challenge. See you soon, little badger."
Vlad let out an evil laugh as he destroyed the camera in the space station with an ecto-beam and cut off the feed. The room was quiet for a moment before the Axion employees started to panic. Out of everyone in the room, Danny was the only one whose expression hadn't changed. Right now he was contemplating Vlad's challenge while his family and friends tried to devise their own plan.
"Great! My one day off and Vlad threatens to destroy the town." Groaned Tucker.
"Tucker, this is serious!" Sam said. "Unless Vlad gets Danny, he could destroy the entire town."
"Impossible." Valerie said. "I spent so much time here I've know everything about that station and it doesn't have any weapons."
"Yeah, but this is Vlad's ship. Who knows what kind of surprises he has in there?" Tucker said.
"Good point. Maybe there's a way we can cut him off from accessing any weapons on there, if there is any." Maddie said. "Although we'd still have to find a way to save Vlad's hostages that are on the station."
"Wait, I got it!" said Jack. "We'll use the Fenton Rocket to go up there and save them!"
"And how are we going to do that without dealing with Vlad?" Jazz asked.
Jack was about to respond, but realized he didn't have anything to say. "Um….I don't know. Maybe we could distract Vladdy with something."
All eyes turned to Maddie, but she responded with a scowl and said, "Don't even think about it."
"Uh I'm just gonna use the bathroom." Said Tucker before leaving everyone.
"We could try dressing up the Tuck-bot as Danny and use that to fool Vlad." Jazz suggested.
"No, any idiot would be able to figure it out." Said Jack, who had fallen for that trick before unknowingly.
"Let's just agree that keeping Danny away from Vlad is our top priority." Maddie said.
"Uh Mom, I think that might be a problem." Jazz said.
"Why?"
"Because Danny's not here."
Everyone turned and realized that Danny wasn't with them.
"I'll go check the bathrooms." Jack said.
"Oh no. You don't think he'd be stupid enough to actually go after Vlad do you?" Jazz worried.
"I don't think stupidity as anything to do with it." Said Sam. She feared Danny would go just to protect them.
Jack returned after wiping his wet hand on his jumpsuit and said, "He's not in there, and they're out of soap."
"Did you ask Tucker if he saw Danny?" Valerie said.
"Why? He wasn't there."
"I thought Tucker said he had-" Valerie froze as she had a thought. "Jazz, when did you notice Danny was gone?"
Jazz thought back and said, "I think before Tucker went to the bathroom."
It didn't take long for everyone else to think the same thing Valerie was thinking. "You don't think-"
"Danny overheard our plans, took Tucker, and is going to go after Vlad." Sam finished.
"That's crazy, what would he need with a techno-whiz for?" Jack said.
Silence. Nothing could be heard from inside the prisoner's cell. All he could do was sit there and wait. He was used to it and kept a positive attitude, although it was undetermined if he was just psychotic or happy. Occasionally there would be sounds of insane laughter or rambling coming from his cell but today his was more quiet than usual. As if he was expecting something.
The prisoner was a thin, bald man in an orange jumpsuit that the Guys in White gave him with a long nose. As sad and pitiful as the prisoner looked, he didn't deserve empathy. He used to rob, steal, and tried to kill innocent families. Normally he would be placed in a regular prison or penitentiary however he was very useful to his captors: the Guys in White.
The Guys in White are a government agency whose sole purpose is to hunt down all ghosts that could be a potential threat. All of the agents looked alike with the same white suits and black sunglasses. Even though Danny Phantom repeatedly up-staged them, they persevere and hunt down ghosts and try to eradicate them. The reason they have this prisoner is because his vast knowledge of ghosts and ghostly artifacts helped them at times, albeit by force.
It was humiliating for the prisoner to be used but almost as humiliating as being defeated by a mere child: Danny Phantom. Danny Phantom was the ghost that had foiled his plans to use ghosts to rob cities and had gotten him arrested. Not to mention foiled his plans to control reality. No one knew about it except him, probably because the ghost wiped their minds. The prisoner never forgot the hatred he held against the boy and if he ever escaped, he would enact his revenge.
The prisoner looked to see a Guy in White agent pass and called, "Excuse me? Do you have the time?"
The agent stopped and raised an eyebrow in suspicion. It was an old question, but he replied coldly, "9:46."
