Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom (Butch Hartman)

AN: Just so you know…this chapter is still set in the present day…unless there's a flash-forward or something and that will be noted!

((Casper High School))

Danny stared at the blank piece of paper that was supposed to be his essay on how Roman emperors maintained control over such a vast empire. He had about fifteen minutes left of the class but his mind wasn't on the past…it was on the present and his future. He kept thinking back to his lunch and the girl who had appeared out of no where, kicked Skulker's butt, then told him that his greatest enemy had escaped and was loose in the future.

He sighed as he doodled absentmindedly on the black paper, 'Not only is my future screwed but now I'm going to fail this stupid test.' He glanced at the clock and saw that only a minute had passed. He took a deep breath and looked at the blank paper again, he scratched out an answer as quickly as he could, and in about ten minutes had a page and a half written about the roman emperors…or what he could remember about them. He put his pencil down, at least now he wouldn't completely fail.

With that done he went back to zoning out. Danny went over their agreement in his head. The girl, April Spirit, was the name she had given them and he bet anything that it wasn't her real name. April had told him, in front of Sam and Tucker, that she needed his help. When he had asked her why his future self didn't help she had hesitated then answered by saying that Dan Phantom had already taken Danny out. Danny had freaked of course, assuming she meant died. However upon reassurance he found he was still alive…just trapped in his own thermos. He had pressed for more information but the school bell had rung at that time and April had told him to go back to class and meet her at the mall later.

Suddenly the bell rang and Danny sprung from his seat, he tossed his test at the teacher, and made a mad dash for his locker. He wanted some answers.

((Cue Danny Phantom Theme Song))

((Food Court, Amity Park Mall))

April sat at a table in the middle of the food court, a chocolate milk shake in her hand, waiting on her fa—Danny. April shook her head, she had to stop thinking of this Danny as her father, her life was screwed up enough with her powers she did not need a teenage father complex.

She glanced at her watch; it was funny how important time had become to her. The watch read just five minutes after four o'clock. They would be here any minute now. She ran over her story in her head, debating whether to tell Danny that she was his daughter or not, 'Of course…he isn't THAT stupid…I mean how many half ghost people exist…though he could think I obtained these powers in an accident like he did,' she sighed, 'Tell him…don't tell him…he might freak him out if I tell him…it could alter the future…I could create a paradox…I could…AUGH! My brain hurts…its official…I HATE time travel,' she thought, sipping her chocolate shake gloomily.

"Hey," a voice said from behind her. April turned to find Danny standing there with Sam and Tucker. They took a seat around her and fell silent, it became obvious that they were waiting for her to start with the explanation but then Danny cut in, "I forgot to ask…but before I agree to save this future...Sam and Tucker…they're still alive right."

April nearly spit out her chocolate milk, "Of course! Mo—Sam's doing great and Tucker is expecting his new ki—killer raise any time now," April lied. She wasn't sure if saying Tucker was expecting a kid soon was a good idea…especially since she had barely told them anything else about the future.

Sam and Tucker breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good news…I'm going to assume the rest of the future is pretty happy," Sam said.

April nodded, "Up until just recently when Dan Phantom took Da—nny."

"How did he escape Clockwork though…I would have imagined that he would have Dan Phantom on major lockdown," Tucker asked, leaning back in his chair.

"That's one thing I don't know. He just showed up in the middle of my soccer game and scared the hell out of Danny. We fought of course, Danny and me, Valerie would have helped but she's pregnant at the moment."

Danny, Sam, and Tucker's jaws dropped, "DO WHAT!"

April groaned, 'Dammit…can't I keep my big mouth shut,' she thought. "Valerie would usually help me and Danny fight ghosts but she's expecting now…you have to remember this is twenty something years in the future…you guys are grownup and having kids IS normal."

Danny paled, 'I wonder if I have kids…or if I'm even married?' As this thought occurred to him another thought came to him and he had to voice this aloud, "Wait…you're our age…how and why do you know about me…even if it is the future…don't tell me EVERYONE finds out my secret."

Sam jumped in at that, "More importantly how do you even HAVE ghost powers?"

"Well…uhm…I…that's none of your business. Look, don't you realize that if I reveal too much information I could create a paradox or some crap like that! I may fight ghosts but I don NOT want to have to screw around with twisted timelines and becoming my own grandmother…however the hell that works!" April snapped. Danny, Tucker, and Sam just stared at her and April sighed, "Sorry…I will tell you this though, since then you'll know who it's okay to talk about ghosts around when you come with me. Valerie knows…she finds out in a couple more years…I think while you're in college. She's angry at first but she eventually accepts you and even helps you out of a couple of jams. Jazz knows…but since you already fought Dan Phantom you know that already. Jazz's husband knows, too."

