Wow... it has been a HOT minute, hasn't it? xD And I haven't updated this one since 2017? And IVWAF since 2019? Holy clockwork I am so sorry xD
Anyway I figured I would upload a little something and give an update! Just a few days ago I uploaded all my DP stories to Archive of Our Own because I heard a rumor that this site might be migrating to the FictionPress servers and might lose moderation of the site itself (in fact some say it already has), so I went ahead and saved my stuff over on AO3. So go follow me there if you want, same username!
Another update, though this pertains to If Vlad Wasn't a Fruitloop: I'm planning on rewriting it from the start! I have been pretty unhappy with the foundation of the plot in the first half of it for quite some time, and I feel like I can do a lot better with planning things out, including having overarching plots and themes, adding some more fanon ideas and lore to ghost culture and biology, and other things like that! So I'm working on that right now, as well as the next (and possibly last) chapter for IVWAF. It's been a good ride, and of course I'll leave it up if anyone was worried about that. Also this begs the question of if anyone wants spoilers of what I was planning for it (though some/most things will be included in the rewrite as well!), so if anyone here is interested I'll post an explanation of some of that stuff after the next chapter! Don't worry, the upcoming chapter is a little more than half of the way done, so I'm working on getting it finished!
ALSO, in terms of this side story, I'll probably keep posting drabbles for it! I still have a few that didn't fit into a chapter that I could/will post at some point, probably combined in the same chapter and without a song to go with them. Fun fact, this current one-shot was first written in 2017! But since then I've gone back to it and edited a few things xD But anyway, expect another update pretty soon of some other drabbles I think are funny.
But anyway, I hope everyone is doing ok, especially with uh... 2020 happening... xD I have no idea if anyone is still here after 4 years though... Again I'm sorry for the extremely inconsistent posting. Every time I say it's going to get better and it never does xD
Anyway as always thanks to everyone who followed/faved (even though its been forever and you probably don't even remember if you did xD): MargarethMidori, Novus Maximus, CheesyBlueberry, blueflameingdragon, Dragon Historian, 2000girl, Kira Sema, Agoge, Muggzy, Allcoolnamesaretaken, Jesse S. D. Vera, abovely girl, The Ghost Prince, Rush721, mayfox14, Ace. W. 15, Zekky-Reshi-Kyu, Nagisa Tabitha, PheonixQueen15, Aphaxy, Konner2015, Kuroyuki-Kokuyoku, Tsuki Yosuke, Pandapaw11, Natalulu, LunarQueen13, Amatsuki-kun, Cyroclastic, Purest of the Hearts, samayia. floyd, Galieo Figaro, Darkpool, StarkNakedCaptains, draco1221, GoneMad0504, LittleRobinRedbreast, and Shadethedark217!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed too! InvaderJohnny, WolfMistwood, ChaoticMinds, Kimera20, MadHare0512, BlackGlitter, OrangeWolf4, ClassicCinnamon, Purest of the Hearts and Iliny! I know it's been forever but I really appreciate you all :'D
More notes at the end, here you go!
CW: some sad stuff
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters lol
Danny Fenton grabbed his tangled headphones and phone with a sigh, as the usual rings of light transformed him into his ghost form. Not a second after they blinked out of existence, he had already disappeared intangibly through the ceiling of his room.
It was almost nighttime in the city of Amity Park; orange and purple hues spread across the darkening sky, accompanied by sparse, wispy grey clouds.
Phantom shot into the distance towards the setting sun, absently putting in his earbuds and listening to whatever song played first from his shuffled playlist. He was too preoccupied by the muddled thoughts swimming in his head to even notice what song was blasting into his ears at full volume, drowning out even the shrieking of the wind as he flew.
After about a minute, he slowed his pace, his blurred surroundings reforming into the bright lights of buildings and the cloudy sky. He slowed to a stop right above a building, the tallest one in Amity Park, in fact. It was one of his favorite places to go, just to sit and think and watch the bustling city below... and reflect on what his life had become.
We could be immortals, immortals
Just not for long, for long...
Danny growled in disgust once he recognized the lyrics, and he yanked roughly on the thin black wires to halt the music. Now only the far off sound of rushing cars could be heard, echoing up from the city streets.
He plopped down on the edge of the roof, legs dangling dangerously over the road dozens of feet below. His phone and the bunched up wires were carelessly tossed a few feet behind him, far enough from the edge to be safe from falling.
