To be honest, I have intended for this story to be a little bit longer, to have more side stories about other ghosts, however, I feel like a lot of readers who loved this story will eventually get tired if I kept on a relatively slow pace, so here it is, nearing the end.

That's all for pre-chapter notes! Have a good time reading!

A Grasp at a Distant Memory

Chapter 29: A True Face

© - Danny Phantom belongs to Butch Hartman - ©

Phantom and Plasmius' position was changed in just a few moments of distraction. The older ghost held the younger one in the torso using his left hand, the right charging a fatal attack of ectoplasm supposedly directed at him. Jack gritted his teeth and lunged at Vlad, though the Wisconsin ghost just put the ball of death closer to his son, making him stop at his tracks.

"Now, now." Vlad Plasmius directed an evil smirk at his former best friend. "I bet this little boy is precious to you, dead or alive. I have a proposition to make, and if you agree, he gets to stay safe in the Ghost Zone." He then sent a hungry look at Maddie, which sent shivers to her spine. "Isn't that hard, is it?"

"Hmph." Phantom smirked at the man holding him at his mercy. "As if that will kill me, Plasmius, you already killed me before, remember?"

"I'm aware of that, little badger. However, I do believe no one would want to see little Danny hurt and bleeding ectoplasm."

"Face it Plasmius, you've lost!" the young ghost shouted. "Mom and Jazz has lost their trust in you, and nobody is on your side now. No matter what you do, you couldn't take away what isn't yours!"

Plasmius pressed the ball of ectoplasm closer to him, just a few millimeters away from his face.

"You need to learn that this is adult's talk, Daniel. You are not allowed to interfere, you're the one subdued after all."

"W-What do you want, Vladimir?" Maddie asked, her eyes wide with fear.

"You know well what I want, Madeline dear." Vlad said in such a sick voice Jack resisted the urge to hurl. "I've always loved you ever since college, and that buffoon who has married you took you away from me. Now, I can have you again, Maddie. I'm giving you the choice. Jasmine will just be an incentive, but you know you are always necessary in my life."

Maddie gulped.

"No… I've never… loved you, Vlad."

"Yes, you do, my dear." He replied. "As much as I hate to admit it to myself, you loved Jack, that incompetent fool, instead of me, a successful, wise b-"

"Calculating, pretentious, ugly old frootloop." Danny supplied.

"Shut up, Daniel!" Vlad eyes got redder, as the boy shrinked under his hold. He had already lost the fury and adrenaline he had earlier during the heat of the battle. "Back to my point, Maddie. Yes, I am aware you don't like me, however, you do love Daniel, am I right?"

"Yes I do!" she shouted. "I love him so much I loathe you for murdering my baby boy, Vladimir!"

Danny stared at his mom's scared but fierce look. He was endeared of his mother's recent words, but he had a bad feeling about this. Here he was, useless, being used against his family. And he might be the reason his family will get hurt and lonely. Again.

"Let me go!" he began struggling weakly against him, not minding when the ectoplasm attack is grazing him slightly. "Please…" he pleaded, quivering in a voice that startled the human side of Vlad. "Please don't do this."

Plasmius gritted his teeth, aware that his human side is almost taking over. However, he kept firm.

"No, Daniel. You're my key in getting what I want. That was always supposed to be that way." He whispered to the boy.

"I-I'll come with you, Vlad. Just let Danny go."

Everyone in the room turned to Maddie, as she stepped a little bit closer to Vlad, who was smirking.

"Mads, no!" Jack grabbed her arm. "You don't need to do this."

Maddie gave Jack a sorrowful smile.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I love you." She took Jack's arm away gently, as she stepped further near the enemy holding her son.

"No! Don't do this, Mom!" Danny shouted.

"I love you, Danny, and I'm sorry."

In just a split second, Plasmius released his hold on the boy and held on the woman, the other hand that has been charged with an attack hit directly on the intended target. Phantom got blasted to a wall and was motionless for a while.

"Danny!" Jack shouted, torn between running to Danny or Maddie. "You didn't hold on to your promise!" he gritted his teeth as he began lunging at Vlad, only for him to disappear with Maddie.