"Ah yes, thank you my good man." The prisoner replied.
The agent didn't reply and walked away. The prisoner grinned sinisterly as he chuckled lightly. "It's only a matter of time. He he he."
"I hope Tucker's not going to be too mad about this." Danny said.
He reached his house after flying all the way from Axion to his house and fast as he could. He was relieved to see that his parents weren't there to talk him out of his plan. Danny knew it was dangerous, but he planned to take the Fenton Rocket so that he could reach Vlad and stop him before he could do any harm. Danny didn't know how to fly it, so he overshadowed Tucker and used it to fly back to his house and hope that the geek would know how to operate it. He knew it was a trap, it was obvious, but Danny couldn't let Vlad get away with endangering lives.
When he got to the basement, Danny entered the weapon vault, which had been expanded through the years. It started out as the size of a closet but his dad expanded so that it went deeper and wider. Danny phased out of Tucker as the meat-lover regained control.
"What if we-HEY! Did you take over my body?" Tucker asked angrily.
"Yes, and I'm sorry, but I need you. If we're going to stop Vlad, we need the Fenton Rocket and….you're the only person who's smart enough to pilot it and won't try to stop me." Danny admitted, adding 'smart' comment in hopes of getting on Tucker's good side. "Besides, you owe me for helping you with your 'secretary' problem."
"Alright. Where's the rocket?" Tucker asked.
Danny flew ahead while in his ghost form through the various weapons where the giant Fenton rocket laid. It was almost hard to believe that his Dad actually got the Fenton Rocket in here. Danny grabbed Tucker and phased both of them inside the rocket.
"So Tuck, do you think can work this thing?" Danny asked.
Tucker didn't respond as he turned the Fenton Rocket on and smiled slyly. "Was there any doubt?" he said proudly. In the backyard, the ground parted as a hatch opened for the Rocket to exit, just as the Fenton RV arrived at the house.
"Excuse me, do you have the time?" the prisoner asked.
This was the third time he had asked a Guy in White agent for the time. The agent just said, "10:58."
"Good." He smiled.
"What's so good?"
"It's almost time."
As Danny's family and Sam rushed to stop Danny from doing his reckless, brave plan, the Fenton Rocket started to tilt upwards and was getting ready to launch.
"Got your helmet?" Danny asked.
"Yep." Said Tucker as he tapped his helmet. "I gotta say, aside from the mortal terror, it's good to be back fighting ghosts."
"How long until we launch?" Danny asked.
"About a minute."
SLAM!
Danny and Tucker were surprised when Jack came in. He managed to get inside the rocket before it was in launching position while Maddie, Sam, and Jazz were outside.
"Danny! What in the name of poltergeists are you doing?" Jack exclaimed.
"Dad!" Danny yelped. "I-I can explain."
"Yes you do." He scowled. "There is no way I'm letting you or Tucker fly this thing."
"But Dad-"
"No buts. You're no flying. You're too young. Move aside."
Danny and Tucker were both surprised and confused about Jack's willingness to help.
"Dad why are you helping us? I thought you and Mom were trying to stop us." Danny asked.
"Well your mother is right, what you're doing is extremely dangerous, reckless, and you might die fighting a ghost. *Sniff* I've never been more proud in my life. Besides, it's time a give Vladdie some payback for what he's done to you."
Danny smiled and said, "Thanks Dad."
"Don't mention it. Seriously, if your mother asks, tell her that I couldn't stop you in time."
After the prisoner's third attempt to ask for the time, the two head agents went to investigate. Their names were Agents K and O. Both of them had bone white suits with black ties and boots, serious expressions, black sunglasses, no hair, and ear pieces. The only difference between is that one had lighter skin and had lighter skin while the other had no facial hair and darker skin.
"What seems to be the problem?" Agent K asked.
"Oh nothing, I just want to know what time it is. Is that a crime?" said the prisoner innocently.
"No, but it is suspicious." Said Agent O.
"Speaking of which, do you have the time?"
Agent K sneered before checking his watch, "10:59."
"Are you sure?"
"Look for yourself." Said Agent K, whose patience was waning. He showed the prisoner his watch as the prisoner saw the second hand tick away.
"Five." Vlad counted from the space station.
"Four." counted Danny
"Three." Tucker counted.
"Two!" shouted Jack.
"One." Said the prisoner.
