Have to say, I no longer like this story as much as I did originally. I'd have preferred to leave it as a one-shot. But my sister wanted it finished and finished it will be. This is the last chapter. All that's left is the epilogue. Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed so far. I'm glad you're enjoying it, even if I can't . So, much love and enjoy.
Disclaimer: Molly does not own Danny Phantom, Butch Hartman does, and Molly thanks him.
P.S. This was not beta'd, I have no excuse.
Silence is Golden...
Earth's upper atmosphere is as it has always been. Clouds gather break below and the air is cold, crisp, a perfect ceiling of unbroken blue.
Danny loses himself in the feeling of freedom. The wind plasters his hair back; he barely notices the difference between bare flesh and jumpsuit. The icy feeling is refreshing.
Up ahead, it's hard for the halfa to determine the distance, heavy clouds rise into the perfect blue. They are a sign. Somewhere, far below, a city burns and crumbles alive.
Danny feels anger swell within him. Somewhere below Vlad stands over the carnage. Danny's hand clenches around the handle of Jazz' hammer. He is tired, of this battle, of this life, of Vlad.
Nearing, Danny begins his decent. Soon Vlad will get what's coming to him and Danny will have what he wanted all along. Peace.
"Stop squirming!" Maddie Fenton hears Sam Manson yell as she hurriedly ties off a makeshift bandage around Jack Fenton's arm. At any other time it would have made Maddie smile to hear the high school girl scolding the grown man, but there are more important things to worry about right now, like breathing.
Maddie keeps watch while Sam tends to Jack and herself as they hide in the wreckage of a demolished bank. So far they have managed to avoid the heavier attacks, but now Vlad has joined in, chasing the three of them down like a huntsman after a fox.
"You'd both better hurry." Maddie says, turning towards the empty street but addressing the teen anyways.
"We need to get going, if we stay in one place too long Vlad –."
"– Might discover where you're hiding?" Three heads snap up, Maddie, Sam, and Jack stare in shock at Vlad who smiles wickedly at them, a horde of wispy demons snap and hiss behind him, roiling like a great black cloud.
Vlad laughs. He laughs until his sides ache and his chest burns. Finally, at last his victory is at hand, in moment's Jack will be nothing but a memory and then…oh yes, it will be sweet. To dump the body at Daniels feet and rip its heart out for the boy to see. So sweet.
He takes a few steps forward, chortling slightly to help regain his control.
"There's no need to rush things my dear Maddie." He says, flashing the woman a smile.
"After all, I have all the time in the world. If you wish to continue, I can have my minions chase you and that scum all over this city…" Vlad pauses, as if in thought. He closes his eyes, imagining his dear Maddie's face as the demon horde behind him rose a few feet in the air.
"Yes, run all you like my dear, this city will make a fine monument to my victory over this world and more importantly a fine grave for you Jack!" Vlad snarls as the last few words rip from him, and locks his eyes with his greatest enemy…but Jack doesn't seem focused on Vlad.
From where he sits, Sam crouched beside him; her hand wrapped around his bandaged arm, Jack Fenton stares with terror at something behind Vlad, something apparently more frightening than the man who wanted him dead.
The only reason Vlad turns around is the fact that not only is Jack ogling something behind Vlad, but the silly girl and his dear Maddie as well. He spins on his heels, maintaining his position above his captives and glared, expecting to see nothing more than a great mass of unending darkness.
What he sees is Danny.
A Danny who has discovered how to effect his own form, reshaping his costume into something more fitting for a taller, less juvenile body. He has dispatched the demons; all of Vlad's hard work, gone in a few seconds, and is standing quietly, a strange sledgehammer dangling in one hand. As if he's been waiting for Vlad to finish his conversation.
"But…how..." Vlad never sees what hits him. In the blink of an eye he goes from standing in confusion to flying through several stone walls. Danny appears where Vlad had been, the sledgehammer held in a position as if it had just been used. He relaxes, staring down at his mother.
"My, my son." Maddie whispers. She starts crying and Danny smiles at her, he nods slightly and moves off. There are things to finish.
Vlad attempts to pull himself up, aware of several new gashes, bruises and several broken bones. He looks towards the hole caused by his body hitting the stone wall and thanks himself for being half ghost. Of course, that does nothing for the fact that he was struck, and by the boy no less.
Danny blasts through the rubble intangible. He quickly finds Vlad and becoming tangible again stands waiting for the monster to pick himself up. Danny has waited a long time for this, no need to do it fast.
"Well look at you." Vlad coughs out.
"All grown up and angry. Really, it's everything I ever wanted, well save your mother in my bed." A smile graces Vlad's lips and he eyes the boy to gauge his reaction.
Danny gives him nothing. He steps forward, slowly, methodically. His blood boils but Vlad will never see that, only calm and quiet from the boy he imprisoned, tortured, split in half, pickled and put on display like some twisted cross between a trophy and a pet.
A half second later Danny stands close enough to smell Vlad. And the man only continues to smile.
"Really Daniel, is it in you to kill?"
No need to ask. Danny slams the sledge hammer into Vlad's shoulder. He crashes into another wall and this time it's harder to get up.
Danny continues to move forward. He has dreamt of this moment, when it would be done and Danny could rest, finally.
Not gonna tell you whether Danny kills Vlad or not, since I've since developed a soft spot for Plasmius and would rather see what your imaginations can come up with. Personally, I don't want him dead, but that's what I originally went in thinking….still things change…or maybe…well, you get the idea . Make your opinion known or not but leave a message please, constructive criticism is always loved. Drabbles are loved too.
Love always, Molly the Wanderer