Vlad woke up slowly to someone shaking him gently.
"Vlad, buddy, are you ok?" said someone.
Vlad groaned and tried to sit up. A large palm pressed to his back and helped Vlad sit up.
"Easy there."
Vlad brought a hand to his temples to try and starve away the headache he was feeling. Vlad was also using it as an excuse to keep his eyes shut. The person helping him sounded so much like Jack. But Vlad knew that as soon as he opened his eyes the hallucination would vanish, just like they always did. Jack was long dead, along with Maddie and Jazz.
Vlad sighed and gave himself one more moment to soak up the warmth of the palm between his shoulder blades.
"Thank you, my friend," said Vlad with a sad smile as he turned around.
Jack looked back at him with so much concern in his eyes, "Vlad are you alright?"
With a start, Vlad realised that Jack was still there. Jack didn't fade as soon as Vlad looked at him. Vlad was never able to look his hallucination in the eye. They always appeared when he closed his eyes, or excited in the corner of his eye. But Jack was still there, holding Vlad upright.
Something must have shown on Vlad's face because Jack's other hand came up to grip Vlad's shoulder, "Seriously are you alright Vlad? I found you passed out here in the lab with the ghost portal open. And you don't look as," Jack paused as if considering his words as he looked Vlad up and down, "fancy as usual."
Vlad looked down at himself in his tattered suit and reached up to feel the beard he had grown during his years of isolation.
"I suppose," said Vlad numbly as his eyes darted around the lab, he was in. It was the Fenton lab alright, every detail was immaculate. It looked exactly like this when he had the movers pack up the equipment. Even down to those accursed gauntlets that sat on a workbench.
Vlad discreetly dug his fingers into his thigh hard enough that he would have winced had he not been schooling his expression. This, wasn't a dream? This wasn't a dream.
"How'd you get in here Vlad?"
Vlad, for once, though that a bit of honestly might be good, "I don't know."
He only recalled falling asleep in his hideout having survived another day. With some alcohol to ease him to sleep. Hence the headache.
"Did a ghost capture you? If they did, we'll make that slimy creature pay!" declared Jack, some of his booming volume coming back into his voice.
Vlad winced a bit at the volume, not used to any loud noises after being by himself for years. Vlad put a hand on Jack's arm to get his attention and to calm him down. Vlad needed to know one thing first before he could plan anything.
"Jack, this is very important, what is the exact date?"
Jack frowned slightly but answered.
Vlad let the date sink in. One week, it was one week before the accident.
"Vlad, what happened? I saw you yesterday and you were fine," said Jack, worry easy to hear in his voice.
A plan started to come together. However, Vlad would have to act quickly.
Vlad gave his friend a small smile, "I was captured by a ghost, you see I have, or rather had, some ghost hunting equipment of my own that I was developing. But I was foolish enough not to have a ghost shield. A ghost wanted some ghost hunting technology, and since I was an easier target than your shielded lab, they took my equipment. They also decided to take me too, to make more for them. They took me to a part of the ghost zone where time flows differently, I think. You say you saw me yesterday but to me, it was so much longer. Though I'm not sure exactly how long," lied Vlad smoothly.
Suddenly Vlad was pulled into a crushing hug, Vlad tensed for a moment before he relaxed into Jack's tight grip.
He was back. He was here. His friend was alive, horrible hazmat suit and all.
"I'll call up Maddie, and we'll find the ghost that did this to you!" said Jack proclaimed, his hug tightening.
This was where Vlad tapped out, he no longer had ghost strength, he couldn't handle this hug anymore. No matter how much he wanted it to continue.
With a gentle tap on the shoulder Vlad said, "You're crushing me, Jack, please release me."
Jack seemed to hesitate a moment before he let go of Vlad and sat back, giving Vlad back his space.
In a rush Jack quickly stood up, "I'll call Mads, she's at her sister's, so she won't be able to get back for a few hours, but once she's back we'll find the ghost that took you and tear them apart molecule by molecule!"
Vlad waved Jack down from his position on the floor, "No, don't bother Maddie. I am fine."
"Fine? Vlad, you were kidnapped and held by a ghost for, well actually you didn't say how long, but you were kidnapped by a ghost! No one does that to my best friend and gets away with it!"
