Authors note: ok, a little slow with the update, but that's because I was having trouble with the ending of this chapter, damn thing just wouldn't come out right. Still isn't to what I would like it to be, but if I don't get it done now I'll probably never get this done. Beware of any spelling, grammar and structural errors, be seeing that I don't have a beta reader, you just have to bear with me. I planned on having another chapter to this story, but I just don't know, please give your opinion on this matter. Anyway enough with my pointless nattering.

On with the story…

The first sound that filled the air after the ghost stopped laughing, was screaming, phantom's screaming. The reason for these sounds of anguish, quite obvious, several long deep slashes were apparent on the evil entity's chest. Green ectoplasm seeped through his fingers as he attempted to stop the bleeding. He fell to the ground, mimicking the action of hyperventilating, considering he has no need to breath.

After a few more seconds of screaming, more slashes appeared on his chest and arms, the pain was etched in phantom's face, his eyes wide in disbelief. What was going on? Was the question currently running through everyone's mind. The ghost was brought back to his knees, unknowingly copying the actions of his younger self. And if a cannon was shot, a large gaping hole, dug its way through the ghosts back, into the area where his heart would be, he struggled for a few moments after, before finally falling still.

The ecto ropes disappeared, freeing the hostages from a rather grim future. They quickly fled from the boiler, running for shelter in the shadow of the RV. Jazz, Sam and Tucker, exchanged worried glances at each other, predicting the reasons for their escape. If the older phantom was here, then where was their Danny?

However their train of though was cut short, by a bright flash, as everyone present turned their head toward the direction of the distraction. They discovered that an ever-condensing ball of energy replaced the body of the ghost. It started to glow brighter as it got smaller; it continued this process until finally it disappeared. A distinct crack traveled down the street as the air claimed the space previously occupied by the remains of Dan Phantom.

The silence the followed was ominous, most of the audience currently had wide eyes and slack jaws, and the ones that didn't were staring at another light as it came into existence. The blue swirling vortex grew filling the air that the previous green orb existed in; it had almost a hypnotizing effect, with the constant dancing hues and lights. Before it vanished almost as fast at it appeared, but not without leaving something, or someone.

Danny Phantom now lay one the cracked pavement, dressed in almost identical wounds that the older carnation wore. Twin rings of light expanded from his waist, before separating in opposite directions, revealing the familiar blue jeans and red and white t-shirt of one Danny Fenton. Everyone rushed to him, his mother quick to check his vital signs, unfortunately she had bad news. He wasn't breathing, in fact his body already had the chill of death creeping in, and it was already too late to save him.

Tears filled everyone's but Mr. Lancers eyes, was still staring at Danny in deep shock, not only did he discover that one of his students was half ghost, but not that said person was dead. It also didn't help that he had his life threatened just minutes before by a future version of this person.

Sam had collapsed to the ground, eyes never leaving her friend's body, running through her mind was all the things she didn't get to do with the halfa, all the things she needed to say. All the possibilities that could have happened to the both of them. She then crawled over to his still body and let out the full fledged sobbing that she was formerly to preoccupied to let out.

Tucker simply stood there, eyes glazed over not seeing anything, silent tears falling down his face, he as Jazz would have said if she wasn't hugging herself trying to find comfort, was in denial. How could his best friend since forever be dead? It just wasn't possible; he would soon pick himself off the ground, and get ready to battle the next ghost. He had too.

The Fenton parents weren't handling the recent events very well themselves, not only did they just discover that the son was Pubic Enemy # 1, and that they were hunting him, but he could have turned into that monster that trapped them earlier. All that was enough to send a shock into their systems. However before they could make amends to their offspring, he just appeared in front of them dead. They felt fear and shame of what they've done the helplessness and failure to protect their kin, and the sorrow and utter despair of their son's passing. Maddie was crying into Jacks shoulder while the remaining Fenton male just let the tears roll down his cheek in silence, he needed to be the strong one, if no one else would.

Jasmine, who was currently hugging herself trying to pretend that he wasn't gone, but knew it was pointless denial, would not get her anywhere. Her little brother and only sibling had just left her, she hated that she was thinking this way, but she wondered how could he just leave her like this, leave everyone? She had her arms wrapped around herself so tight that she was shaking, she slowly make her way over to her parents, blinded by her tears.

Tucker quickly snapped out of his thoughts as a high pitch whistling filled the heavy air, he glanced at the remains of the Nasty Burger remembering that they were all still in danger. He rapidly got everyone's attention and everyone out off the immediate area, Jack picking up Danny's corpse. As soon as they got behind the Assault vehicle, the container of volatile condiments detonated, wiping out the last intact parts of the fast food restaurant.

Mr. Lancer's car became part of the carnage, forcing him to hitch a ride. Inside the vehicle, everyone turned to solemn silence, everyone still in the midst of their shock and denial.

Eventfully everyone arrived to their respective houses, their emotions numb, but the events still fresh in their minds. That night everyone got little or no sleep, still thinking and in some cases hoping, about the incident. No one would talk about it, they just stayed still, emotionally drained.

The weather seemed to be morning as well; there was a sun shower all day, signifying both the passing of Daniel Fenton and the celebration of his life as well as the prevention of a horrible future. The warm droplets gave the promise of new life, of cleansing, of freedom. As now the ghost boy could be free from the shackles of society, the shackles of life. He was free.

Possible TBC…

Usual R & R

Edited April 17 2006