"Destruction and chaos, these are the only things that can be used to describe the state of Amity Park. Buildings that used to exist are now rubble on the streets." The newswoman was delivering the news in a monotone way, detached from the rubble and ruins around her.
"While there weren't many deaths, Amity General was filled with injured people." There was a family of three in the background crying by the rubble of a house.
"The few that were proclaimed dead were Danny Fenton, Samantha Manson, and Tucker Foley, all of whom were discovered recently by Danny's own sister." The man began to dig through the house in hopes of finding his son alive.
"While they were not the most liked students in school, often being called secretive or freaks, they will certainly be missed by all." He found his son pulled him close collapsing next to his already crying wife and daughter.
"According to statements from Vladtech Lawyers, the funerals will be announced at a later date." The newswoman took a deep breath.
"In other news, the town hero Danny Phantom has not been seen since the crumbling of the buildings in Amity Park; more about this at eleven."
Vlad turned off the TV. It was hard to believe that Danny was gone. He had been on the other side of the country when news came about the disaster. He had trusted Danny could handle it but apparently he was wrong.
Flashback*
Vlad yawned as he listened to the man in front of him prattle on about why Vladtech should buy his company's process. Honestly, it wasn't anything special and he was certain either Jack, an employee, or himself would be able to replicate the process with very little trouble. As the man was prattling on the door to the meeting room flew open with a bang.
"Sir!" an assistant yelled.
"What, Nathaniel?" Vlad asked, confused. Nathaniel was usually very level headed, and Vlad was curious as to what would make him panic.
"Ah-um... Something happened in Amity," Nathaniel stated.
"Yes, I know about the disaster, but Phantom should be able to handle it," Vlad said calmly.
"No sir the disaster is over. It would be better to turn on the news and see for yourself."
Vlad sighed, shooting an apologetic look at the others in the room. "Okay, but if it's nothing we might have to have a talk."
Vlad turned on one of the many televisions in the room and put on Amity's news. It showed rolling footage of the wreckage and Vlad thought something was different about this newscast but couldn't see it until he looked at the rolling text at the bottom of the screen.
563 injured and 3 killed in the recent disaster.
Oh the little badger isn't going to like that! Vlad mused rubbing his chin in thought.
The newsroom appeared on screen. "For those of you who just tuned in, the Amity Park disaster has injured nearly all of the town and killed three: Samantha Manson, Tucker Foley and Daniel Fenton. Their families gave no statement on their deaths."
Vlad tuned out the reporter after that falling into his chair.
"Sir!" Nathaniel rushed towards him.
"Get my plane ready," Vlad snapped his eyes refocusing.
"Huh?"
"You heard me. I want to be gone by the time I arrive at the airport. I'll pay the fine if we don't get clearance just make sure it's fueled up and ready to go." Vlad turned to leave the room. "I apologize but neither Vlad-Tec or Master-soft are going to buy your process for I am sure someone under me can work out how you have done it. Now, if you'll pardon me."
Vlad arrived at Amity in record time and quickly made his way to the Fenton's temporary home, a suite in the only standing hotel.
"Jack? Maddie?" he opened the door to a mess.
The room was overturned. Maddie sat on the floor next to Jack, neither of them moved when the door opened.
"Madeline! Jackson!" Vlad felt panic and relief as he saw the two.
Jack looked up, the eyes that usually held such life and happiness were pools of despair and soul wrenching heartache. "Vladdie… Danny-boy he's… he's…"
"I know Jack. I know." Vlad put a comforting hand on the large man's shoulder and noticed something off. "Jack, look at me…"
Jack focused on Vlad's face again.
"Where's Jasmine?"
Jack's eyes clouded over. "Got angry, said this wouldn't have happened if we weren't so focused on ghost hunting." Jack looked at Vlad sorrowfully. "Vladdie was she right? Did we make a mistake?"
Vlad sighed. "Young Daniel knew you two loved your research and that you loved your children, but I think that you made a mistake when trying to handle the ghost problem in town. You two, you're not hunters. Your researchers. But you lost track of that getting caught up in the excitement of the ghosts appearing."
Jack sat for a few moments, looking down at his wife who was now sleeping fitfully. "I think you're right Vlad. We lost track of who we were. Mads and I can fight ghosts, yes, but that's not who we are... Just before Fenton works when down, Phantom appeared taking a blast for me and Maddie before fighting back the horde enough to let us get a ghost shield running…" Jack shifted uncomfortably.
"The power he displayed, Vlad. It frightened me. Not because I was afraid he would turn it against us, no, I realize now that Maddie and I were fools as we kept trying to prove correct a theory that was so obviously wrong. I realize now that Phantom never wanted to hurt anyone, but I was afraid that we would not be able to apologize to him. I was afraid that he wouldn't accept it."
Vlad swallowed past the lump in his throat. "Jack, I'm sure Phantom never held it against you two. You were only doing the things you thought best for everyone." Vlad got up and turned towards the door. "I'll go look for Jasmine. When you two feel ready to, you can come stay with me until everything's been sorted out."
Vlad walked quickly through the hotel to a point where he could hide and transform so he could fly to his mansion. He knew Jazz would try to get to the Ghost Zone from there since the Fenton portal was destroyed when Danny and the others stopped the ghosts from coming through.
Floating down through his house, Vlad swiftly arrived at his lab to see the red-headed teen standing in front of his equipment.
"Jasmine," he said startling Jazz, causing her to scream and crash into the weapon rack.
"Oh, it's you," she said seething with anger.
"Yes, it is me. In my lab. Where it is not strange to find me. The question is, what are you doing here?" Vlad replied.
