Chapter 5: A Secret Revealed
Everything was black…Danny couldn't see a thing. But slowly, dulled colors began to swirl in with the darkness. He could see a blurred picture of a clean hospital room…judging by the lack of light from outside, it was still night time. His vision gave out again as he felt a dull pain throb in his head. "Owww…where…where am I…"
He heard a soft female voice respond, "You're in the hospital, you've been out for an hour. Don't strain yourself; you took a pretty brutal beating…" Danny made to speak again but opted not to as he felt a pair of lips tenderly kiss his own. He opened his eyes slowly and the room came into full focus. He smiled to see Sam at his bedside, still in her dress with a look a relief on her face.
Danny struggled a bit as he sat up and looked around. He nearly jumped to find that the bed next to him was also occupied…by Vlad Masters. "Well, Daniel, I must say you surprised me…that move you used back there completely annihilated my ghost half. Who knew you had such destructive energy in you?"
Danny's eyes flashed green and he scowled, "Watch it, Masters, or I'll send you on a reunion with your ghost half…" Vlad smiled sardonically and said, "Well, now that I no longer am a hybrid, there is no possible way for you to prove that I did this to you. Nobody will ever know that Vlad Masters was the Wisconsin Ghost."
Sam chuckled and said, "I'm not so sure about that, Plasmius…I've been making a few calls to a friend of mine. Being the tech geek that he is, he hacked into your main computer database at your house. We have so much dirt on you that you'll be behind bars for the rest of your life…let's see, several accounts of robbery, kidnapping, attempted murder, conspiring to murder, breaking and entering, detaining one against their will, threat of injury AND DEATH to a minor…oh, and let's not forget a restraining order put on you that says you can't come within 200 miles of Danny Fenton, Maddie Fenton, or any of their family. Did I forget anything, Mrs. Fenton?"
At that moment, Danny's family, accompanied by Tucker, entered and Maddie said, "Let's not forget being a completely wacked-out fruit loop. You so much as sneeze the wrong way and we'll shoot you to pieces." The family was followed by a nurse with a wheelchair and two police officers. "Mr. Masters, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"
Vlad sighed and muttered, "Oh, fudge buckets…" as the officers wheeled him out to their car.
Maddie hugged her son gently and quietly said, "Danny, I was so worried, when Tucker called and said you were hurt…but what I don't understand is why Vlad was trying to get to you. Danny, what's going on?" Danny sighed and nodded at Tucker, who closed the door.
"Mom, Dad, there's something I need to tell you. Vlad was after me because…he was half-ghost." Jack laughed out loud, "Humans can't be half-ghost, it's a scientific impossibility!"
Danny sighed again, "Dad, I'm serious, Tucker, prove it please." Tucker whipped out his ever present PDA and showed them a video from Vlad's computer, revealing his transformation into Plasmius. "VLAD IS THE WISCONSIN GHOST!" Jack shouted. Danny nodded and said, "Yeah…but the thing is…he was after me because…well, because I've been the one thing stopping him from kidnapping mom and killing you, Dad."
Danny winced slightly as he rose from his bed. Sam tried to stop him, but he shook his head and motioned for her to stand back. "Vlad tried to get to me because…I'm half-ghost as well. I warn you, this will come as a bit of a shock. You've seen my ghost form before…"
Danny closed his eyes and two rings of light appeared around him. As they traveled across his body, his torn tuxedo was replaced by a black hazmat suit, with white boots and gloves. On his chest was the ever present insignia Sam had made for him. His black hair turned stark-white, and he opened his now incandescent green eyes.
"I'm the ghost kid…I'm Danny Phantom."
Maddie's hands dropped to her sides. Jack stood dumbstruck at the sight before him. "Danny…how did…how did this happen…" he stuttered. "Dad, Mom, sit down, this might take a bit…"
After about an hour of talking, Danny had filled in his parents about the past four years of his ghost-hunting double life. Maddie winced as he explained defeating his evil future self, Dan Phantom, as well as reliving his repeated encounters with Vlad. On the other hand, Jack grew more excited with each ghost Danny had talked about beating. "My god…our own son has been protecting us this whole time…Danny, I'm so sorry you didn't feel as if you could tell us before…if we were in your position, we'd be petrified!"
Jack added in, "You're our son, first and foremost, Danny! It doesn't matter if you're human or a ghost or somewhere in between! And hey, you're a superhero! How many guys can say that?"
Sam cut in, "Actually, Mr. Fenton…I can." Sam explained the night events and ended by transforming along with Danny. She got really worried and said, "Please, don't tell my parents yet…they'll think Danny's corrupted me into some evil demon child." Maddie laughed and said, "Of course not, dear. We'll let you handle that yourself. I'm sure that you'd be able to handle them better anyway."
Danny sat back on his bed and Sam rested her hand on his. In an instant, a blue light flashed between the two. When it faded, Danny assorted cuts and bruises were gone and he felt like a million bucks. "Ghost healing… how come I can't do that!" Sam glared at him and said, "Hey, you can do that 'ecto-sword' thing with your bare hands! Don't give me lip!"
A doctor walked in and jumped slightly, "Mr. Fenton…you're out of bed! And your wounds are healed! What's going on?" Danny and Sam quickly responded, "Fast healer!"
The doctor left confused and lost. Danny looked at the clock and said, "Hey, there's still two hours left to prom! You still up for some dancing, Sam?" She looked equally excited, "Let's fly!"
Maddie smiled as they turned invisible and flew off. "Well, now we know why he's been so fidgety…"
Danny and Sam arrived back in time for the prom committee to take the stage. "Hello, Casper High! How does everybody like the dance?" Several cheers went up from the crowd. "Yeah, you keep rockin' on! But now the time has come to announce this year's prom king and queen! The envelopes, please…"
Another student handed the speaker a small envelope. "Our prom king this year is…Danny Fenton!" Danny held a look of shock as Sam eagerly pushed him up to the stage. As she returned into the crowd, Paulina confronted her. "What do you want, you shallow witch?"
"Better say goodbye to your little boyfriend, sweetie. I'm gonna be queen, no contest." Sam chuckled and said, "That's a nice black eye, Paulina. Would you like a bloody nose to match?" The prom announcer interrupted their argument. "And our queen is… Samantha Manson!"
Paulina's jaw dropped in horror as Sam gracefully stuck her tongue at her and sidled up to join Danny on stage. "As per custom, our king and queen will now lead the next dance! Take it away you two lovebirds!"
Danny and Sam walked to the center of the dance floor and the lights dimmed except for one spotlight on them. As the music moved ahead, Sam smiled as she threw off her queen's crown, and kissed Danny in front of everybody. Needless to say, Danny was only more than happy to return the kiss.
This solicited several wolf whistles from the crowd, cheers from Tucker and Valerie, and a very loud frustrated grunt from Paulina, who stormed out with her little satellite friends following her.
After the dance ended, Sam returned to the Fenton's with Tucker and Valerie so they could all celebrate Danny's victory. They all raised their glasses as Jack announced, "To Sam and Danny, our newest defenders against the hordes of evil ghosts! Keep on fighting, you two!"
Danny turned to Sam and said, "You know, now that you're a halfa too, you'll need a name for your ghost half."
Sam nodded and thought for a second. She got a glint in her eye and said, "I'll stick with what works… my name will be Sam Phantom." Danny smiled and rolled his eyes with a sigh. He leaned in and kissed her. They fell asleep on the couch that night, finally relaxing for the first time that whole year…