crazyvi: Thank you very much! This one's even better--it has FLASHBACKS!

Clockworks Assistant: Cool! Thanks and I like your name!

pottersparky: I'm so glad you're still sticking with me! In fact, your comments inspired me to add this extra chapter.

I Brake For Ghosts: Glad you like it. Did you see GoF? Like it?I did!

IwuvMyKenshyPoo: The update is here!

Jessica01: The shadow creatures are ghosts of my own invention and how Sam and Valerie saved everyone is explained in the earlier chapters. Thanks for reviewing!

EvilRobotZombieLoofaOverlord: Even if you don't like it, thanks for reviewing and expressing your feelings on the matter. I take advice seriously and I'll try and work on making this more compelling.

Riverfox237: Thank you for the review and, hey, guess what? Your cabient hunch is answered in this chapter!

DannysGirlForever: That was the intention, kinda was thinking of what my mom would say!

Mina-chan AMD: Thanks alot and please keep reviewing!

Spiffy McFloogan: Thank you for taking out time to review, even though you were busy with your own story (which is awesome, by the way.)!

Alucard Hemlock: Another chapter is finally here!

AvidReader123: I'm glad you thought is was funny. Hope you get to see the GoF movie soon/enjoy it!

the sleep warrior: Yeah, but there's a sorta minor-cliffie in this chapter. Hehe.

A/N: Happy Thanksgiving guys! Hope you're having a good one. The original chapter thirteen was done last Saturday, but I decided to put a brand new chapter before it, to give more depth to the story through flashbacks of Sam and Vlad-- I hope that explains the long wait. Again Happy Thanksgiving and pumpkin pie to all! (Flashbacks are in italics.)

Chapter Thirteen

As they flew away from the churning shadows, Sam found herself, once again, falling into deep thought. The discovery of Dark Danny disturbed her, even more because Jack, Maddie and Valerie were taking it so flippantly. They really had no idea of the ghost's true power. Even Sam, if she'd realized it, had never seen the full power of Dark Danny. She felt like it was her fault that they were even in this situation; maybe if she had convinced Danny not to go, Vlad would've just forgotten the whole thing...

Danny, Sam and Tucker were sitting in the living room at Danny's house. The mail had just come; a couple bills, a card announcing the Fenton's had won an all-expense-paid trip to the Florida Keys and a letter to Maddie from her sister.

The only mail that concerned the teens, however, was a pale manila envelope with the name Daniel Fenton written in bold, elaborate handwriting on the front and with a seal reading V.M. over the flap

"Well," said Tucker, breaking the silence. "'Aren't you gonna read it?" Danny slowly broke the seal and pulled out the single note and unfolded it. He stared at it for a moment and then looked up.

"It says that he has the thermos." Danny said, softly. His face was almost as white as it was when he was in ghost mode. "I have to go get it."

"What thermos?" Tucker asked stupidly, looking between Danny and Sam's worried expressions in confusion.

"The one with the evil Danny from the future in it." Sam replied in a low voice. Tucker's eyes widened in shock.

"How'd he get it?" he said. "I thought Clockwork was keeping it safe."

"I dunno." Danny answered slowly, still looking at the letter in disbelief. "But I can't let him open it. I have to go get it from him."

"Danny, no!" exclaimed Sam, looking up at his determined face. "What if it's a trap?"

"I still have to go." he returned. "He has no clue what'll happen if he opens that thermos."

"He might not even have the thermos!" Tucker joined in. "Since when has Vlad Plasmius been Mr. Honesty?"

"But if he does!" persisted Danny. "That would be even worse than a trap."

"Please," Sam whispered. "Don't go. I have a really bad feeling about this..."

But Danny had been determined. That was the last time she had seen him, nearly four months ago. Now she understood Danny's point. Since she knew for sure that Vlad had the thermos, she was determined to make sure it wasn't opened. If it was…well, she didn't want to think about that possibility just now.

"Sam." whispered Jazz, breaking through her thoughts. "Look." Sam's eyes followed Jazz's outstretched arm to the castle in the distance. It was the Fright Knight's keep. They were almost there.

Vlad flew through the window into the room where the glass tube holding fifteen-year old Danny Phantom and the cell holding fifteen-year old Danny Fenton were held captive. The Fright Knight was pacing back and forth, apparently agitated. The reason became clear almost immediately.

"Let me out!" yelled Danny from his cell. There was loud banging and crashing as he kicked the door furiously.

"How long has he been doing that?" Vlad asked, amused. The Knight grimaced as there was another loud bang.

