Final Preparations

I would like to dedicate this chapter to mdizzle for all his help in making this story better than I thought it could be and being a great friend! Co-written by KaliAnn

They rest of the week flew by. Everyone was hurrying around getting the last few things that needed to be done finished. Danny was training extra hard. He wanted to be ready for anything. He just had to impress the Council! He knew that the storm was coming and he best be ready to silence it. But he couldn't shake his anger towards Plasmius. Why why did the Royal Family trust him so much? It was killing him not knowing so he decided to resolve this issue once and for all. Leaving his room he went in search of Danielle so that she might be able to answer his questions.

Danny found her in the health resort relaxing. Servants were working hard to get the kinks out of her body and make her feel comfortable. Sipping on guava fruit drink and having your feet exspoalation was heaven. Nearby Sam was having her nostrils purged while Jazz was getting a manicure. "This is the life," Jazz said sighing.

"Normally all of this girly stuff would gross me out, but right now I can't complain. I should definitely install a spa at my house," Sam told her girlfriends.

"Glad to see you girls are enjoying yourselves. I never would have thought you were all into this fancy treatment," Danny told them surprising all the girls who started blushing fire engine red.

"Danny! What are you doing here?" Jazz asked nervously.

"I came to talk to Danielle alone for a moment. You two can stay. Danielle can you come with me for a moment so we can talk alone? NOW?" he demanded. Sighing Danielle signaled for her robe and got out of her chair. "I'll be back soon. Get the Jacuzzi ready."

"Alright what was so important that you had to drag me out of my pre Independent Day Ball traditional health spa session?" Danielle demanded her eyes blazing angrily.

"We need to talk. Tomorrow is a big day for everyone. Especially me. I have to impress the Council, go through a hundred different ceremonies without making a single mistake or embarrassing myself, and to top of that I have to be prepared for a possible Renegade attack in which case I can't defend you because that would blow my secret. How am I supposed to relax!" Danny yelled at her.

"Don't get your knickers in a bunch Danny. Nothing will go wrong tomorrow night. Your going to be great and I'm sure the Council will love you. As for the Renegades, if any attack at all the guards will be on them and I have Plasmius to protect me." Danielle tried to reassure him.

Danny snorted in disbelief. "I can't believe how blind you are. How can your family trust that psychopathic freak of nature! He's probably working with the Renegades in order to destroy your family."

"Danny how can you say that? Vlad Masters is a respected member of this court and a member of my family. I trust him with my life and my father has complete faith in him. Why don't you trust him?" Danielle asked in disbelief. She was just astonished that Danny of all people was being so judgmental.

"How can I not trust him? HE'S TRIED TO KILL MY DAD AND ME. NOT TO MENTION HE'S TRIED TO MAKE OUT WITH MY MOM! NOW I FIND OUT HE'S BEEN SUPPLYING VALIRE GRAY WITH GHOST HUNTING EQUIPMENT AND HE'S WORMED HIS WAY INTO YOUR FAMILY LIFE! HE'S BAD NEWS DANIELLE, REALLY BAD NEWS. DON'T YOU SEE THAT?" Danny screamed at her at the top of his lungs. His arms were flaying everywhere. His face contorted into pure anger.

"Why are you being so prejudice? Everyone has good and evil inside of them. He has never actually tried to kill you or harm your family! He only manipulates the situation to force you to think on your feet! Danny please not everything is black and white. There are several shades of gray. Don't you believe that people can change?" Danielle begged clutching his sleeve.

He jerked away from her. "Not cold blooded monsters like him. If you can't see what a low life creep he is then I guess you're no better than the Renegades," Danny spat at her.

CRACK! Danny didn't even see it coming. Danielle slapped him fast and hard right across the face. Her hand left an imprint on him. He touched it gingerly and looked at her in disbelief. Her eyes were glowing an unearthly green. Suddenly a statue exploded. He was starting to get worried.