"Maddie!" came Jack and Jazz's synchronized screams. Phantom extended his hand to the place where Vlad and Maddie stood a minute ago, before succumbing to darkness.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Clockwork!"

After watching the whole situation in his lair with deafening silence, the Time Spirit turned around to see Sam, Tucker, Jazz and Jack running to him, Jack holding an unconscious Danny at his back.

"I suppose you are all here to ask me where Vlad Plasmius is."

"Yes, please tell me how to save my wife." Jack said in a pleading voice.

"Very well." Clockwork said. "He's at one of his cabins in Colorado, situated along the woods near the border of Kansas. You'll find it easily there. Though, I do have a favor to ask all of you."

"W-What is it?" Sam looked taken aback by how small the Time Master and the current leader of the Ghost Zone sounds. "Can we be of any assistance, Clockwork?"

"Yes." He then waved his hand at the mirror showing the future, and he showed what will happen to Sam and Tucker once they get there. The two of them got crushed under a wall pinning them, leading to their premature death.

"W-What…" Tucker looked in disgust. "Are you saying we're gonna die?"

"Yes… Not unless you two don't go to that place."

"Then what do you suggest we do!?" Sam asked. "We can't just wait here while they suffer under Plasmius!"

"That's where the favor I want to ask comes in, children." He said, then opening the mirror that tells the future, and showing them the Time staff, the one which has been stolen by Vlad for years already. "Suppose they didn't make it in time to rescue Maddie, the rest of the Fenton family will perish, and Danny will have to remain a ghost until he disintegrates."

The humans stared at him in shock.

"As of now, I'm currently powerless to help all of you go through this ordeal unscathed." Clockwork said, closing the mirror. "However, in case Sam and Tucker manages to retrieve the staff, by which I believe the both of them has the better chance, I can undo whatever is supposed to happen."

Sam grabbed Tucker closer to her and whispered something in his ear, while the rest looked at them curiously.

"I guess… We really can't do a thing about it, huh?" Sam rubbed the back of her head. "Where are we supposed to find the staff then?"

"His Wisconsin mansion, the one you've went from just a while ago. It was on his basement, where he kept his own ghost portal."

"I don't have a clue where that is, but we'll do our best, right, Sam?"

"You got it." Sam and Tucker fistbumped. Clockwork smiled at them, as he then faced the Fenton family.

"You knew, didn't you?" Jazz asked him in a serious tone. "From the beginning, you knew that Phantom is my brother, yet you didn't give him a single hint. You met us, and you didn't even tell us. Why?"

"It was his choice to remember, Jasmine." The Time Master said, as he glanced at Phantom's slumbering form. "Just a few moments ago, he was reluctant of whether to remember or not. But he still did. I might know what the best course of time that may happen, but it is not my job to interfere. And I trust that all is where it should be. You'll see the light soon, Jasmine, Jack… Daniel. You've been a victim, but it's all necessary to learn your mistakes. It's still not too late to mend what's broken."

Jazz pondered on what Clockwork said, spending silence by herself. No matter how much she wanted to deny, all of them had made terrible mistakes.

"Mending what's broken, huh?" Jazz mumbled to herself.

It was then that Danny began getting back his consciousness.

"Danny!" the humans shouted in chorus. The ghost boy came around, and began squinting his eyes at the people and ghosts around him. His rest was short-lived when he realized what just happened.

"Mom!"

He clambered down his father's huge back, as everyone around him, with the exception of Clockwork, began shouting cries of protest.

"Danny, calm down!" Jack said, taking his shaking form in his huge arms.

"Mom!" he called in a blind panic. "Vlad! He took mom!" he phased himself out of his father's hold using his ghost powers, and began making his way away from them when Clockwork appeared in front of him.

"Little Phantom, your mother's not in grave danger as of now, however, you all are." Clockwork crouched down to his level. "I would like to warn you of what dangers you might have to face. To be honest, I don't want you to go… You'll get hurt… badly. And you know… since Plasmius is technically still a human, I would be forced to abide by the laws, even when it's you."

Phantom's eyes widened.

