THIRTEEN
"If I remember correctly, Vlad's mansion is around this area..." Tucker pointed to a spot on a map of Amity Park.
Danny shrugged. "Yeah, looks about right." He turned the map over and looked at Tucker, a grin on his face. "Or..."
"Or...?"
"Or we could just borrow the Infi-Map, from Frostbite, and it'll take us directly to Vlad."
Tucker grinned. "Good idea!"
Both boys turned to the ghost portal. Danny walked over and started it up. "We've gotta make this quick cuz I don't think we have much time," he said grimly. The portal started to reveal the swirling green world. "Let's go."
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"What do you mean we can't borrow the Infi-Map?!" Danny was outraged. He paced the icy cave floor. "The plan was perfect, flawless, nothing could go wrong! And now...this!" He glanced at Frostbite, who said nothing. "I thought I was the 'savior of the Ghost Zone.' Doesn't that mean I can use stuff when I really need it? Don't I get special privileges?"
"Well, to a point," Frostbite said. "But in your case, it would be something to help yourself."
Tucker put his word in. "Dude, he's going to save a life!" He was quickly silenced by a glare from Frostbite.
Frostbite looked Danny in the eyes. He saw the hope, desperation, and love in them - but he could also see the start of tears welling up in the young man's eyes. "Oh...fine. All right." Frostbite sighed and turned around, opening the doors to the cabinet that held the map. He handed it to Danny but didn't let go until he said, "But this is the only thing you use it for."
Danny nodded. "Got it." Frostbite let go and let the boy take control.
Tucker grabbed onto Danny's shoulder. "Ready."
Frostbite gave a word of advice. "You know, it may not work in the outside world since it is a map of the Ghost Zone."
Danny glanced at Frostbite. "It's my last hope. I'm guessing Vlad has a portal with him wherever he may be." He opened the map. "Take me to where Vlad Masters and Sam Manson are." The map glowed and started to get them where they wanted to go, finding a portal that would take them to the exact place.
Frostbite heard a 'thanks' yelled out at the two boys left the frozen waste land.
"Ooh, your boyfriend better hurry up, not much time now until I start the show!" Vlad gave Sam a venomous look.
Sam's face flushed. She frowned. "He's not my boyfriend. He's just my really good friend! I've known him forever!"
Vlad shrugged. "Whatever you say...but isn't it always, in movies and TV shows, the girl and the boy who are enemies, saves the other's life...or they've been friends since forever - aren't they the ones who always end up together in the end?" He walked out of the room to let his captive meditate on what he said.
Sam didn't notice the TV on the wall behind her open up to reveal the Ghost Zone and two 14-year-old boys tumbling out. They got up to brush themselves off. Danny silenced Tucker, as he was about to speak, when Sam started to talk to herself.
Sam sighed. She wanted to be with Danny, as his girlfriend, but she didn't know why she wanted that. "I think I like the idea of having a boyfriend much more than I would actually having one," Sam thought out loud, to herself.
Danny silently walked up behind her. "Well, I for one absolutely adore having a girlfriend...you haven't actually ever had a real boyfriend, have you?"
Sam looked up suddenly to find Danny standing above her, face breaking out into a smile. "Danny!" She blushed. "Um...I...uh, well, I..."
"…Probably want to get out of those restraints, right?" Danny asked softly. Sam nodded. Danny unbuckled the straps that held her in.
As soon as Sam was free, she hugged Danny for a long time. "I'm so glad you came," she whispered into his ear.
"Why wouldn't I?" he whispered back. "You are one of the most important people in my life."
"Someone else in the room cleared their throat. Danny and Sam looked around to find Tucker standing awkwardly at one end of the room. "Uh...hi. Remember me?"
Danny started to smile, but Vlad's voice cut through his happiness. "Well, wasn't this just a wonderful little reunion?"
Quickly, Danny walked up to Vlad, put a finger in his face, and said very sharply, "Do not ever come within 50 feet of me or my friends or my family or anyone I've ever come in contact with ever again. If you do, I'll be there to make sure you are returned to wherever I'm going to send you." And with that, Danny turned around, grabbed Sam and Tucker by the wrists, and went into the Ghost Zone.
Vlad just stood there, not knowing what to do. "I thought I'd be able to win...why couldn't I?" he asked himself. He stood there, stupefied.
Seconds later, Danny came back through the portal with Walker and his officers. Clearly, Danny said, "Walker, arrest this man and never let him out of the Ghost Zone."
Walker smiled. "With pleasure." He walked up to Vlad. "Vlad Plasmius, you are hereby arrested for...sigh numerous things that I currently don't want to go into, so, change into your ghost self, and come with me."
Vlad did as he was told, surprisingly enough. He let himself be lead into the Ghost Zone by the GZPD officers.
"Walker, uh..." Danny said, "Won't Vlad be able to change back to human and escape?"
Walker shook his head. "Nope. Those handcuffs were specially made to make sure he never changes to human again."
Danny gulped. A little nervous, he said, "Uh...okay. Sounds good. Thanks."
Walker answered, "Don't mention it. And don't worry, ghost boy, today's not your day to be taken to the prison." As he left the room, he laughed, making Danny a little more nervous.