"Wait…Jazz is married?"

April rolled her eyes skyward, "Duh, his name is Joseph and he's a really great guy. I won't go into details about how he found out…it was really only recently though and there was no other choice. Other than them your secret is safe…well except for my friend Carrie…but she only knows because she knows about me."

"Does…uhm…does Jazz have kids?"

April glared at Danny and he shut his mouth. April stared him down for a bit and Danny shivered, 'She may have two different colored eyes but that glare is defiantly Sam's,' he thought. 'Could she be Sam's kid…but that still doesn't explain her powers…and who would Sam marry?'

April stood up and stretched, "Look…I've spilled enough beans…are you going to come back to the future with me or not? You've beaten Dan before; I could really use your help to at least springing the future you so he can help."

Danny looked to Sam and Tucker. Both shrugged, "Am I going alone?"

"Yeah…its bad enough I have to take you, if I take everyone on a joy ride to the future I could really risk screwing up the time line. Sorry Sam and Tucker but he's taking this journey by himself," she said matter-of-factly.

Sam and Tucker frowned but Danny put a hand on Sam's shoulder, "Don't worry guys…I'll come back. Luckily it's the weekend," he turned to April, "I'll come with you…this future looks like one worth keeping and I can't help but feel its my fault Dan Phantom exists in the first place."

"That's cause technically dude…it is," Tucker interrupted. Sam smacked him on the back of the head and Tucker winced.

Danny frowned but nodded, "Yeah I sometimes forget he's the evil future…uhm…non existent future of me."

April grabbed Danny's hand, "Come on…we're leaving."

"Right now!"

April gave him a look and Danny laughed awkwardly, "Alright, alright…guys cover for me with my parents okay? You can tell Jazz though…she can help cover if I'm gone past this weekend."

Sam ran over and gave Danny a hug, "Be careful okay. I don't want a repeat of your last traipse through the future."

Danny's cheeks turned red, "No…no problem Sam."

Tucker and April rolled their eyes. April pulled Danny away, "Come on…we have people to save." April led Danny to the back alley of the mall and, still holding his hand, took the medallion off. Then the two disappeared.

((Meanwhile, In the Future))

Jazz pushed a strand of her short, orange hair behind her ear and turned to see the group gathered at Sam's kitchen table. The "group" consisted of Sam, Tucker, Joseph, and Valerie. Sam looked worriedly out the window while Valerie put a hand on the worried woman's back, "Don't worry Sam…April will make it back with help."

"I just hope she didn't run into any trouble with Clockwork," Tucker muttered with a laugh.

Joseph elbowed him, "That's not going to help Tucker."

Jazz set a tray of coffee mugs down, steam rising from them, "Don't worry…April's resourceful…she'll find a way around Clockwork."

"How can you be so optimistic Jazz? It isn't April I'm even worried about…I'm worried about Dan Phantom! Last time he weaseled his way in by tricking me and Tucker then sprung his trap…I know he's not stupid enough to come at us directly but I don't know how he'll attack."

The others fell silent. Tucker and Jazz knew Sam was right, he had been about as manipulative as Vlad…maybe more so. Of course that would make sense since Danny had explained to them a long time ago that Dan Phantom was basically Danny's ghost side combined with Vlad's.

"It'd be different if it was simply an evil Danny…but Dan Phantom is more than that…he's part Vlad too," Jazz said with a sigh.

"Maybe that it though. Why don't we just find Vlad and see if he'll help us defeat Dan Phantom."

The others exchanged glances and Joseph frowned, "Why do I get the feeling you guys aren't telling me something?" Joseph had only found out about his brother-in-law's powers a few years ago so there were still a bunch of stories he hadn't heard about Danny's exploits over the years.

When no one answered Jazz took a deep breath, "Vlad disappeared," she began, "it was shortly after Danny graduated college. Vlad approached Danny for a final battle…"

((Flashback to 15 years ago))

Twenty-two year old Danny stood between Sam and Tucker, arm on Sam's waist, and his other over Tucker's shoulder, and on Tucker's other side was Valerie. All four were dressed in black, college graduation robes. They smiled broadly and there was a flash. The woman standing across from them smiled and brought the camera down, it was Jazz; her hair was extremely short now, sporting a pixie cut, "Congrats you guys…you've finally graduated!"

Danny smirked, "Yeah and before you…Miss I want a doctorate or else."

Jazz rolled her eyes and tossed Tucker the camera, "Here Tucker…you'll need that for the wedding next week."

Valerie laughed and cast a glance at Danny, "I can't believe it…it took you two long enough!" Valerie and Tucker had gotten married in their junior year of college. Now it was Danny and Sam's turn.