"Don't you ever, ever, compare me to a Renegade. Danny Fenton/Phantom you are the most opinionated, arrogant, obnoxious person I have ever met. You have never even bothered to ask how Vlad became my godfather! If you are going to call him all those malicious things why don't you hear the whole story first! Now I am going back and finishing my spa treatment and when I get out I want you and Vlad to be best friends! Good day!" Danielle yelled at him. She stopped seizing and promptly spun around reentering the health spa leaving Danny alone.

Danny didn't know what to think about what had just transpired between them. He had never seen this side of Danielle. What had Vlad done that made her love him so much? He was so lost in thought as he made his way back to his room, he didn't look to see where he was going and ran right into Desdemona. Both of them fell right on top of each other.

"Sorry my fault completely your Highness. I should have been watching were I was going." Danny apologized as he helped the Queen up.

"Its alright Daniel nothing broken. I'm surprised to see you alone. Where are Wulf and Tucker?" Desdemona asked politely.

"Tucker is in your security room helping with the camera set up. I gave Wulf the day off. He's probably outside enjoying himself. Your Highness…" Danny began.

"Desdemona please Danny." Desdemona interrupted him. She nodded for him to continue.

"Desdemona please don't be angry if I'm overstepping my boundaries, but how well do you know Vlad Masters?"

"Well enough. Othello introduced him to me shortly before we got married. He was Othello best man. Word around the castle is you don't trust Vlad."

"I don't and I can't understand for the life of me why you do. Danielle compared him indirectly with that statute you showed Sam. She said they were similar. I just feel like if I understood what made you trust him so much I could deal with this. Will you tell me what happened please?" Danny asked eyes pleading.

Desdemona smiled and shook her head. "Its not my place to tell. However there's nothing like getting the story straight from the horse's mouth if you know what I mean. Vlad is in the training room on the fifth floor. Why don't you go see him?" With a quick curtsy she was gone and Danny was off to the training room.

He got to the training room balcony. He looked down at Vlad who had the training room running at level 12. He sneered and shook his fist. How could anyone care about this guy when all he cared about was himself? He went invisible and phased down below.

Vlad sensed that there was a presence in the room. Malicious or benevolent he couldn't tell and it was making him nerve's. "Who's out there? Show yourself!" Suddenly all the candles blew out and the room went completely black. He tried to get his bearings but was punched between the legs and in the jaw. He stumbled back for a moment. He used his eyes beams to light the candles. And then went invisible too. Danny went visible and then he was grabbed from behind and thrown into the wall. Soon both threw up shields and shot energy blasts off.

"As I said young Daniel you have grown immensely. Race you!" he said as they began to play a deadly game of chicken. They let loose all their powers at once and it let loose a tremor that shook nearly the whole Ghost Zone! They fell to the ground panting. Danny fell to his knees and began to gasp for air.

"Well perhaps I was wrong. No matter, how powerful you get, you will always be just a stupid little kid with spine-chilling little powers!" taunted Vlad has he pick up Danny and laughed in his black-and-blue face. Raising the Plasmius Maximums he touched Danny and he became human.

"Oh don't worry. I added a special device on my invention that sets a limited on how long you're without your powers. You won't get them back for ten minutes. Think you can beat me still?" As he tossed him like day old garbage to the ground.

Danny fought through the agonizing pain and got to his feet and wipe blood off his chin. Locking his eyes with those empty red pools. He said confidently "Let's dance!"

Vlad laughed hard and began to fire his energy blasted. Danny dodged and ran at him at the last minute he skidded under him and quickly wrapped him up in his cape.

Plasmius struggle a few minutes and got free. He multiplied himself and trapped Danny in a circle and fired. Danny jumped up and out and when he shot again he used a mirror that he had to deflect the beams to knock the entire group of them out. He changed from Plasmius to Master.

"Ok V-man time for the truth! I hope this works!" he said as he place his right hand on Vlad forehead and focused all his energy. The two halfas began to glow first green, then black and finally white. Without any warning Danny fell to the ground uncounciess.

"Oh my aching head. What is going on? Where am I?" Danny asked confused. He was floating in black space. There was nothing.

"Now you've gone an did it. Didn't Danielle instruct you to practice a new power before you use it?" Vlad demanded as he materlized into existence.