"You mean…"

"However, if you don't go, Jack and Jasmine will suffer the consequences. If you don't go with them, Plasmius will murder Jack and take Jasmine under his wing in the next few hours. Sam and Tucker would come next… and I cannot guarantee what would happen to them."

The young ghost glanced at his human family with wide, scared eyes, then shifted back to Clockwork.

"I'm sorry… But it's your choice, young one. As much as I wanted to do a thing to help… I cannot, right now."

Clockwork then stood up and went back to his original position, letting the boy collect his thoughts.

Sam and Tucker approached Danny, and Tucker slung his arms around the ghost boy.

"Only you would know what to do, Ghost Boy. We'll be trying our best to get the staff back so Clockwork could reverse whatever is gonna happen, so you need not to worry too much." Techno Geek grinned at him.

"Danny. Phantom." The boy then looked at the goth teenager. "I would be lying if I said I'm not scared." She looked at her shuffling feet. "I really wish we've met under more favorable circumstances. But I guess we will, someday… in your next life." She gave him a tender smile.

"My next life?" he asked.

"Yes, Danny." Sam held his pale, shaking hands. "You don't need to be afraid, Danny, you're already dead." She chuckled.

"Gee, thanks Sam."

"You're welcome, Ghost Boy." She said, giving him a soft smile, sending a little blush to Phantom's cheeks.

"Lovebirds." Tucker muttered.

"We're not lovebirds!" the two other 14-year olds shouted in unison.

Phantom inhaled sharply, released it, and then went to Clockwork, who is talking to Jazz and Jack. Their conversation was stopped when they saw the ghost boy approaching.

"I'll do it, Clockwork." He said, with a firm resolve. "Don't worry about wanting to do whatever the task is, I'm thankful I have met you… father."

For the first time in forever, Clockwork was surprised.

"One person dead in the family is enough, isn't it?" he grinned at Jack and Jazz. "I don't want any of you to get hurt. No matter what happens, I'll protect both of you, and defeat Plasmius once and for all."

"Are you sure, Danny?" Jack said. "You know you wouldn't see us anymore if you do. You'll die, and you won't be able to come back…"

"I'm already dead, Dad, and trust me, you wouldn't want to be one." He smiled at Jack, trying to reassure him. "Relax. I'll be ok, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if someone bad happens to you. And I wouldn't want Mom to stick with that frootloop either."

"Danny…" Jazz, with teary eyes, launched her form into her younger brother and hugged him tightly. "I'm so sorry… I'm so, so, sorry."

"Gee, calm down, Jazz." Phantom chuckled. "What for?"

"For not protecting you back then…" she said, sobbing. "And for bringing you here now, into your second death."

"It's not your fault, Jazz!" Danny said, rubbing circles on her back. "You're not Vlad, it's not your fault, seriously. We all had mistakes here."

Jazz left her hold.

"And the major mistake that we did is trusting that old frootloop and letting him destroy our family. I won't let it happen again. Come on." He offered his hand at Jazz. "Let's go save mom?"

Jazz nodded, taking Danny's right hand, while Jack took the other.

"I guess this is goodbye, Little Phantom?" Clockwork said, his face graced with a sad smile.

"Y-Yeah. Thanks for everything you've done for me. Do your best, and I know Ghost Zone won't be the same without you. Goodbye, father, Clockwork."

"Thanks for taking care of my boy when I can't, Clockwork." Jack expressed his words of gratitude. "Even as a ghost, Danny never ceases to amaze me, and I should thank you for that."

Sam joined hands with Tucker, who then grabbed Jazz's other hand.

"We have to get going now." Tucker said. "Goodbye."

Hand in hand, they went their way to end Plasmius.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Leave me alone, Vlad", Maddie said, trying to face away from the man who has kept her captive. "You didn't stick to the deal. You hurt Danny. You said you wouldn't." she kept her gaze glued opposite to Vlad's. "Now, there isn't any reason I should trust you, Vlad. You ruined the friendship you had with me and Jack."

"It isn't friendship that I'm looking for, Madeline", Vlad said, cupping Maddie's chin as the woman resisted. "I want your love, Maddie. I've always deserved it."