Sam shrugged, "Danny's shy…you know that…at least he didn't propose the way Tucker did." Tucker had popped the question by hacking into the campus computer lab and made all the computers simultaneously display the words: "Will You Marry Me Val?" and the words were shouted through the speakers. Tucker had almost gotten kicked out of the school until he had insisted it was part of his tech class.

"Where are mom and dad or Joseph and Lily for that matter?" Danny asked. Lily (for those that don't remember) was Jazz's first born daughter. She was now a year old and had attended her uncle's graduation with Jazz and her husband.

"Lily was getting fussy so they're waiting for us in the Fenton RV. I better head back, I'll meet you guys later…you're still meeting us right Sam?"

Sam nodded and Jazz ran off. Sam, Tucker, Valerie, and Danny turned back to watch as the ceremony was cleaned up and sat down to reflect. They had come so far since their days at Casper High. Danny was deep in thought when Sam tugged his robe, "Danny…look."

Danny looked up and his blue eyes narrowed, there, standing on the field, looking smug, was his pain in the ass nemesis, Vlad Masters…aka Vlad Plasmius. Danny stood up, his hands automatically balling into fists. Sam looked up at her fiancée worriedly, "Danny," she whispered in a worried voice.

Valerie stood up as well, even though she had only recently come to terms with Danny Fenton being half ghost and the fact that the man before her had tricked her all these years, she was not going to back down. She stepped forward but Danny held up his hand, "Sorry Val…I know he caused you some pain too…but let me handle this."

Valerie glared at him but Tucker grabbed her wrist, "Go on Danny."

Danny hurried over to Vlad. Vlad watched him come; Danny was surprised that Vlad had changed little over the years. His grey-white hair was still tied in a ponytail and he still wore that crisp, black suit. Danny stopped within three feet of Vlad and Vlad smiled, "Well my boy, you certainly have grown since the last time I saw you."

Danny kept himself in check, 'I will not snap.' He forced a smile, "Yeah…what's it been…six months since you last tried anything? Thinking it's about time to retire old man?"

Vlad laughed, "Come little badger…I have something I wish to speak with you about."

Sam, Tucker, and Valerie watched from where they stood as Vlad led Danny away. Sam went to run after them but Tucker and Valerie stopped her, "This is between Vlad and Danny…he'll be fine Sam."

Sam frowned, "I hope you're right."

Once Vlad and Danny were alone Danny pulled away from Vlad and spun on him, "I'm grown now Vlad…give it up! I'm NOT going to follow in your shoes…I've already seen a future where that happens! My mom ISN'T going to fall in long with you either! Why do you have to continue to torment me and my family?"

Vlad seemed slightly taken a back by this outburst of Danny's but then smiled, "My dear boy that's why I'm here today. This is the last time you'll ever see me…I want to test how far you've come from that gangly little teenager I used to dupe. I want to see if you're really man enough for your powers."

"What are you talking about Vlad?"

"If you can beat me today Daniel…I won't bother you. Every time we've fought you've barely escaped…I've given you six months to improve yourself, now I want to make sure that you can truly handle the coming years."

Danny was silent for a few minutes then closed his eyes in resignation, "I'm not going to fight you just because you command it." Danny turned his back on Vlad and started to walk away when he was blasted in the back. Danny pitched forward but caught himself and spun around, Vlad was now in his ghost form, hovering off of the ground. Danny glared at him, his eyes glowing green in anger, "Fine!"

Danny clenched his fists as the familiar rings of light enveloped him. He now stood before Vlad in his ghost form. The black and white hazard suit was worn under a leather jacket with a 'D' embroidered on the front and back. The jacket he had added only recently and felt it was a nice touch to separate him from his awkward high school days…plus who doesn't like leather jackets?

Vlad wasted no time. He blasted Danny relentlessly and Danny managed to dodge every one. Danny then jumped into the air and created a large ball of energy of his own, about the size of a massive beach ball, he held it between his two hands then hurled it at Vlad. Vlad brought his hand up and created a barrier to stop it and the energy smashed against it harmlessly, though Danny noted it did push him back a bit.

Taking this as a distraction Danny went invisible and came at Vlad from behind. Vlad never saw it coming, literally and figuratively, as Danny blasted him from the back. Vlad went flying forward then spun around, his red eyes narrowed in fury. Then he smirked and suddenly Danny was surrounded by Vlad copies. The Vlad clones grabbed Danny's arms and legs and held him for the original Vlad. Vlad flew over to Danny and began to pummel him with his bare fists. Danny howled in agony and the howls turned into his 'ghostly wail,' the sonic waves causing the copy Vlads to disappear and the other Vlad to clutch his ears in agony.

Danny recovered and flew at Vlad, punching him now. He then pulled his leg back and kicked Vlad square in the stomach. Vlad doubled over in pain. Danny hovered over him, "Had enough Vlad?"