"Enough with the lectures. Just tell me what's going on." Danny demanded.

"You tried to create an ecto thought bubble. Instead you linked our minds together! Way to go D-man." Vlad said sarcastically.

"How in the Ghost Zone did I do that? I'm not a telepath!" Danny growled.

"All ghost to some extent are telepathic. You wanted to see a specific moment in my past and that's what we're going to do. We're going to relive it as if I was recalling it. Five minutes will only pass in the real world, but to us it will seem longer. Now be quiet its starting." Vlad ordered him. Danny became silent as the blackness dissolved and a room came into focus. They were back in the Royal Palace.

Othello was pacing back and forth across the Throne Room agitated. He kept glancing at the huge clock then at the doors. He seemed to be expecting someone. When the doors opened his face lit up and fell when he saw who was there. A servant let in Vlad who bowed. Danny was surprised. Vlad looked younger. "Exactly when are we?"

"The date is October 14th 1991. I have just made my first big business deal and had come to visit my friend. I have been a halfa for 6 years." Vlad explained.

"Othello how are you? You look like you haven't been sleeping. You really must get some rest." Vlad told him.

"How can one sleep when something that's this important is about to happen? I'm glad that you came old friend. I would have sent for you but you were already on your way. How's the business world?" Othello asked clearly distracted

"Business good. Having these ghost powers makes things much easier. I'm just very lonely. I envy you for having Desdemona. I have no one." Vlad told him sadly.

Before the King could respond a servant girl named Lillian came rushing into the room. Not bothering with proper edicate she blurted out, "Your Majesty its time! Please come quickly your wife needs you."

Danny watched as Othello and Vlad raced through the palace till they reached the infirmary. There Gwen who ordered them to be cleansed before entering the room stopped them. They entered the room where Desdemona lay on a birthing table. Sweat poured down her face and she screamed in pain as a contraction hit her.

"You can't be serious! You were there when Danielle was born?" Danny said awed. Vlad nodded his head. They both watched as Danielle was born and Vlad fainted. Danny laughed at that.

"I don't think it was that funny. I'd never been around when a person was giving birth. The important thing you should know is this. Do you know what Othello crest represents?"

"Yeah its his family symbol. It shows that he's the highest power in the Ghost Zone. What else is there?"

"A lot more. The crest protects a Royal from danger and helps them control their powers. Without its protection they're vulnerable to attack. There is a ceremony, the Ceremony of Presentation, when the heir is presented to the people and is made an official member of the court. If this ceremony never takes place they can't assume the throne. This ceremony takes place three days after the birth. I was invited to attend Danielle's Presentation. Unknown to us someone wished to harm the newborn princess." Vlad informed him.

Although this didn't show up in the memory this is what had happened. At the Melchior's castle Katharine and Adrian were fuming. The birth of the princess meant that their son Kenneth couldn't take the throne.

"This is not fair," Kenneth, whined, "You said that I would get to be King of the Ghost Zone!" Kenneth began to throw a temper tamture that most five year olds had outgrown.

"Settle down child. You will rule the Ghost Zone. Mommy is going make sure of that. After all girls will be girls and boys will be kings! I have an idea. The Presentation isn't until tomorrow at noon. If we kill the child before then Kenneth is back in line for the throne." Katharine said slyly.

"I have already sent the Strike Ninja team. They will accomplish the job for us. We never even have to get our hands dirty." Adrian informed his wife.

Back to the memory. It was the Danielle's big day. Everyone was rushing around the palace making sure everything was in order. In the child's bedroom Desdemona sat breast feeding her child while Othello talked with Vlad who had chosen to remain human for the ceremony. "Are you sure I can't interest you joining us on the platform when we present our little Daniella?"

"I'm just not good around kids. Please don't try to involve me with this." Vlad said quickly. He cringed as Danielle's cries filled the room. "Can't you make her be quite?"

Othello laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "You have a lot to learn about children old friend. Rule number one: they don't have an off switch."

"I think she's done with her meal for now. Just have to burp her and ah all done. She's so precious. Only an hour to go and then she'll be safe. See Othello you worried for nothing." Desdemona told her husband.

