Sorry for the shortness, I had more to say but got interrupted. The plot thickens later on today or tomorrow.
Again, I don't own Danny Phantom. Boo.
THREE WEEKS EARLIER...
"Hello, Daniel," Vlad Masters said with a smirk, sashaying his way into the Fenton's home. Danny glared at him.
"What are you doing here, Vlad?" Danny demanded, putting himself between Masters and the rest of the house. The white-haired billionaire continued to grin.
"Oh, the usual," He answered with an air of nonchalance. "I'm just here to start the wheels turning of my master plan to steal all of your father's inventions and destroy his credibility while also destroying you in the process."
Danny blinked at him for a moment and then yelled, "Stop actually telling me what your plan is! It pisses me off!"
"I know that, Daniel. Why do you think I do it? It 'pisses you off' because you know that I consider you no threat."
"Hey, V-man!" Jack Fenton bellowed, walking into the room and spotting his old friend.
At the same time, Sam arrived at the front door to meet Danny for their dinner date. He was supposed to be taking her out, but when she saw Vlad she immediately said, "Danny, we can put this off if you want. I can see that you have...company." She shot Vlad a knowing glare. He smiled at her.
Hearing her husband's extremely loud voice talking excitedly to Vlad about their latest ghost hunting inventions prompted Maddie Fenton into the room, who upon seeing Sam exclaimed, "Hi, Sam! This is great, everyone can stay for dinner! It'll be like a double date! Me and Jack, Danny and Sam, and...well, Vlad."
Vlad's expression grew grim at that comment, and Danny could barely contain his laughter at his enemy's expense.
"Daniel, why don't you join me for a walk down to the park?" Vlad said, pasting a sugary sweet expression on his face.
"Sure, Vlad," Danny said, staring down the other half-ghost. "I'd love to."
"Not without me, you're not," Sam said, grabbing Danny's arm. Even back when they were just friends she was very protective of him. Even though he had the power to take care of himself, she had a certain need to be there for him, and she knew he needed that from her. After all, it would be a lonely life without someone who cared about your well-being. But, now that they had been dating for over two years, sometimes she couldn't stand it when he flew off into danger. And right at that moment, she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach that something bad was going to happen to Danny if she wasn't there to protect him. Call it woman's intuition.
"Sam, I'll be OK," Danny said, even though he knew it was an argument he wouldn't win. He loved that about Sam. When she put her mind to something, she wouldn't waiver.
The two teenagers and the middle-aged billionaire left the Fenton home, assuring Jack and Maddie they would be back in plenty of time for dinner.
"All right, what's the point?" Danny asked of Vlad, just as soon as they were out of ear-shot of the house.
"The point? Son, the point was to get you away from the safety of your parents' home so that I could try my new invention out on you!"
Without another word, Vlad was on Danny before he or Sam could do anything. Danny began fighting him off as he changed into ghost form, and Vlad did the same.
"I hope you can do better than this, Plasmius!" Danny Phantom shouted at the other ghost. They were in a purely physical struggle, neither of them had used their powers against the other yet. Danny found himself wondering what the true point of it all was. Suddenly showing up at the Fentons', openly stating some obvious and cliché plan for world domination or whatever, then asking Danny to go for a walk just to brawl with him? It didn't add up.