"Don't touch me!" she said, slapping his hand away. "You don't deserve anything! You had a place in our family back then, maybe not what you have wanted, but still, every one of them loved you! Jack trusted you with all his heart, Jazz made you her role model, and Danny… Danny looked up to you, treated you as a family… Why would you…" she punched on Vlad's torso multiple times, the man not doing a thing. Maddie dropped on her knees, sobbing. "I hate you, Vlad. You had a chance, but you ruined my family…"

The man clutched his chest, the slightest sign of aching in his face. 'Fight it, Vladimir.' His humanity screamed. 'Don't let her suffer anymore.'

"I love Jack way back college, Vlad. I hope you can just accept that."

"Well" the billionaire just raised his eyebrow. "Perhaps a few moments of thinking will change that. I'll see you at dinner." Vlad said. "Face it Jack, you've lost." He went outside the room and locked it. He could hear muffled screaming, sobbing and banging at the door, courtesy of the woman.

Outside, he crumpled down and gritted his teeth, the two sides of him fighting for dominance.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Sam, I'm scared, isn't this the part of the story where there's a jumpscare?"

"Chillax, Tuck. You watch too much horror movies."

"You're the one who put me through it!"

"Well… I guess so. That's because your reaction is priceless."

Sam and Tucker made their way inside the now abandoned Wisconsin mansion. The palace-like mansion for a lonely billion was too big for them to easily find where the basement is. Good thing is that there's currently no one there, or they'd have to give more time finding their objective.

Still, with all these attacks they've had recently, being cautious has been in their instincts. Before going to hell and hopefully coming back, the two groups have been packed with Fenton gadgets, the Fentons twice as loaded as they are. They didn't complain, though, if they are supposed to die when they go to Colorado, then they're quite sure that Vlad has prepared booby traps for them. And now that they've assessed the whole mansion, they're not in danger unlike the Fentons.

"Man, I wish Vlad kept a map around here. This palace is probably bigger than the whole Amity Park." Tucker grumbled.

"Quit whining, Tucker. At least we're not in Colorado right now. Or would you rather end up getting your intestines out of your body?" Sam said, lightly hitting Tucker in the arm.

"Gee Sam, never thought you wouldn't leave out your morbid details." Scaredy-cat Tucker Foley noted.

"Come on, let's just get going." Sam said, pointing to the staircase that leads further down a dark hallway. Tucker visibly shivered.

"Oh well. I hope Clockwork didn't just skip the part where we die here too, although less gruesome."

Walking down the stairs, Sam turned her flashlight on, scanning through the pile of boxes and a combination of both human and ghost weapons. Tucker held on Sam's arms, scanning through as well.

"This place kinda looks similar to Fenton Works… Although a bit creepier."

"Yeah." Sam replied to Tucker's remarks. "Vlad and Mr. Fenton used to be college pals. Of course they have pretty much the same mindset."

"I'd… have to disagree with that." Tucker commented. "Although they do have the same love interest."

"Uh-uh." Sam said, listening to Tucker's dialogue as they continued to walk along the dark hallways.

"If there's one thing the whole Fenton family did nothing wrong, it's about trusting that evil frootloop. Man, talk about bad luck."

"You're the one to talk about that, Bad Luck Tuck." Sam chuckled lightly, still looking around.

"Hey! I know I'm unlucky, but Phantom… I mean Danny's life… I mean afterlife is pretty fucked up. That couldn't compare to my life."

"Yeah, you got a point." Sam agreed.

"I wish things would work out for him, I mean, after all of th-ouch!" Sam spun around as she felt Tucker release his hold at him abruptly, only to point at a hole where Tucker originally stood. "Tucker! Hey!"

"Oh shit, my back hurts." He complained. "Wait-where am I? Sam? Sam! Hello! NO SAM DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!"

"Damn it, Tucker, I'm here!" Sam shouted from above, as the Techno Geek sighed in relief. "How's everything going there?"

"From what I see, everything looks black."

"Haha. Funny. Wait, do you see my light?" Sam said as she pointed the light inside the hole.

"Yeah, I do."

"Now stand there and catch me." Sam said, preparing to jump down the hole.

"Yeah, okay." Tucker sighed. "As long as you're not heavy, that is."