"There is still much to be concerned about my love. Danielle is still not protected by my crest nor is recognized as a member of this court. If she dies before the ceremony the punishment for her death will not be as brutal. I just want to make sure everything will go smoothly. Looks like she's sleeping. Why don't you put her in her basinet?" Othello asked her. She nodded and did so.

Suddenly Lillian appeared in the doorway. She bowed at the Royals and gave a polite hello to Vlad. "Your Majesties, I hate to take you away from your daughter, but something urgent has come up. Your presence is requested in the Throne Room immediately."

"Othello I just put Danielle down. I don't want to wake her, but we can't leave her all alone." Desdemona whispered

"No we can't. Hmm I know! Vlad will you watch our daughter for us please. We'll only be gone a half hour at the most. She'll probably just sleep." Othello told him already heading for the door.

"Me? You want me to now wait a minute I'm a businessman not a babysitter! You can't expect me to care for her? What am I suppose to if she wakes up?" Vlad asked urgently.

"Just pick her up and rock her. Don't worry you'll be fine. Be good for Uncle Vlad while we're gone." Desdemona said quietly. She kissed her daughter good-bye and was out the door leaving one confused businessman alone with a baby.

"I don't believe this. You are one of the strongest ghost I've ever fought, you've tackled more dangerous situations than this and what scared you the most was being left with an infant? Man you are weak." Danny retorted

"Laugh all you want Daniel. Children are very fragile. I was afraid I would harm her in some way. Reliving these memories is very exfoliating." Vlad said. He winced as his past self tried without much success to calm an obviously upset Danielle.

"Please don't cry little princess. Go back to sleep and behave for Uncle Vlad. Come on what do you want from me a platinum credit card? Okay maybe not a credit card. Well all I got is a Packer's bobble head and picture of Maddie." Vlad told the squabbling infant. None of his treats comforted her. She screamed louder and louder.

Danny was getting a headache from watching this. He wasn't alone. Both Vlad's had covered their ears and past Vlad was nearly crying himself. "What do you want from me? What did Des say would calm her? Okay here we go."

Danny's jaw dropped as he watched in amazement as Vlad's past self gently picked up the crying, flaying, infant and began to rock her back and forth. He started to hum "Rock a Bye Baby". He slowly danced in circles while doing this. Gradually Danielle calmed down and snuggled close to him. A smile lit Vlad face. He actually seemed happy. "One word. How?"

"Honestly I don't know. It was just instinctive I guess. I never knew that I had a gentle side in me. Now the interesting part happens." Vlad told him.

Just as Vlad laid the little princess back in her basinet three shadows appeared in the room. Before he had a chance to change into Plasmius they struck! A ninja dressed in blue attacked him. Using his powers he trapped him in a water bubble. Two other ninja's appeared, one dressed in yellow the other red. The yellow one used the power of earth to block the door before joining his brothers.

"So this is their defense for the heir to the Throne? A simple human servant? Othello is a bigger fool than I thought." Earth said laughing.

"Whoever you are release me right this instant! I warn you if any harm comes to the princess or me I will." Vlad threatened.

"You'll do what? Use your meager brawns on us. We're ninja and we have power. Besides while your trapped in that bubble you can't do a thing." Water mocked him.

"Enough you two! We must do this quickly. The King and Queen will be back soon to check on their precious bundle. I plan to be long gone bye then. Once I use my power of air to suffocate her their will be nothing left." Air smirked, as he got ready to dispose of the princess.

That's when things got strange. Eyes burning red with anger Vlad stopped pounding on his prison. "Your going to wish you hadn't threatened her! Going Ghost!" Two black rings of light surrounded him transforming him from Vlad Masters to Vlad Plasmius. The bubble broke dropping one very pissed off halfa to the ground.

"Hey wait just a minute! I thought that was my battle cry! Also you said battle cries were dumb!" Danny protested.

"They are really. I was just so mad that is was the first thing that popped out my mouth. I never used it again."

