Daniel continued to watch in horror as everything unfolded before his eyes, helpless to do a thing to stop it due to being trapped inside the ghost proof box. He was too terrified to even attempt to break out in case it triggered an attack on him, Jack Fenton had warned him earlier and he was inclined to believe the man wasn't lying about locking him in such a dangerous contraption. So he stayed in his human form in hope he would remain intact.
However, Daniel was curious about the 'controller' Maddie was holding. There had been no sight or mention of it before now, and it seemed interesting that she had produced it right at the moment Vlad threatened Danny's life. Daniel hadn't known the Fenton's for very long, but he had gotten the impression that at least one of the ghost hunter's would have been more than happy to brag about a portable hand held device which could control the chamber's functions, and his fate, from a distance…
"What's it going to be Vlad?" Maddie asked seriously, with an unnerving calm tone in her voice. "Are you going to quietly surrender, or will your little 'son' pay for your stupidity?"
Daniel scowled angrily at the woman's threats, the manipulation between everyone he'd met so far in his short life had been disgusting. He was sick of it. All anyone ever seemed to do was try to outdo each other, and in the most violent way they could think of. His own father was guilty of it, which saddened him, especially as the older half ghost appeared to be quite good at dishing out manipulation and violence. However, Daniel knew there was a better side to him, he'd seen it. He had yet to see any goodness come from these people who had a serious grudge against Vlad, and Daniel still didn't know what Vlad had done to deserve the animosity.
Danny was still in ghost form, hovering close to the chamber. He'd never felt so useless in his life. He didn't really care if Vlad attacked him, he was used to it. And deep down he believed that Vlad wouldn't deliberately harm him fatality. After all, the ex-billionaire had the opportunity to do so earlier, and he backed down on his own accord. However, his own mother's actions and what she was threatening to do was what really worried him, and if she made good on these threats, it would be enough to send Vlad over the edge. And Danny knew the consequences of that would be dire.
"Think about what you're doing Maddie." Vlad warned. "You know what I am capable of. Do not provoke me, let's end this!"
Maddie refused to back down, Vlad was right where she needed him. She only hoped Jack would appear soon, he always brought out the worst in Vlad, which ultimately weakened him. They would be able to take him down together, he would be greatly outnumbered and with Daniel's life on the line Vlad would more than likely back down. Their plan would work, Maddie simply had to bide her time.
"It's up to you Vlad." Maddie replied simply. "You can end it, just surrender and no one gets hurt."
"You won't be happy until I am captive to the Guys in White will you?" Vlad snapped, it was obvious what Maddie wanted to gain from this.
"You should be punished for what you've done!" Maddie retorted. "And if you don't think so then you're more twisted than I imagined."
"And you're willing to hurt an innocent child just to get that, are you?" Vlad countered. "Perhaps you should take a hard look at yourself Maddie!"
Daniel had had enough. Clearly the two of them would go back and forth, obviously neither of them wanted to make a move out of fear for their own interests. So the youngest half ghost decided he would move things along, and hope his instinct was right. He banged the glass with his fist to gain attention.
"She's lying! The controller can't hurt me!" He shouted.
Vlad immediately turned and looked at Daniel, surprised by his outburst and what he had said. No dialogue exchanged between the two, although Vlad desperately wanted proof that what his son said was true. Though the serious expression on Daniel's face confirmed how certain he was. The boy wasn't sure if he'd made the right call, but it was better than doing nothing and grimly hoping for the best.
Maddie's eyes widened in fear. How could he possibly have known? Daniel had in fact guessed right, the remote that Maddie had on her person had nothing to do with the chamber, she had taken it from the living room earlier to put new batteries in it. But Vlad didn't need to know that.
Vlad noticed the change in Maddie's expression at Daniel's outburst, her confidence had vanished. This was a massive giveaway and suggested that Daniel was correct. Meaning that Vlad now had the upper hand. He smirked at Maddie.
"Let's try this again, shall we?" Vlad said irritably. "Give me back my son or say goodbye to yours!"
To emphasise his point, Vlad turned to face Danny and his fists flared up with ecto energy. Maddie stared worriedly at her son. Danny was glaring back at Vlad, his own fists glowing, no fear showing, clearly prepared to put up a fight. But Maddie didn't want that, she would never risk either of her children, not for anything. So she dropped the useless remote and stood up, then walked over to the ghost chamber without saying a word. Though anger seethed within her.