"BLAST-OFF!" Jack shouted.
With a deafening roar, the Fenton Rocket lit up and as the engines fired and launched the Fenton Rocket. Maddie, Jazz, and Sam had to cover their ears from the noise of rocket. As it shot straight into the sky, the sound of the rocket diminished as the sound of car alarms grew.
Before Agents K and O could question the prisoner any more, the lights went out and the prisoner cackled happily.
"What's going on?" Agent O asked.
"You're about to experience the true power of darkness." The prisoner stated.
"What are you- AHHHHHH!"
When the girls could hear again, Jazz asked, "Danny's gonna be fine. Right?"
"I hope so." Maddie said as a tear went down her face.
As the lights flickered, the prisoner could hear the screams of the agents as they were attacked by a force they had never encountered. They came from the darkness taking forms of their own and attacked. All the agents were alarmed, but showed no fear as they battled the mysterious threat.
The prisoner was the only one who showed no fear. If anything, he was laughing happily. One of the creatures unlocked his cage and he casually strolled out. He left the room and happily kicked his heels together. While the other agents fought off these strange creatures, he walked past them all unharmed. The monstrous beings ignored him and the agents who did stop him were stopped by the creatures.
"I'm not worried about him. Danny's beaten Vlad tons of times, and he'll do it again." Sam said as she closed her eyes and hoped Danny would be okay.
Vlad could see the dot that was the Fenton Rocket flying higher into space. "Right on schedule, little badger." Vlad said as he and his creatures awaited Danny's arrival.
"Danny's not the one I'm worried about." Sam said. "I'm more worried about us."
The prisoner strolled through the building as the agents were losing to this menace. The prisoner strolled into a room and found someone he had been looking for.
"Ah. There you are, my dear." He said.
The prisoner approached a large glass bacta tank with a female ghost in it. She was an unconscious green-skinned ghost with tattoos over most of her body, wore only black tights, boots, a black top, a red hooded cape, a nose ring, earrings, red eyes, and spikes on her head that may or may not be hair. The prisoner pressed his hand against the glass before going to the controls and releasing her. As the liquid drained from the tank the ghost girl steadily woke up. She blinked a couple times before she saw the prisoner and perked up.
"Ready to cause some mayhem?" he asked. He pressed a button and the tube descended into the ground freeing the girl.
"What do you mean?" Jazz asked.
"Well Danny has protected the town from dozens of enemies, what if one of them attacks or something happens while he's gone?" Sam explained.
The prisoner had sent the ghost girl to find his belongings as he watched the chaos before him. In the one-sided fight, the dark menace was beating the Guys in White. The ghost girl quickly returned with the prisoner's belongings.
"Excellent. Now round of the most powerful weapons and the biggest vehicle they have while I freshen up." The prisoner ordered as he grabbed his clothes.
"Sam, just relax. Aside from Vlad's return, what could possibly go wrong?" Maddie asked.
When the prisoner was dressed in his old clothes, he had a red and black bowler hat, a black overcoat, red pants and shirt with a black vest, a black tie, and he used face paint to make his entire face white and his lips bright red.
Agents K and O were badly injured and managed to barricade themselves in an office as they tried to contact for help.
"Attention! This is Agent K of the Amity Park Division. We are under attack and our prisoner is escaping. I repeat, Prisoner Frederich Isak Showenhower is escaping.
"More like what will possibly go wrong." Sam added.
The prisoner met his tattooed-team mate nearly the entrance. The prisoner was pleased at what she had brought him. There were several deadly weapons that affected humans and ghosts as well as a Guy in White vehicle the size of an elephant.
"Nicely done, Lydia. Time to blow this popsicle stand." Said the prisoner.
He got into the driver's seat, hot-wired the vehicle, and started the vehicle. With a laugh he stepped on the gas and drove off through a wall onto the street. He made a hard right turn and drove onto the main road and left the Guys in White facility to be destroyed.
As he laughed maniacally he drove past a billboard that said 'Welcome to Amity Park'. He grinned and said, "Well Amity Park, get ready for the comeback of a lifetime. Prepare yourself, because Freakshow is back! HA HA! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!" Freakshow cackled.
End. Of Ch. 10
Uh-oh. Danny is in for quite a fight. Can Danny stop Vlad? Will Freakshow destroy the city? Find out in Ch. 11: Vlad's Trials.
