Okay, so now we're on to the ever popular Vlad confrontation. Thanks to all you wonderful people for giving me such fantastic reviews!

This is a little short, so sorry, but there's only one more chapter and an epilogue left. I have both already typed and loaded onto the site, so I'll probably update next weekend and the one after that, then start working double time on my next story. Read my profile for more information on future fics, and I posted a poll on there that I want you all to reply to when you review this chapter. The one that you guys choose will become my primary focus for the next several weeks at least, depending on if I get myself (Writer's Block) or not.

Anyway, this is Chapter 11: Scrambled Thoughts.

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Dash turned around to see a man with blue tinted skin, black hair swept up so it looked like horns, and fangs showing as he grinned. A red and white cape billowed out behind him as he looked at the boys through crimson eyes.

Dash remembered what Danny had said earlier about Despair copying "the whole 'cape and red eyes' thing" from a guy named Vlad. This must be him.

"So nice to see you again, Son."

Danny's eyes narrowed and flashed green as he growled, "Don't call me that! I'm not your son and I never will be! What are you doing here?"

Vlad, unfazed by the "scary eyes", replied, "Just checking to make sure my associate did his job properly."

Danny lashed out an arm, firing an ectoblast and actually catching Vlad by surprise. "You sent Despair?" He changed into his ghost form and fired another ectoplasmic energy blast.

This time Vlad was ready and blocked it with a pink shield. "Of course. The only way he'll let you out of here is if you join me."

Danny stared at him in disbelief. "Dude, your brains are more scrambled than eggs. Never gonna happen. Will you just hurry up and get a cat or something? I'm running out of breakfast names to call you."

Dash started chuckling and Vlad sent Danny a glare that, if looks could kill, would have reduced him to a smoldering pile of ashes. Instead of completely obliterating the boy, Vlad instead would up hitting him with twin red beams from his eyes.

Danny was sent hurdling backward until he gained control and flew toward Plasmius again. He abruptly forced to dive into Dash to push them both out of the way of another blast. The boys tumbled across the floor into a wall.

Danny's head cracked against the stone and he cried out in pain. Dash's fall had been somewhat cushioned by the smaller boy, who he had wound up on top of. They quickly untangled themselves.

Danny had only just stood back up when Vlad grabbed his wrist and yanked him off the ground. Danny screamed as an electric shock coursed through his body. In just a few moments the electricity waned and his head fell forward, limbs becoming limp.

Plasmius whipped him through the air the short distance to the wall, then grabbed him around the neck, lifting his easily into the air.

Hands flying up in a desperate attempt to breathe, Danny managed to gasp out two words. "I win."

Vlad laughed. "You can't honestly believe that, dear boy. How would you possibly win?" The strength of his grip had lessened slightly, however, as he tried to work out that statement.

That was all Danny needed. He was able to draw in a quick shaky breath. This gave him the strength to attempt to break free, as he concentrated as hard as he could on becoming intangible. It worked, though only for a split second. He slipped out of Vlad's grip, regaining tangibility immediately.

While Danny was on his hands and knees simply reveling in the act of breathing, Dash made his move. In an expert tackle he brought Vlad to the ground and pinned the elder man on his stomach.

He had momentarily forgotten that he was up against a ghost, however, and Vlad slipped free with barely a thought.

This had bought Danny precious seconds in regaining his breath. Now Phantom stood beside the quarterback, both watching their adversary as he melted away, though it seemed voluntary.

They were alone again, with many more questions and hardly any answers. And they were still trapped with no way to get out.

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And special thanks to PotterPhan21 for the inspiration for the title to this chapter.

Oh, kitten update. We are giving away most of them. Fang and Lightning went yesterday, and Scooby and Fido are gone now. All we have left is Eclipse (all black male) and Snoopy (black and white female).

So don't forget to respond to the poll question when you review. Only two more updates after this!

Review goal for this chapter: 225