Chapter 5: The Rules of the Game
Upon entering the cave, Danny found himself in an all metal room with another pair of similar doors. There was a large video screen above them. "Okay, Plasmius. What's your game this time?" he asked.
As if in response, Vlad's image appeared on the screen. "I'll tell you what my game is, Daniel. After all, you need to know the rules before playing," said Vlad. "You think kidnapping one of my best friends is a game, Vlad? Where's Sam?" asked Danny angrily.
"She's perfectly fine. She's just a little tied up at the moment, if you'll pardon the pun. She's waiting for you at the end of this underground complex. But in order for you to get there, you'll have to go through my challenge first," said Vlad. Danny sighed. It looked like there was no other way. "Okay, Vlad. What's the deal?" he asked.
"The rules of my game are simple. Starting exactly at 10:00, these doors will open into another room. Within is one of your enemies. The object is to defeat this foe within the designated time limit. Otherwise, the doors to the next room of the complex will open and you'll have two enemies to deal with. But if you can defeat your foe and capture it in your thermos before the time limit is up, then you'll have time to prepare for the next one. You did bring the thermos, did you?" asked Vlad. "Yes. Is that it?" asked Danny.
"No. As you progress, you'll find that you will have to defeat your opponents in less time. The first four allow you fifteen minutes. The second four allow you ten minutes. The final three only allow you five minutes. But if you can make it through this gauntlet, then you shall win the greatest honor of all: a free-for-all battle against yours truly to save your precious Samantha. Any questions or comments?" asked Vlad.
"Just one. You better not hurt her, Vlad, or you're going to be facing one fierce Phantom," said Danny angrily. "We shall see. It all depends if you have what it takes to endure this challenge. Its five minutes to ten, so prepare yourself for the Gauntlet of Doom!" announced Vlad as the screen shut down.
Elsewhere in the complex, Vlad shut off his screen and chuckled. "No amount of preparation can guarantee a victory for you, Daniel," he said to himself as he turned around.
He was in an immense metallic room with a domed ceiling. In the center, there appearing to be a massive device that was being constructed by the Fright Knight and three ghostly vultures wearing fezzes. In the center of the construction, chained to a rectangular platform was Sam Manson struggling to get free
Vlad walked up to Sam and smiled evilly. "You'll be happy to know that your precious boyfriend is here to rescue you, Samantha. Just as I knew he would," he said tauntingly. "You're not getting away with this, Masters! And he's not my boyfriend!" yelled Sam angrily. "Of course he isn't. But you want him to be, don't you?" asked Vlad as he squeezed her cheeks.
"You should be honored. You know, I could've used another girl in my scheme. I could have used that popular Hispanic girl or my little ghost hunter pawn. But after hearing that touching display of affection in the washroom, I knew immediately that you were the right girl to be my Enemy's Beloved. Besides, who knows? Maybe before the night is out, Daniel will realize that you're the girl he's been waiting for so long. That is, if he survives my challenge. Which he won't," said Vlad with a laugh as he walked away from Sam.
"He'll stop you like he always does," yelled Sam. To herself, she said, "Please be careful, Danny. I couldn't bear it if something happened to you before I got the chance to tell you how I feel."
"Fright Knight!" Vlad called upward. His armor-clad employee floated down to him. "Is the apparatus going to be ready on schedule?" Vlad asked. "It shall be completed before midnight as planned, my lord," responded the Fright Knight. "Good," said Vlad.
"My lord, I must ask you if this is all really necessary. I myself could get you what you need and you needn't have set this challenge up for the ghost child nor bring in that ghost hunter of yours. All this elaboration seems rather unnecessary," said the Fright Knight. "Fright Knight, you know I have full confidence in you. But this scheme is about many things. Not only will it serve my own purposes, it will also give me the opportunity to subject Daniel to complete and utter defeat. Now get back to work," ordered Vlad. "Yes, my lord," said the Fright Knight with a bow and resumed working on the device.
"Poindexter!" yelled Vlad. In response to his bidding, another ghost flew to Vlad's side. This ghost looked like a teenage boy with glasses, buckteeth and clothes befitting of a geek. He looked like he had jumped right out of a black-and-white photograph. His name was Sidney Poindexter, a ghost who detested bullies after a life of bullying at school.
"Yes, Mr. Masters?" asked Poindexter in his nasal voice. "It's time to go on the air and announce the event to the whole Ghost Zone," said Vlad. "Sir, I must protest this spectacle. I'm not too fond of the halfa myself. But to put him through all this is the worst notion of bullying I've ever heard of," said Poindexter. "Poindexter, I didn't hire you to tell me what to do. I hired you to be my bookkeeper and to take calls. Now it's nearing 10:00. It's time to address my adoring public," said Vlad. "Yes, Mr. Masters," said Poindexter with a hint of defiance in his voice.
Vlad walked to a white backdrop with a television screen next to it and a camera in front of it. Vlad positioned himself in front of the camera while Poindexter went behind the camera.
"Oh! I almost forgot! Makeup!" yelled Vlad as two black rings appeared midway down his body. They moved up and down and he soon was transformed. He was now a horrible creature with blue skin, red eyes, fangs, black hair and a white suit with black gloves and boots and a cape. He was now Vlad Plasmius. "Okay, Mr. Plasmius. We're on in five, four, three, two, one," said Poindexter as the camera started up.
"Hello, all ghostly viewers out there in the Ghost Zone. I, Vlad Plasmius, bring you the ultimate in reality television: the Gauntlet of Doom! And the star of our show is none other than the ghost boy you all know and hate: Danny Phantom!" announced Vlad as the television next to him sprang to life and an image of Danny waiting impatiently appeared.
"What you will see is the heroic Danny Phantom braving all odds as he fights his way through an assortment of the worst villains the Ghost Zone has to offer under time limits. The stakes: his beloved Samantha Manson. Will our intrepid and hated hybrid make it through and triumph? Stay tuned to Plasmiusvision!" announced Vlad. 'Sheesh. What a cornball!' thought Sam who was hearing everything.
"But wait! There's more. There's a way you can all profit from this. For a down payment of one hundred ghost dollars, you can bet on the combatant of your choice be it Daniel, one of his combatants, or myself. It will all go into a pot. Half will go to the one who defeats Daniel and the other half will be equally divided among those who bet on it. I guarantee you'll get your money back plus a little bonus if your combatant wins. So call 1-800-555-DALV and place your bet. The betting will be open until Daniel falls. A list of the combatants will follow and at exactly 10:00, the first battle will commence. Enjoy the show," said Vlad as he signed off.
A few moments after Vlad stopped, several phone sounds were heard elsewhere. "Don't just float there, Poindexter! Answer the phones and take those bets!" he commanded. "Yes, sir," said Poindexter as he floated away.
All alone again, Vlad chuckled as he watched the Fright Knight and his vultures continue construction on the strange apparatus around Sam. He moved toward a pedestal which had a crown surrounded in green flames underneath a glass jar.
'Let Daniel try to save his supposedly not-girlfriend. Let the fools out there in the complex try to defeat him. Because no matter what happens, I'll end up with the greatest prize of all,' thought Vlad as he gazed at the crown.
Author's Note: Pretty interesting, huh? So any bets on what Vlad is really planning? I do hope you're still in the dark. I should tell you that the next chapters are each going to be a fight between Danny and one of these mysterious combatants. I won't divulge who they are. But they will be from Danny's rogues gallery. Also, in regards to my fan-made character with the scythe, you're not going to learn his story for a while. Keep reading and reviewing!