"Every moment since you departed."

Vlad laughed and sat the thermos containing Dark Danny on the table. Just then, Danny decided to stand up and start rattling the window bars. He stopped short and looked at Vlad, then down at the thermos. All the color drained from his face.

"How'd you get that?" he demanded hoarsely.

"Does it really matter, Daniel?" the other returned. Danny slid down out of sight without replying, but the look on his face had said it all.

Actually, even Vlad himself had been surprised at how well his plan had gone. Stealing the thermos had been so easy…

Plasmius crept silently into the huge ghostly clock tower, looking around for anyone who might be watching him. There was no one. He floated over the threshold and instantly, two ghosts leapt out of the shadows behind him. They were from two different time periods; the larger of the two was obviously from medieval times, he carried a mace and a quiver full of arrows. The second ghost looked to be from a Viking tribe, wearing a traditional helmet with ox horns on it. He had an abnormally large sword and spear.

The Viking lunged at Plasmius, swinging his sword. The blade barely missed him as he flew back, crashing into the other. The medieval ghost slammed his mace down on Plasmius' head. White dots exploded in front of his eyes and he shook his head. Enough of this!

Plasmius withdrew the Ring of Poriah Dark from a pocket and placed it on his right hand ring finger. He shot a purple ghost ray at the Viking and it hit its mark. The Viking howled with rage and pain before it exploded in a lick of purple flames. The ring had increased Vlad's power by nearly tenfold!

The medieval ghost met the same fate. So much for Clockwork's guards. Plasmius slowly approached the round looking-glass that held the futures of all human and ghost kind. Vlad watched, enthralled, as Danny fell to the ground outside the Nasty Burger and it exploded. The picture changed and Plasmius saw the ghost that he had come for terrorizing a much older Valerie Grey before the picture blacked out and was replaced with Danny's new future, the one that had been born when Danny defeated his evil alter-ego.

Plasmius turned away in disgust. Ten years later and still trying to be a do-gooder? He couldn't have that. And what better way to change the future than with the future?

Plasmius crossed to a pair of heavy metal double doors, at least twenty feet tall. Locked. Oh, sugar cookie! He sighed and changed back to his human form, casually walked through the door, retrieved the thermos, and walked out. Being halfa certainly had its advantages. He transformed back to ghost and flew away, thinking of the next step in his plan.

After that, it had been simple. He had stowed the thermos in a filing cabinet in his basement (A/N: There you go, Riverfox237!) and written a letter to young Daniel explaining what he had done. Given, the battle Danny had fought when he arrived was surprising, but Plasmius had managed to defeat him and hold him prisoner. Blocking Clockwork from escaping the ghost zone had been a little more difficult…

Plasmius returned to the clock tower with more caution than the first time he had gone. With good reason. The tower's keeper, Clockwork, was home this time. He had intended it this way, but nevertheless, this ghost was fairly powerful. He'd have to be careful.

Again, Plasmius placed the Ring on his right ring finger and shot a shield around the entire clock tower. Clockwork appeared in an upper window and blasted the barrier with his Time Staff. It didn't give, but Plasmius felt a shock of electric energy shooting up his spine, draining his power. Clockwork flew down out of sight and Plasmius moved slowly closer to the tower, to see what the old man was up to. Clockwork was in front of the looking-glass. With a furtive look at Vlad, he flew straight into it, carrying two Time Medallions.

The picture changed and he was reaching towards Daniel's friends, intending to place the medallions around their necks and pull them out if the time-space continuum momentarily. Plasmius couldn't have that. He concentrated his energy again and another shield shot from his hands and straight through the first one. It followed Clockwork into the glass and jerked him out. Vlad saw the ghost drop one of the medallions onto Tucker's backpack before he was ripped back through to the ghost zone, but he was using enough energy as it was, without attempting to retrieve the medallion too. The shield melded around the looking-glass, blocking Clockwork from any escape.

Plasmius grinned evilly, flying off towards his own ghost portal. It would be only a matter of time before the Fenton's came knocking on his front door, and he wanted to be sure he wasn't there to receive them. Maybe they had found out sooner than he had wanted, but no matter. His plan was foolproof. It would work anyway.

Plasmius smirked and gave the Fright Knight his instructions. The Knight bowed obediently and flew off to do as he was commanded. All that was left now was to wait.

A/N: Ah-ha! I LOVE writing flashbacks! They're just so much fun! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter; next one should be up by the end of the week at the latest! Please R&R!