He took a deep breath. In, and out. In, and out. And the same process again, and again, and again...
He looked up; the stars were just beginning to blink into existence, twinkling up in the evening sky, which had already become a mix of dark purple and infinite shades of blue.
Sighing, he let himself lay back, crossing his arms behind his head as he studied the night sky he had been so fascinated with for years. He had truly wanted to become an astronaut for almost his entire life. But that likely wouldn't be possible now, not with his lower-than-average grades and the newfound responsibility to his hometown.
But maybe it could still happen, since he would apparently live forever and ever, and watch his friends and family grow old and die as he lived on.
Always to be a ghost, the one thing his parents truly despised.
Always to lose the ones he cared about the most, whether he became Dan or not.
What had he done to deserve such a fate? Was immortality supposed to be a reward, or the cruelest of punishments? The boy didn't know.
Why was he the one that had to have that advantage, that burden?
It wasn't fair.
It was never fair.
He breathed a breath of blue fog into the night air, and he watched unblinkingly as the swirling tendrils of mist dissolved.
He would have his ghost sense forever.
He would be this cold... forever.
Danny heard the flapping of cloth, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed a glowing figure lower down next to him. He automatically knew who it was. He should have been relieved, or grateful, but all he felt was annoyance. He hadn't expected... hadn't wanted to be found so soon.
"Hey..."
"Hey." The ghost boy replied quietly, his green gaze not moving from the glittering stars.
A few seconds of silence followed. "It's nice up here." Vlad commented, as the younger half-ghost sat up from his laid back position.
The two gazed down at the buildings below them, watching as headlights travelled in uniform, organized lines through the town.
"Yeah... I come up here a lot. Just to think." They elapsed back into comfortable silence.
"Is... is something wrong?"
Danny shrugged, not feeling very eager to reply.
The truth was, there was definitely something bothering him. But telling Vlad about it seemed silly. He probably already knew, already accepted his fate.
And as bad as it sounded, he didn't have anyone to lose.
While Danny loved his parents and friends and sister, he couldn't help but wish they were out of harm's way. Anyone he was close to was in danger, from ghostly enemies and human foes alike. It was both a blessing and a curse to have so many vulnerable close ones, constantly by his side but never safe from his many enemies.
"I just... I never wanted this." Phantom finally said. "All the powers, and fighting, and training, and exploring another dimension was fun at first, but... I just..." He sighed. "I never wanted... this."
"That makes two of us, then." The man beside him attempted to joke, but the ghost boy didn't shift his tired gaze away from the city below.
Vlad grimaced as he realized the true cause of his pupil's dejection. He had hoped that he wouldn't have to deal with that particular conversation for at least a few more years.
"How did you find out?" Plasmius questioned, careful to keep his tone as neutral as possible.
The boy shrugged once more, melancholy green eyes still watching the lights.
Ghosts were powerful creatures. Every one had the potential to live for hundreds of years, possibly much longer, if they weren't defeated in battle and if they continued fulfilling their obsessions. Obviously, hybrids had some differences and limits. But that didn't completely overshadow the true potential of the ghost core and it's potential for an extended lifespan.
"Do you think we'll really... live forever?" The boy all but whispered.
"I... don't know." The conversation halted for a few more seconds, and the two halfas listened to the muffled chirping of crickets from the grassy areas throughout Amity. Vlad silently cursed himself for not knowing what to say. While he was admittedly good with words, he always seemed to fall short in these kinds of situations.
They sat in silence. The sky darkened to a saturated navy blue, hundreds of stars twinkling from millions of miles away. Phantom began to shiver in the chilly night air, causing the older ghost to remove his warm cape and drape it across the ghost boy's shoulders.
"Well, whatever happens... we'll go through it together... right?"
The green-eyed ghost nodded. "Together."
'Cause we could be immortals, immortals
Just not for long, for long
And live with me forever now, pull the blackout curtains down
Just not for long, for long...
Sorry that was pretty short! The song is Immortals by Fall Out Boy, if you didn't already realize that xD
And this trope is just an idea I've seen before, but I haven't decided if it's 'canon' for my version yet. But anyway I hope you liked that and there'll be more short drabbles posted sometime next! I've also been considering continuing Stitches (I was definitely planning to at the time but time got away from me, clearly) so yeah maybe look out for that too!
Oh and of course look out for the next chapter of IVWAF and a new rewrite of it coming out soon ("soon" if you will xD)
Anyway that's all for now and I hope everyone is doing well! Peace :)