Vlad and Danny watched her. Realising he was getting his way, Vlad lowered himself to the ground and reverted to his human form, taking hold of the Infi Map again as he did so. He glanced back up at Danny, who remained in ghost form, obviously not taking any chances. Danny returned Vlad's smirk with a scowl. He wasn't worried for himself, though he remained high alert because he wasn't certain that Vlad would stay calm, and may yet target his mother.
Maddie pressed a few buttons on the key pad connected on to the chamber. She glanced at the boy inside when she did. Daniel stared out at her, a hateful expression on his face. Maddie averted her gaze, it took all her will power not to press in a different combination, and have Daniel exterminated.
The door eventually swung open. Daniel crawled out and got to his feet. He walked over to Vlad, not looking at Danny or Maddie and stood by his father's side, though he didn't look him in the eye. A small relieved smile came to Vlad's lips and he placed a caring hand on Daniel's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. The younger half ghost didn't respond, but Vlad assumed he was merely traumatised from his experience with the Fenton's and would return to normal when he took him somewhere safe.
Vlad quickly turned his attention to the Infi-Map and wondered if he should use it now, though he was reluctant. What about his redemption? He'd asked the map for that earlier and it took him to Danny. He glanced up at his young rival again and realised he had missed something. The map took a person where they needed to be, which made him believe that he and Danny had unfinished business.
Maddie was surprised by Vlad's delay, she'd assumed he would've have left immediately due to the unsafety of being in her lab. Her heart rate increased as she wondered if Vlad would go back on his word and attack them both anyway.
The way Vlad had looked up at him hadn't gone unnoticed by Danny, he was also wondering about the older half ghost's motives. Although he wasn't convinced they were entirely malevolent at this point judging by Vlad's expression.
Daniel shuffled from one foot to the other, waiting for his father to make a move or at least speak. He was growing more fearful that the rest of the Fenton family could appear, and that would cause them all major problems.
With a final heavy sigh Vlad loosened his grip on the map and threw it up to Danny, who despite being shocked caught it with both hands. He frowned at the older half ghost.
"I don't get it, why are giving this to me? You said you would never give it back in case someone used it to track you."
Both Daniel and Maddie looked jaw-droppingly surprised. Neither of them had seen the map before, or indeed knew what it was for. But if it could very well be used to locate Vlad, then they too were internally questioning why Vlad would willingly give it up.
"I'm giving you a chance, Danny." Vlad said clearly. "A chance to give me a second chance."
"What are you taking about?" Danny asked, gripping the scrolled map in his hands.
"I'm giving you the map because I want to show you that I have no corrupt intentions. That I meant what I said before. I am giving you the option, follow me and cause an unholy and unnecessary mess of a battle, or leave me be and let us all get on with our lives in peace." Vlad calmly explained.
Maddie was struggling massively with Vlad's words, already thinking how beneficial this mysterious map could be, but Danny was thinking something else. It was unusual seeing Vlad open up and leave himself so vulnerable, allowing his human side to shine through. Danny had only seen it once before, and it was when he was trapped in the future, and he'd met 'older Vlad.' Clockwork's word's echoed in the boy's mind, "You've given everyone else a second chance…" But he actually hadn't. Danny had carried on and had forgotten about Vlad after that incident, and allowed the older half ghost to continue the dark path he was on. Danny suddenly felt guilty, he could've helped Vlad back then, but he didn't. Everything that had happened could have been prevented, if he'd given Vlad a chance before things had gone too far.
Danny bit his lip, concealing a sigh. It was all so confusing and he didn't know what the right thing to do was. Suddenly Daniel took a few steps forward in Danny's direction, looking up at him. Danny lowered himself to the ground, until he was eye to eye with his cloned self.
"Look, I don't know what he's done in the past to make you all hate and distrust him so much." Daniel said seriously. "And to be honest, I don't really care. The way I see it we all have good and bad sides to us. I've seen it in you and your family. I've seen it with my dad, and I know I'm the same way. I don't want any more trouble, not after all of this. You don't have to worry about Vlad, I'll keep an eye on him, keep him on the straight and narrow. That's just as good as you doing it in a way, isn't it?"