Vlad stood up, shakily at first, and then he regained his composure, "Not by a long shot my boy." Vlad held up his hands and they suddenly morphed into claws, glowing with ecto-energy, "Let's try this again."

Vlad disappeared in a flash and Danny spun around, not know where he was going to attack. Vlad dove down from the sky and raked Danny's back with the claws. Danny spun around, attempting to punch Vlad, but he was gone again. Danny closed his eyes and tried to ignore the pain. Vlad appeared again, this time from his left, he reached out for Danny but was knocked down. Danny's eyes snapped open and he found himself staring at…himself.

Danny smirked, multiplying ones' self sure came in handy…he was glad he had learned it a few years ago. He had created the clone while his eyes were closed and the clone had gone into invisibility mode so as to surprise Vlad, looks like it had worked.

Vlad shook out his hand and glared at the two Dannys, "Hmm…impressive…although these are all old tricks Danny…don't you have anything new?"

Vlad stared Danny down and his eyes seemed to glow brighter. Suddenly from the ground shot at least fifty different ghosts. The ghost looked rather generic and Danny knew (now, anyways) that if they didn't take the form they once had in life then they were pretty weak. Still, this worried Danny, since when could Vlad summon ghosts…at will.

The older halfa smiled, "Like it Danny…controlling others is my specialty…it was only a matter of time before I could control ghosts at my will as well."

Danny recalled a time many years ago when he had been chased through the woods by ghost animals ((i.e. The Maternal Instincts episode))…had that been the beginning stages of this power of Vlad's? "Now then…get him."

'I thought he said this was between me and him," Danny thought as he flew over one of the rabid ghost that had flown at him. Danny knew there was only one way to take them all out at once; he took a deep breath and 'wailed' on them. The ghosts vanished in a puff of smoke and Danny turned his eyes on Vlad. He powered up his ecto-blasts and started hurling them at his foe. Vlad brought up shield after shield, deflecting the blasts. Danny pushed closer and closer and when he was close enough Danny brought his hands together over his head. The green energy on his hands warped and morphed until it had changed into an elongated broad sword. Danny swung it down at Vlad and a stunned Vlad went intangible and the sword went through him.

Vlad pushed himself away from Danny, eyes wide, "Since when could you do that?"

"Like it? It's my own personal Fenton Anti-Creep Stick…sword…thing."

"You…nearly killed me!" Vlad protested. Vlad then smirked, "Fine boy…if you want to get serious. Vlad flew at him again, full speed, his whole body seemed to blaze with energy. Danny's eyes widened in shock at the kamikaze technique, he brought his sword up in defense but Vlad didn't back down and went to claw at Danny again…instead the sword sliced straight through Vlad's hand, cutting it off.

Silence fell over them.

Danny looked down at the hand, eyes wide. Vlad looked at the stump where his hand had been. The sword disappeared, "V-Vlad?"

The man picked up the hand then disappeared. The silence after that unnerved Danny more than if the man had cried out in agony or anger or even laughed. Danny was aghast at what he had done and shifted back to his human form. Sure Vlad had been ready to kill him…but Danny didn't think Vlad would be crazy enough to pull off a kamikaze attack, now he had a lot to think about.

((Back to the Future/Present/Whatever))

"So Danny defeated Vlad…but at a cost. Danny's never used his Ghost Sword technique again and Vlad hasn't been seen in ghost form or human form by the public eye since then," Jazz concluded.

Joseph whistled, "No wonder Danny doesn't like to talk about Vlad."

A clock chimed somewhere in the house and Sam looked up at the clock displayed on her stove, "It's nearly nine o'clock…April's been gone since yesterday…I really hope she's okay."

As if to answer her question there was a bright flash of green light in the adjacent room and then a crash. Sam, Tucker, Jazz, Joseph, and Valerie all ran into the living room to find April sitting on top of a boy about her own age. The crash had resulted from them landing on top of the table. April was fine but the boy must have conked his head as he was unconscious. April stood up, dusting her trench coat off, and smiled at her mom, "Hey mom…I'm home."

Once April was off the boy, Sam and the others were able to get a good look at him. They gasped; it was Danny alright, only instead of the twenty-something year old they had expected April to bring back this Danny was only fourteen. Sam glared down at her daughter and April shuddered, 'I'm in so much trouble.'

To Be Continued…

AN: So, what'd you guys think? Interesting enough? Good? Bad? Alright enough questions…next chapter is going to be fun because of course Danny's going to wake up. We might even see what Dan is planning…maybe even making his move. And what of Vlad you ask? I'm not even sure he'll show up…and if he doesn't that flashback was to explain why…but if he does show up…well he'll certainly be a change man…but don't worry he's not dead…not by a long shot. Review you guys and tune in next time!