Author's Note: I own nothing.

22 Truth Comes Out

Dani blinked at him in confusion.

"Skulker, the ectopuses? What is going on!" Vlad nodded.

"Yes, I imagine you're a bit confused. You see originally, when I learned that Maddie and Jack had perfected their portal I sent those ghosts to test your father. When they didn't return I assumed your mother had destroyed them. That was until Skulker managed to salvage enough of his exoskeleton to contact me. That's when I learned about you my dear girl. The second ghost hybrid your father's idiocy created." Dani's eyes widened.

"Second?" He voice was tiny, barely there at all as Vlad nodded.

"Yes child, second." With that he transformed. Black rings split around his middle and he changed. His skin was corpse blue. His hair was black like a starless night and slicked up, reminiscent of two horns. His outfit reminded Dani of the one Halloween Sam had decided to go as Brahms Stoker's Dracula, except where Sam's had been black this one was a light blue almost lilac with a blood red lining on his cape. She was now face to face with the ghost who'd beaten her outright the first night at the castle.

"You've called yourself Dani Phantom, I chose the moniker, Vlad Plasmius." She floundered, she had so many questions, so much she wanted to ask but hanging over all of that was a realization that hit her like a brick to the face. This man had sent ghosts after her father in an attempt to kill him. He didn't seem to notice her internal struggle though because he just kept talking.

"I'm sorry about the trap, but I needed to talk to you on my terms. The box you're currently lounging in is a spectral energy neutralizer. As long as you're in that box you are as human as your idiot father." He said with a smile running a finger over the edge of the box.

"Let me out of here!" Dani ground out. Something in her was roaring, telling her that Vlad, human or ghost was an unacceptable threat to the people she loved.

"Why would I do that? So you can keep bumbling through your teen years with little to no control over your powers? Powers I've had for twenty years." He split in two, then into three copies of himself. He conjured a shield and grinned at her as the copies slipped back into him. "I have experience my dear girl, and the money and power gained from using those powers for personal gain. I could train you, teach you everything I know. Help you stretch out to the stars my dear. All you have to do is renounce your idiot father." He smiled at her like he'd just offered her everything she could have ever wanted.

"Vlad. You are a complete fucking lunatic." He blinked at her like he'd expected her to answer quite differently. "Why the hell would I ever abandon my family to come live with a crazy fruit loop in his giant cheese castle?!" Vlad looked downright taken aback. But then he shook his head.

"Well, once your father's out of the way we'll see how you feel." He laughed maniacally and vanished in a swirl of pink energy. Dani swore loudly and colorfully, as she tried to free her from the box. She only managed to shake the box slightly. If the screaming coming from down the hall was any indication Vlad had already gotten his revenge started. She just really hoped he hadn't been able to outright murder her father. Panic coursed through her to the point where she almost didn't notice someone float through the ceiling. She did notice when the small rotund ghost landed in front of her box. She recognized him from a few paintings around the castle as the previous owner of this castle, the Dairy King.

"Well, gosh golly, it looks like you could use a spot of help there don't ya know." Dani blinked at him.

"You're the Dairy King! Oh great, did Vlad send you! What are you gonna do? Lynch me with Limburger? Strangle me with Swiss!" But as Dani was speaking the Dairy King used his scepter to press the release button. The box retracted and Dani kicked it away. "Let me go?" Dani looked at him confused. "Why?"

"Well, not all ghosts are evil ya know. Some of us just want to be left alone doncha know." He smiled at her and she smiled back.

"Thanks, no chance you'll help me fight Plasmius?" The Dairy King laughed.

"I'm da Dairy King kiddo. Kings don't fight, that's royalty one o' one there don't ya know. Try da gouda, it's dairy fresh!" He called out as he left, phasing through the ceiling. Dani transformed racing off for the cries and screams she heard coming from where they party was being held. It didn't take her more than a minute to figure out that Vlad had possessed her father. She pushed him out of her father and through the walls. For good measure she decked him in the face. He tossed her away.

"Danielle stop. Think about everything you're giving up here. A life of comfort, one where you can do what ever you want. The doors I could open for you child! You, Dani Phantom and me Vlad Plasmius. Together we could rule!" Dani glared.

"Forget it! Your money can't buy my mom, it can't buy the Packers and it can't buy me!" Vlad hissed and lunged at her. As they grappled Dani kept talking. "I know who you are. I'll tell my father, I'll tell everyone." Vlad smiled at her.

"And so will I, really child if you reveal me you reveal yourself." Neither of them had a chance to say more as the Fenton Family Assault Vehicle crashed into the room. Dani managed to save her mother by invisibly driving the RV and possessing her father to catch her mother. Still in Jack's body she snatched up the dazed Vlad by the collar.

"How's it going V man?" She asked with a grin." Vlad rolled his eyes.

"Oh, you've overshadowed Jack. What's next a card trick?" Dani roller her father's eyes and got down to business.

"Listen to me. I swear I will walk out of my father right now and expose us both if you don't call a truce." Vlad's eyes widened.

"You're bluffing!" Dani shook her father's head.

"No I'm not. My parents will accept me. But you? What would my mom think about you?" Vlad's whole expression fell, eyes darting toward where Maddie was checking on Harriet. "You'll be miserable and alone for the rest of your life, if you don't call a truce now." Vlad sighed then smiled, just a pull of the lips.

"Using your opponents weakness against them, I am teaching you something aren't I Dani? Very well. Truce, for now. Eventually you'll chose to join me, you and your mother. But for now." Dani released him and he floated into the air. Dani slipped out of her father as Vlad made his proclamation of defeat and vanished. If he wasn't such an asshole she'd probably ask him how he did that. She managed to slip off and appear, confused and innocent like she had been out of earshot for all of that madness. Her parents made the executive decision to get the hell out of dodge after all that. Vlad appeared to bid them farewell only from the balcony as they RV pulled away. As they did Dani and Vlad locked eyes and Dani knew that this was not over, it had barely begun.