"I'm going to find Danny." Jazz firmly, browsing Vlad's weapon rack.
"How, may I ask, do you plan on doing that?" Vlad asked as he approached her. "There are only three beings in the universe that could help you, and one lives in a place so hidden even the infi-map can't lead you to it, another the lives he claims can't be taken back, and the last lives outside time. So I ask again, How do you plan on getting him back?!"
"I'll go to Clockwork and tell him to bring Danny back," Jazz said, unfazed by Vlad at all.
"Putting aside that you know of the timekeeper, no one knows how to get to him. Even the infi-map is unable to lead you to him. He lives outside time and space…"
"He's Danny's guardian." Jazz tested the weight of a blaster and (not) accidentally aiming it at Vlad's face.
Vlad stood there stunned for a moment, but quickly regained his composure. "Even if that was true, the time keeper has an obligation of keeping the timelines safe. He wouldn't jeopardize them just for three children!"
Jazz didn't pay him any attention and walked past, grabbing a jet pack, and opening the portal doors.
She gave him a small wave and a cheeky grin as she flew in.
Vlad sighed, flying in after her. The doors closed behind them and the odd duo flew for some time. None of the ghosts wanted to interact with Vlad.
"This doesn't make sense! It should be right here!" Jazz said once they came to a stop.
Vlad looked around this wasn't a very trafficked area of the zone but ghosts still passed by it often. "Jasmine, there has never been anything here. I have come past this area multiple times myself and there has not once been a sign of a ghost staying here."
Jazz's shoulders slumped. "But Danny's map said it was here."
"May I check this map?" Vlad asked, floating closer. "Maybe you missed something."
Jazz sighed and handed him a large piece of folded up paper.
Unfolding it, Vlad revealed an excellently drawn map. "Very well done cartography. Who did it? Ghostwriter? Steal it from Skulker's old stash?"
"Danny, Sam, and Tucker made it," Jazz said quietly, turning around to fly back the way they came.
present*
Vlad now sitting in the dark continued to stare at the wall completely unsure of how to proceed, a strange feeling for the eldest halfa when a person drifted across his mind a small little halfa who most likely didn't know what had happened, pressing a button on his desk a screen slide down from the ceiling skulker appearing on it after a few moments "we are still looking plasmius" the hunter said skipping formalities.
Vlad nodded "yes I know skulker, but I have a different assignment for you"
Skulker scowled "not interested"
Vlad leaned forward "oh but you should be because this is no ordinary job I have for you I want you to retrieve someone for me"
Skulker shook his head "I said I'm not interested"
"Just check the file I sent you and call back if you're interested," Vlad replied, keeping his calm.
The screen went dark for a few minutes before skulker called back "when do you want me to get her?"
"as soon as possible" Vlad replied "and when you find her bring her to my lab" he added as an afterthought.
Skulker nodded and the screen went dark again leaving Vlad staring at the wall looking much older.
The next few days were quiet, no ghost's attacks, no one trying anything to the small town, just rebuilding and planning for the first funerals from ghost attacks. As Vlad sat in his office signing papers to authorize bills and payments Valerie swooped in decked out in her red huntress suit "alright masters what are you planning?" she growled pointing blasters at him.
Vlad looked up from his papers exhaustion radiating off his entire being "what are you talking about?"
"Don't mess with me Masters. I know you didn't like Jack Fenton but did Danny have to die to get back at him? And to attack the town as cover you're despicable" Valerie growled.
Vlad sighed and set down his pen straightening his posture "child I had nothing to do with the attack. I don't hate Jack and I am heartbroken due to the death of Daniel."
"Don't lie to me Plasmius." Valerie said her voice wavering slightly.
Vlad's eyebrow raised "so you know?" he calmly said.
"That's right I know you're Vlad plasmius and are a half ghost" Valerie replied, her voice regaining some stability.
"Halfa"
"... what?"
"The term is halfa but that's not the point right now" Vlad explained standing up from his chair "the point is I had nothing to do with the attack on amity, no matter how much I try I can't bring myself to hate Jack Fenton anymore and I am heartbroken about the deaths of Daniel, Samantha and Tucker, I have all my people trying to find traces of them in the zone and have searched myself multiple times, but despite all of my plots and plans I can't bring them back."
"But… but… then what about phantom where's he? Why didn't he save them?" Valerie's gun started to droop towards the floor
Vlad sighed running a hand over his face before plopping down in his chair again "phantom is gone more than likely his core burned out rendering him powerless… no… I'm tired of lies, child tell me why are you denying what is in front of your face?"
"What… what do you mean?"
"What I mean is you know about the existence of halfa's, you've met Danielle, why do you keep denying the evidence in front of you" Vlad's tone darkened his eyes glowing red with power.
"I... I don't… I don't know what your..." Valerie stammered.
"Yes… you do, your mind just refuses to acknowledge the possibility, who's been missing since phantom disappeared? Who was never around when he was? Whose human form does Danielle's look like?" Vlad growled slamming his hands down on his desk.
Valerie crumpled to the ground tears streaming down her face "no it's not possible it can't be him"
"Daniel Fenton is Phantom yes I'm sorry you had to find out this way but there's no choice in the matter now… take it from me let go of any hatred of Phantom and put ghost hunting behind you" Vlad's voice was dull and lifeless collapsing in his chair he covered his face. "It just brings pain and heart ache to those who love you"
Valerie didn't answer just flying out the window leaving Vlad alone.
here's a story I've been kicking around for a while it is at least a two parter, the idea what happens after the hero falls has always interested me so here we go I hope you enjoyed have a good day night morning afternoon whatever it is where ever you are