Daniel gave Danny a small amused smile and Danny couldn't help but return it. His clone reached out his hand to shake a truce and Danny found himself accepting it. 'Obviously Daniel has inherited Vlad's way with words,' Danny thought. 'Or does he get that off me?'
"Say goodbye, and thanks to Jazz for me." Daniel added before turning and walking back to Vlad.
Danny nodded, feeling guilty that his sister's kindness towards Daniel had helped make a difference, whereas his had basically been non-existent.
Vlad gave Daniel a peculiar glance, surprised by how easily he'd spoken with Danny. Daniel merely offered a small smile in return, deciding not to hold Vlad's violent threats and actions against him. After all, clearly in the older half ghost's stubborn mind, they would always be justified.
Vlad turned his attention back to Danny. "So we're agreed then?" He asked seriously.
Danny sighed. "Get lost Vlad. Really lost. Just because I'm not gonna come chasing you doesn't mean that others will hold back if they learn you're back. I suggest you take a more cautious approach this time. And don't steal things again, show a bit of class for goodness sake!"
"I can't make any promises!" Vlad grinned evilly.
The grin quickly vanished, from Vlad having received a gentle nudge from Daniel.
The man cleared his throat. "Right. We best be off Daniel."
Vlad transformed into his ghost half and Daniel followed suit. Vlad accidentally caught a disapproving glance from Maddie.
"Don't let me catch you around here again, Masters." She warned. "You will not enjoy seeing me again."
"The same applies to you and your idiot husband, my dear." Vlad snapped. "Not to worry, stick to our arrangement and there will be no trouble."
Then, without warning, Vlad took Daniel's wrist and the two of them vanished from sight. Gone without a trace. Danny let out a relieved sigh and changed back to human. He then smiled, realising he could give the Infi-Map back to Frostbite again where it would be in safe hands.
Maddie walked over to Danny and gave him a relieved motherly hug. "Thank goodness you're alright." She smiled, before glancing at the map. "So how long should we wait before we go after him?"
Danny frowned. "What?"
"I understand pressures were high just now and we had to keep each other safe. But we have the upper hand now, we can gather our resources and find him again. He won't stand a chance next time!" Maddie said confidently.
"Mom, there isn't going to be a next time." Danny explained firmly. "I meant what I said, Vlad can go live out his life somewhere else, so long as he isn't bugging me or hurting innocent people anymore I really don't care."
"But Danny, he's evil, he needs to be punished!" Maddie gasped.
"Mom, this is so unlike you." Danny said with a hint of sadness. "Believe it or not, I'm starting to think Vlad's had enough punishment throughout his crummy life. And I do think he wants to change things. If I can get over what he's done so can you. It's in the past and what matters now is the future."
"Vlad is a threat to our future Danny, to everyone's future!" Maddie pressed. "He's successfully cloned you twice now, who's to say he won't go off and clone himself an army of evil half ghosts?"
"Dani's not evil." Danny pointed out. "And I don't think Daniel is either. Mom, I'm pretty sure Vlad only wanted a clone because he was lonely. And yes, he went about a really weird way to fix that but what's done is done. Why did you and dad have Daniel locked in that chamber anyway? You're lucky Vlad didn't waste you on the spot for that."
"We had our reasons." Maddie replied simply. "And it would have been successful if circumstances weren't what they were. You knew Vlad was near, that he would find us. Danny, how did you know he was here?"
"He appeared to me first, in my room." Danny said.
"And what happened?"
"We talked…mostly." Danny said meekly. "Doesn't matter now, he's gone and he's taken Daniel with him."
The two of them paused for a second, hearing a loud bang from upstairs followed by a bellowing, "We're back!"
"That's your father." Maddie said. "Come on, we'd better go and explain what happened here."
Though she would've liked further explanation from Danny, the two of them left the lab to join the rest of their family.
()()()
Vlad and Daniel had retreated back to Vlad's previous mess of a mayoral mansion. It was the only place in close proximity that would offer some privacy until things were sorted out. It was safe again as it had been searched since the Fenton's found Dani and Daniel there the day before, so they were unlikely to be found, but the mansion was almost in more of a state than before because of the mayhem.
When they had arrived Vlad didn't care about any of this. He put his arm around Daniel and pulled him into his chest. "It's good to have you back, my boy. I'm glad you're not hurt." He told him.