The battle that followed was swift and decisive. Using all his powers and few he didn't know he had like the cloning trick he saved Danielle's life. By the time the guards got their Vlad had collapsed over the basinet where a sleeping Danielle lie. Danny was shocked. Vlad had risked his life for Danielle. No wonder she trusted him with her life!

"For my efforts I was award the title Lord and made Danielle's godfather. We questioned the ninja team but they never revealed the truth about who sent them. I had some circumstantial evidence linking them with Kenneth family but no solid proof. So you see son I'm not as bad as you might think." Vlad told him before the connection broke and both halfas woke up.

Now that was over Danny walked over to him and helped him up and said, "We may never see eye to eye. But if you really did that to save my true love's life I will try to learn to trust you better. Just two things. Don't kill my Dad and quite going after my mom! Are we clear?" asked Danny

"Oh we're quite clear! I have two things to show you then. Come with me to my tower. If you got the guts." He challenged him as he started to walk down the long hallway.

Danny nervously followed him. He stared at his feet. So Vlad had saved Danielle. Maybe he should stop looking at things with such a narrow-minded perspective of life. They finally came to a tower that not surprisingly was green and gold. Did this guy use any other colors? They went inside and it was like a trip to Hotel Paradise! There was a mega huge jumbo flat plasma TV. Leather coach and chairs. The coolest stuff every was here.

Vlad pulled out a remote pressed a combination of buttons and had a disco ball come out and played the best dance music. Walking over to a mini fridge he pulled out two tall chocolate milkshakes. He handed one to Danny and kept one for himself. "Welcome to my home away from home. Biggest game, DVD, and CDs collection in the Zone. Best computer net in about 20 miles. Only the nobility are allowed these human connivances. That's why Walker went after you. Would you like to see the first edition to every comic book every created? I have all of them in mint condition. Anyways we better clean up. I'm expecting company."

"Like who?" he asked "Ahh! Get off me! Vlad help!"

Vlad chuckled at Danny's misfortune. A huge mastiff had pounced on top of him and was licking him like crazy. The more Danny struggled the harder it became to get the dog off him.

Vlad laughed and whistled. "Come here to daddy Packer! Come here!" The dog raced over to him and began to lick him like crazy. With a snap of his fingers the dog obediently sat down next to his master.

Danny got up and looked at the dog. He was snow white with a black V mark on his head casting a long black cape of fur down his back. His feet and the tips of his tail were also black. And he had yellow and red eyes. He had a gold collar with an emerald on it. He also had a Green Bay Packer's jersey on.

"What is that?" asked Danny wiping the slobber off his face. He knew that the dog was a mastiff. A type of dog bred for royal hunts in European history. What he didn't have was a clue why one was in Vlad's tower.

"I told you I wasn't going to get a cat. I'm allergic to cats. This is my pet dog Packer. I got him about 4 months ago. Aren't you the most precious thing in the world?" Vlad directed to the dog as he scratched Packer's head.

"I take it this was surprise one you wanted to show me," Danny said quietly still not quite believing what he was seeing. Vlad nodded his head. "So what was surprise two?"

"That would be me," said a soft feminine voice coming from behind him and to his right.

Danny whirled around and gasped in surprise. Standing in the doorway that led to the bedroom was a very beautiful women. She had long wavy black hair and huge almond shape amber colored eyes. She was wearing a simple blue silk dress with a black sash. Who was she?

"You must be Danny. I've heard a lot about you from Vlad and Danielle. My name is Natara Ivy. My name means sacrifice in Arabic," Natara said holding out her hand and introducing herself.

Danny shook her hand. "Can I ask a question? What is with everyone knowing the meaning of names? I mean I know its some sort of culture thing, but its creepy."

"It has to do with a very old superstition. That if you knew what a person's name meant you had control of their spirit. That superstition is true. So to avoid a power struggle everyone knows what everyone name means. Any other questions?" Natara asked him patiently.

"One. Who are you and how do you know Danielle? More importantly what's your relationship with Vlad here?" Danny asked jerking his thumb over his shoulder.

"That's three questions not one Danny." Vlad pointed out.