The boy moved to the spot where the light was cast, and raised his hands in a carrying position.

"Jump now, Sam!"

And with that, the goth jumped, Tucker grimacing at the sudden impact. Tucker laid her down safely, as Sam muttered her words of gratitude. She then scanned the whole area once again, and it went to a switch. Tucker, seeing the device, flipped the button open. Suddenly, the whole place was lighted.

"Seeing in a whole new light, eh?" Tucker said, only to be hit by Sam for the pun.

Sam turned off her flashlight, and saw the basement better. Unlike what she said at first, it was no similar to the Fenton's basement, this being ten times larger than Jack's. Automatic sliding doors littered the whole place, and Sam was even surprised there wasn't any mad scientists out here. Everything looks like a secret technology facility, enough for Sam to wince at the color silver.

"Ugh, I hate everything that shines." She moaned. "Come, let's start by checking all the doors." She walked up to the closest one, but realized a password was required on one keypad beside it. "Oh shit, Tucker, this is your specialty. We need to hack open all these doors."

"Hate to break it to you, Sam, but although Master Tuck is pretty skilled, hacking all these doors might take us a whole year, and we would then be too late to help Danny and his family."

"Then what do you suggest we do!?"

Tucker smirked.

"Relax, Goth Girl, I've already thought out this one before we even go here. Vlad won't leave this place without security, and he's pretty good to have such high security measures around… Too bad it's Tucker Foley who is his enemy." The boy then hooked his PDA to the keypad, and began typing a variety of programming scripts.

"These are one of those rare times I remember you're actually intelligent, Tucker."

"Psh. Stop chitchatting, I'm busy with matters."

As Tucker typed code by code, Sam eyed the whole setting, looking for clues on where the staff might be.

"Geez, this place is so huge, I don't know where we start looking."

"Calm down, dude." Tucker said nonchalantly. "We start looking where we start looking. And this is." Something beeped from the keypad, and the door got opened.

"Jesus Christ it worked!" Tucker said, laughing.

"That fast!?" Sam couldn't believe what he just did.

"When won't you underestimate me, Sam?"

"When you get an A in Math?" she commented.

"I can't believe you." Tucker shook his head. "Anyway, the password is MaddieMasters. Camel case without space." He took a look inside the door. "Nothing but Packers merchandise. Let's check the other doors."

"Eww." Sam expressed disgust. "I can't believe you have to enter that password in every door we have to go to."

"Who said I'm the one entering the password?" he wiggled his eyebrows.

"Tucker!"

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

Madeline stared at the window, and has remained like that for an hour or two already. She was worrying her head about her Danny, and Jazz and Jack too. She knows Plasmius can be more sinister than Lucifer, and once he sees Jack he's gonna cut his head off. She could only pray for their safety.

The last thing she thought that will ever happen to her is for her to see her baby boy again. Fate hasn't been kind to him 6 years ago, and even been crueler to him as he wasn't rested in peace. Sure, she wanted to hug him and kiss him and tuck him to bed once again, but all she wanted was for Danny to move on, to truly find inner peace and happiness in the afterlife. But here he was, even getting hurt after death because of her.

"Danny doesn't deserve this." Maddie mumbled. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

She heard knocking at the window, and her head instantly shot up. She saw a familiar boy of white, black and green who was grinning at her with that smile she had missed so much.

"Danny?" she said, a smile gracing her lips.

The boy nodded, as he phased inside the room. Maddie grabbed him into a tight hug.

"Danny!" she said, smothering him under her hold. "I'm glad you're ok, sweetie!"

"Mom, if I can still breathe you'd suffocate me!" he said, chuckling. Maddie let go, and cupped his face with her hands.

"Are you hurt anywhere, my baby?"

"Mom, I'm ok, I heal fast. Let's go?" Danny offered his hand to his mother, by which she accepted. With the ghost boy's powers, he and Maddie made their way outside by phasing through the window.

"Wow, getting sneakier, aren't we, Daniel?"

Phantom froze, looking for the source of the voice.

"No… That voice…"

"Daniel, Daniel, Daniel." Plasmius appeared behind the two, as they both screamed. "Haven't I taught you not to meddle with the elder's affairs, hm?"