"I'm fine, really." Daniel said. "Though I was really worried about you."
"Worried about me?" Vlad chuckled. "You never have to worry about me Daniel. It's my job to worry about you."
With nothing else to do but think about what to do and talk things over, Vlad and Daniel each sat down on a dusty lounge chair in the living room. They both returned to their human forms to conserve energy and to avoid being detected by any other ghost hunters, such as Valerie who still often patrolled Amity Park.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Daniel said quietly. "From what I saw of that Ghost Zone, it looked like it went on forever, and you would never get out."
"I actually know the Ghost Zone fairly well." Vlad explained. "Though being locked in when you're being hunted by man and ghost is not helpful."
"What will we do now?" Daniel asked.
"I suppose we should try to make our way back to Colorado." Vlad said. "Though it is a long flight without a helicopter. But it's safe and isolated out there, so long as the Fentons leave us alone. Plus we did have plenty of food and things stocked up before we were taken away."
"Yeah. And Maddie's there." Daniel added.
Vlad smirked at Daniel remembering the cat. "Yes, she'll be waiting for us."
"So will we go back to hiding then?" Daniel asked. "What about when we run out of food. Stealing is hard, we got caught last time."
"We only got caught because Danny Phantom happened to be snooping around." Vlad corrected.
"But we still shouldn't be stealing." Daniel argued. "It's going to be hard, hiding away again."
Vlad looked at Daniel's gloomy face. Clearly the boy had gotten used to being around other people and living in a home. Even if the home and people were the Fentons. Vlad didn't want to be unfair, and keep Daniel hidden away, with no one but a middle aged man and a cat for company.
"Don't worry Daniel. I'll think of something. You'll have a good life, with a nice home and lots of friends. Really I should send you to a school as well…" Vlad droned.
Daniel's face brightened. "How will we do that?"
"The easiest way for you would be to drop you off at a children's state home where you would become a ward of the state." Vlad pondered out loud.
"What? That's not fair! I don't want to live in a children's home, I want to live with you." Daniel pouted.
"Relax Daniel, I didn't go to the bother of cloning you to voluntarily hand you over to social services." Vlad mumbled. "No there could be another way, though it's risky."
"What is it?" Daniel asked eagerly.
"Well I've toyed with the idea before, but never really gave it much thought. Young Danny definitely wouldn't like it, seeing as he wasn't keen on the stealing." Vlad said.
"Is it legal?" Daniel probed.
"Far from it!" Vlad laughed. "But if successful it would be an excellent way to re-join society and build up a good life again. Plus no one has to get hurt, well apart from the government, but I was a government official once so I know they deserve every obstacle they get!"
Intrigued, Danny leaned forward in his chair. "So what do you want to do? I don't understand."
Vlad smirked at the teenager. "No Daniel, I don't suppose you will have heard about identity theft…"
Having voiced his idea. Vlad went on to explain how he and Daniel would go on to form new identities, or steal them, by pretending to be people who had passed away, and live their lives as though they had never died. He convinced the younger hybrid that it wasn't really a crime, and the people they would pretend to be will be dead so they wouldn't be affected.
The following day Daniel and Vlad returned to his isolated cabin, where they found Maddie the cat, and they spent a few weeks there until Vlad thought things through. Thankfully, as promised, Danny Phantom left them alone. Vlad was easily able to disguise Daniel, and himself, well enough to blend into a crowd. It involved heavy coats and inconspicuous hats. So the two of them were often in the nearest library, or cemetery, working out who they were to be. This itself was difficult as the cabin was miles from civilisation.
"Won't there be records of these dead people?" Daniel whispered to Vlad one day in the library.
Vlad merely smiled at Daniel's concern as though it were no big deal. "My boy, everything is stored electronically these days. And you know how unreliable technology can be…"
Due to his experience and knowledge around computers, cyber technology and government websites, Vlad spent days destroying and creating files were he wanted. He was even able to create false birth certificates and passports for him and his son.
"It's all coming together Daniel." He proudly said.
"Won't the people around here be suspicious when their dead classmate appears back in school?" Daniel pointed out.
"We won't be staying in this town Daniel, we will be crossing the border to Canada. Well, we will be flying over the border to Canada. I'm not dealing with border control. No one will have any idea who we are, or who we are pretending to be. Plus they have free health care in Canada. Besides, I just 'officially' changed our names by deed poll."