"Its alright Vlad he's simply curious. To answer your first question I am the Royal Tutor. Basically my job is to educate the heir to the throne. That answers your second question I believe. I'm Danielle's personal Tutor. I've been teaching her since she was four. To answer you final question, you might want to sit down for this." Natara told him offering him a chair.

Danny shook his head. "I'll stand thank you very much." Natara shrugged her shoulders in defeat. He was going to be shocked by her reply.

"The answer to your final question is very simple. I'm Vlad's girlfriend."

Danny spit out his milkshake and started to choke. Vlad slapped him on his back to get him to start breathing properly. The young halfa looked at him stunned. This was the guy who swore that he would make his mom his one day! What in the name of Hell was going on?

"You want an explanation. I've known Natara for years now but it wasn't until about four months ago that we started seeing each other." Vlad began

"That was right after you tricked my mom and me to come stay at your mountain home. Dude you seriously need to learn a thing or two about treating guest." Danny retorted.

"Granted I might be a little overzealous but that isn't the point right now. The point is after Danielle freed me from that stupid belt you put on me she ordered me to start attending Anger Management Classes. She thought it was time I get over my feelings of repressed rage at your father and emotional issues I had with your mom." Vlad continued.

Danny gave a snort of disbelief. Yeah like Vlad would ever go to anger management class. That was as likely as Lancer not failing him.

Natara picked up the tale from there. "I was in charge of the class that Vlad took. At his first session he threw such a temper tantrum that I just about kicked his ass out of my classroom. But he got through it and I asked him if he wanted to get a cappuccino with me."

"We discovered over our drink that we had a lot in common. We both love the Green Bay Packers, dogs are our favorite animals, and both of us live in a castle. Not to mention we both enjoy spaghetti and meatballs our favorite dish. It was Natara who suggested I get a dog to keep me company and that's how I gained not only a new best friend but the most incredible women since your mother." Vlad finished up.

"So your serious about this? You two really are an item? Man does that seem strange." Danny said sitting down.

"Its not that strange Danny. Vlad is even taking me as his date to the ball. I can't wait for tomorrow to come. All the food, clothes, and dancing. It will be so much fun!" Natara giggled.

"Dancing? Oh man I'm late! Thanks for the milkshake but I got to go. Nice meeting you Natara bye!" Danny called out over his shoulder as he raced out of the room to his dance lessons.

It was around 11:00 p.m. when Danny started back to his room. It had been a long afternoon. First there was his dance lesson, then practicing the coronation, next he had to get a last minute fitting for his suit, lastly he checked with his family and friends to see how they were doing. Everything was fine. Now if he could only find Danielle he could apologize to her.

When he got to his room he was surprised to find the door unlocked. He was sure he had locked it when he left this morning. Turning the knob he entered the room. Sitting on his bed calmly waiting for him was Danielle. "Hi Danny."

"Danielle where have you been? I've been trying to find you all night. I have to talk to you." Danny told her as he rushed over to her. She held up a hand to stop him.

"Danny let me speak first. Before you say anything else I'm sorry I slapped you. I shouldn't have done that no matter how mad I was. If you don't like Plasmius I understand. I can't force you to change." Danielle told him.

"Danielle listen to me please. I know what happened all those years ago. Vlad selflessly saved your life. You were right. I was being to narrow minded. People can and do change. I believe that after meeting Packer and Natara. Listen tomorrow is our big day and nothing is going to ruin it for us. Now go get some sleep I'll see you tomorrow," He told her kissing her lightly on the lips. She smiled and got up to leave. As she reached the door she paused a moment as he added something, "Oh Danielle one more thing."

"Yes what is it?"

"I was wrong. You don't hit like a Renegade. You hit like a Phantasm."

"Good night my sweet phantom." With that she was gone.

In the Melchior tower the family and the Renegades were going over the plan one more time. At the appointed hour right before the princess could announce her betroved, Kenneth would snatch her. Then the ghost would destroy the ball while Skulker using his new holo projector would pretend to be Danny. They make him take the fall for the attack and kidnapping of the princess. He would then be executed and nothing would stand in Kenneth way of the throne and the Renegades having complete control over both the Ghost Zone and Earth!