"If I can remember correctly, frootloop, you're the only old one here." The younger ghost retorted.

"Getting snarkier by each minute, aren't we?" Plasmius chuckled in a low voice. "But your attitude won't win against me, kid. I've killed you once, I can defeat you once again."

"Danny." Maddie found herself gripping the young boy's arm, afraid of what might befall him.

"Heh! That's what you'd like to think!" he exclaimed, then faced his scared mother.

"Don't worry mom." He whispered back. "I can do this. Go find Dad, he's waiting for you."

"But, Danny!"

"Please, mom. Now!" Maddie, although reluctant, ran away from the scene, as Danny faced Plasmius with a glare.

"How touching, my boy." Plasmius commented. "Too bad that will be the last time you'll see them."

"Hate to break it to you, V-Man, but I'm not the same 8-year old kid who you killed years ago!" Danny launched an attack on Vlad, by which the hybrid evaded just as easily.

"And I'm not the soft Vlad Masters who loved you, Daniel." Plasmius said, giving the kid a surprise punch from the back, Danny coughing up ectoplasm because of the impact. "There's no reason for me to hold back anymore. The only person I've wanted is Madeline, not you and not Jasmine. I can kill you all right now, and go home with my prize, your mother."

Danny's eyes widened at the sudden realization.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Daniel?" Vlad called as he carried the 7-year old Danny in his arms. "Your daddy hates ghosts, right?"

"Yes." The young boy replied. "He said that ghosts are evil, and that they hurt people."

Vlad frowned. Even Jack has been passing his ignorant belief around ghosts towards someone as innocent as his little boy.

"What if someone you love is a ghost? What will you do?" he asked, ruffling the boy's jet black hair.

"But Mommy and Daddy and Jazzy don't hurt people! You don't hurt people! There's no way you'll become ghosts!"

Guilt crossed Vlad's face. Danny was too oblivious to believe he doesn't hurt people. And even though killing Jack Fenton can be considered one of the happiest days in his life, he doesn't know how Danny will react at this.

"But what if it's that? What if a bad guy experimented on me and turned me a ghost? How would you feel, my little badger? What would you do if ever I hurt someone?"

"Hmm." Danny said, putting his index finger in his lips as if he's thinking really hardly. Vlad found this habit of his amusing.

"I kick you and tell you to stop!"

"Huh?" Vlad was surprised on his answer.

"You'll listen to me because you love me, so I tell you to stop! Then I kick you as a punishment!" he said, then demonstrating a kick. Vlad chuckled at his actions.

"I wish it's as easy as that, little badger, but you'll understand sooner when you grow up."

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Dad is partially right." Danny said, getting to the epicenter of Vlad's attack once again. "Some ghosts just like hurting people."

"I am one of those ghosts, little badger." The hybrid smirked, and once again, kicked Danny in the shin.

"Yeah, Plasmius is one of those ghosts." The boy grimaced at the pain. "But apparently Vlad is human!"

Phantom kicked the other ghost in the stomach, as he doubled up in pain. He then forced the older to look at him as he held his face.

"Look, Uncle Vlad, I don't know if you're still there, but… I'm here. Your little badger is here." He smiled, causing the hybrid to get shocked. "I said I'll kick you if you hurt people, and I decided to do what I promised."

"Stop it!" Plasmius gritted his teeth. "There's no way… that soft pesky… old man… will take control of this body!"

"I… I don't know if ever I'll forgive you for doing all of these, Uncle Vlad, but you know I still love you… It never changed, you're a part of my family."

Plasmius eyes widened.

"Yeah, I get it, you didn't become my mom's husband and our father, but I hope you understand that you've been a part of our family."

"I demand you to stop right now!" Plasmius roared, striking Phantom once again. The boy clutched his slightly mangled elbow.

"The whole Fenton family won't forgive you for what you've done, but hey, I'm going to completely pass away with knowing something, Papa Vlad."

The sinister ghost's eyes changed from bloody red to midnight blue in a split second.

"It wasn't you who killed me, it was your obsession, and you regret what you did. It was Plasmius who killed me, not the uncle who loved me and my family unconditionally."