"Uh, it's really confusing." Daniel complained.
"Exactly. Which is why no one will ever discover who we really are. There's so much government involvement with our new personas that we are practically unfaultable. Hidden in plain sight as it were." Vlad explained.
"So what's my new name?"
"Daniel."
"No, what's my new name." Daniel asked.
"It's Daniel. Your old name was Terry." Vlad told him as he typed furiously at the keyboard. "Well, that was the name of the young fellow who couldn't hold his breath as long as he thought…Are you still keeping an eye out for anyone? The police won't take too kindly to what I'm doing, and you never when the ip address has been detected."
"No one's around." Daniel confirmed. "So what's your new name?"
"Vlad Masterson." He replied.
"Are you serious?" Daniel yelled in a whispered tone. "Don't you think someone might find that suspicious?"
"Please Daniel, I shouldn't even have to change my name at all. You think I am the only Vlad Masters in all the world?"
"No but you're the only one who tried to overthrow the earth." Daniel retorted.
"How do you know that?" Vlad snapped.
"I googled you when you went to the bathroom." Daniel answered cockily. "What can I say, I got curious. Now don't you think it would be wiser to steer yourself as far away from that identity as possible?"
"Look Daniel, for all the reasons to get caught at identity theft, having a similar name to your old one is pretty low on the list. And Vlad Masterson is a far less heading turning name than Rudolph Trotter. I don't know why the poor man didn't change his name sooner. Imagine having that on your headstone!"
"Why did you pick his identity and not someone else's then?" Daniel asked, casually rolling around on the wheelie chair.
"Because he's the same age as me, and if you look at his file photo he has somewhat similar features to mine." Vlad explained. "Plus he obtained a business degree which will come in very handy. Now keep your voice down!"
"Bet the fingerprints are different though." Daniel challenged.
"Ah, he has no criminal record dear boy. No criminal record, no fingerprints registered." Vlad grinned. "You think I don't know what I'm doing?"
"I think this is very risky." Daniel sighed. "I mean someone somewhere might wonder how the dead Rudolph Trotter climbed out of his grave, changed his name, adopted a dead thirteen year old who then changed his name, and they both moved to Canada with a cat named Maddie. I mean, come on!"
"Daniel, relax. If you act suspicious then you will look suspicious. Now I have spent weeks working at this and sorting the bugs out. I have it wrapped up tight."
"Alright if you're sure." Daniel mumbled. "So when do we move to Canada?"
"We pack our bags tonight, we leave tomorrow." Vlad said confidently as he clicked the computer off. "The last of the legal documents arrived today so we need to move on before anyone realises my cabin is not Mr. Trotter's real address."
"Well yeah, considering as it's really the graveyard." Daniel said sarcastically as he followed his father out of the library. "And what about money? How do we get to Canada without money?"
"Well, it turns out Rudolph Trotter is owed quite the back payment in his benefits!" Vlad chuckled as he pulled out a fake ID. "We're heading to the social security centre now to pick it up."
"Dad that's stealing!" Daniel hissed.
"Oh please, I never claimed any benefit whatsoever as Vlad Masters, so I'm cashing in now as Rudolph Trotter. Oh sorry, I mean Vlad Masterson. I forgot I changed my name. Now hurry up the sooner we get this done the sooner we get on the way to our new lives." The man grinned as he put his arm fondly around the boy's shoulder.
()()()
Okay people, so that's it. End of story! Really I could go on but this seemed like a natural end, Danny carries on his life in Amity Park after letting Vlad go with his second chance, but of course a leopard never changes his spots!
This chapter actually began very differently, I still have it saved somewhere, but I didn't really like how it was turning out so I came up with this instead. As you can see in this story Vlad developed a soft side but kept his cunning ways.
I feel this story has good potential for a sequel, how Danny's family cope knowing Vlad is still out there, how Vlad rebuilds his life with Daniel. If he gets away with identity theft that is! But I have nothing planned for this it this time.
I would like to thank you all for your support, the follows/favourites and reviews have been greatly appreciated. Now that it's finished I look forward to any comments on your thoughts of the ending/overall story, there has been a lot of twists and turns but I hope I made you all happy.
Thanks again,
xseriouslyx