"Daniel…" tears poured from his eyes. "My son…"

"And I wouldn't let the same obsession kill a part of my family. Jazz!"

The redhead appeared from the bushes, startling Vlad.

"What the!?"

"Fenton ghost boy, catch!" Jazz said, tossing a Fenton Thermos to her brother, who managed to catch it.

"Goodbye, Uncle Vlad." He said with a sorrowful smile. "Till next time."

The man didn't react, as the thermos engulfed him. Capping, Danny let out a pent-up sigh and fell down on the ground.

"Danny!" Jazz ran to his side. Danny saw his older sister's face wrenched with tears, as he remembered his last day.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"Danny!" 10-year old Jazz rushed to her dying brother, tears streaming from her face. "H-Hang on, I'm going to take you to the hospital!"

"You wouldn't go anywhere, Jasmine." Vlad said in such a low voice.

"U-Uncle Vlad… You… You did this… to Danny. How could you!?" the young girl demanded.

"I'm sorry, Jazz, I didn't mean to…" Vlad apologized, though the girl didn't accept it.

"You didn't mean to hurt Danny!? No, that's… I hate you!" Jazz said as she tried to carry her baby brother, only for Vlad to interfere.

"You aren't going anywhere, Jazz."

"P-Please, Danny will die if we didn't get him to the hospital…"

"And you will if a word of this goes out!" Vlad snapped, hitting Jasmine's cheek with the back of his hand.

Danny tried to reach Jazz's trembling hand, but before he could, his human body closed its eyes for the last time.

'I'm sorry I couldn't protect anyone.'

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"This is… the… 60th door… Are we there yet?" Sam managed to say in between huffs.

"Yeah… I hate… Vlad… so much…" Tucker managed to breath out. Entering the password, he has opened yet another door, to find that there's nothing here but cleaning materials.

"Argh, it isn't here! Maybe Vlad decided to be smart and took his staff with him." Sam grumbled, preparing to leave when she heard a cheering from her friend.

"Sam! I found it!" Tucker said, grabbing a familiar-looking stick from under a lot of brooms. "Is this the one?"

Sam could only squeal in delight.

-DPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDP—

"D-Danny!" Jazz called out in shock. "Y-You're lighting up!"

"Lighting up, huh?" he weakly said, chuckling. "This is kinda like Ember's, you know."

"Do you mean you're!-"

"I guess so? I didn't break my promise, right?" he said, grinning widely at his sister, who chuckled, still having tears leaking from her eyes.

"But I don't get it… Why is this happening? I thought… You are supposed to kill Vlad before you can move on…"

"Do you really think an 8-year old dying boy would want to kill someone, Jazz?" Danny grimaced. "I guess I did end up finishing my promise, right?"

"Yes you did, Danny. Thank you." She smiled warmly at him.

"I guess I did take my obsession wrong. In fact, it's always been the opposite. I've always wanted to protect my family, Jazz." Danny said. "I just didn't recognize it and let revenge get to me."

"I'll miss you, Danny." Jazz said, wiping her tears away from her face. "I'll do my best to make sure mom and dad will be together again."

"That's… great…" Danny closed his eyes, half of his body already disappearing with the light.

"And I'll make sure to tell Sam and Tucker too!" Jazz exclaimed. "Thanks for everything you did. I'll never forget you."

"Goodbye Jazz. I hope you'll be happy from now… on…"

Danny dissolved into nothing but specks of light, Jazz catching one in her hands. More tears fell, as she heard footsteps coming from two people she very much knew.

"Jazz, you took too long…" Jack said, trailing when he realized something. "Where's your brother?"

"He's gone, dad." Jazz said, wiping her tears then smiling at both of them. "He's in a better place now."

A/N: To all those who think this is the conclusion, IT HASN'T ENDED YET. There would be three different endings for this story, and I think I'm starting off with the bad one. Don't worry, there'd be two better endings that can make up for it www.

I do hope you like that resolution though. Poor Vlad has just gotten consumed by his obsession, but he still loved Danny and Jazz with all his heart.

Stay tuned because I'm posting an ending really soon!

~ aypttym