Vlad sighed, but a small smile pulled at the corner of his lips, "That is for another time. I escaped and now I'm back in Amity. Though I am still not sure how I got here. However, all I wish to do right now is go home."
Vlad groaned as he stood up, ten years without ghostly regeneration had not done any good to his knees. Vlad still managed to stand on his own and stood strong as he put a hand on Jack's shoulder, "Would you help me get home my dear friend?"
Fortunately, his past self would be at the smaller mansion he had established in Amity Park, rather than the mansion in Wisconsin. This would make it much easier to deal with the problem his past self posed.
"Of course, Vladdie. But wouldn't you feel safer here until Mads and I can capture the ghost?"
That was just the conversation lead he needed, "Honestly Jack I just want to go home and rest, however, if you have a few weapons, I can borrow and a portable ghost shield I would greatly appreciate it. It would make me feel much safer," said Vlad trying to slip worry and stress into his voice.
"Take whatever you need Vladdie. I don't have a portable ghost shield yet apart from the one in the Fenton RV, but I can whip one up for you real quick!" said Jack, "Why don't you take a shower and have something to eat and I'll get one up and running for you!"
"That would be wonderful Jack. I'll be right back after I've had some food and made myself more presentable."
"You can borrow my clothes if you want. They'll be too big, but I have belts if you want to borrow some pants. Though there's not much I can do for shoes," said Jack as he looked down at Vlad's bare feet.
Vlad chuckled, "That's not an issue, I'll get a new pair once I'm home."
Vlad did feel much better after a shower and some food. Even if he did have to carefully pick through the kitchen to find food that wasn't ecto-contaminated. Vlad did end up borrowing some of Jacks clothing, which, even with the belt to hold up the pants and clinch the shirt in, was still absolutely swallowing him. Vlad had tied his hair back and trimmed his beard enough to make it more presentable. If he was going to look like a man child in these clothes, then he would at least look like a semi-well groomed man child. Vlad also took a baseball cap, but he shoved that in one of the pockets for later.
Once Vlad entered the lab, he saw Jack working on the ghost shield. Vlad didn't really need a ghost shield, he only needed the weapons or well one particular set of weapons. However, it would look suspicious if he didn't ask for a ghost shield.
"Do you need any assistance?" asked Vlad as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jack waved him off then continued welding pieces of metal together. The contraption looked like a blender, "I'm nearly done Vladdie. It'd be better if Maddie was here to check the wiring, but it should last a few days at least. Maddie will be back then, and she can help me make a new one. Grab anything you want to take with you Valddie. We have plenty of weapons!"
"Thank you, Jack." With that invitation, Vlad grabbed a couple of small, but powerful blasters and the Fenton gauntlets. Vlad only wanted the gauntlets, but as a precaution, the blasters would do. Vlad was a decent shot, which would help if he did indeed need them.
"Jack," called Vlad
"Yes buddy?" responded Jack not looking up from his work.
"Please don't tell anyone about this," said Vlad, "I'm not sure I'm ready for people to know what happened to me."
This caused Jack to stop welding and look up, "I'm not keeping this a secret from Maddie. You got captured by a ghost and she needs to know."
"Jack," started Vlad, he was going to try for pleading. Maddie would catch on to Vlad's ruse much faster than Jack.
"I won't tell anyone else. But if I am going to help you, I'll need Maddie for that. We do our best work as a team."
Vlad sighed, from the look in Jack's eye it seemed this was the one thing his friend was stuck on, "Very well, but reassure her that I am fine and that she does not need to come home yet. I can manage for a few days. When I am ready, I will ask for your help."
"I can work with that plan Vladdie!" exclaimed Jack, "I'll tell Maddie what happened after I drop you home."
"That is acceptable. But please don't let anyone else know, especially not Jazz and Danny, I don't want them to worry."
"My lips are sealed!" said Jack before he got back to work.
Vlad was unsure how well this secret would be kept since Jack was a loud talker. But Jack had managed to keep a secret before. It was always easy to see when Jack was hiding something, but he wouldn't spill the secret at least. If that was the best that Vlad could get then he would take it.
A triumphant cry drew Vlad's attention back to Jack, who was holding up the strange looking blender in glee.
"It's done! You now have a portable ghost shield," said Jack handing Vlad the modified blender, "You just press this button, and a ghost shield will keep ghost out of a five-metre radius," said Jack hitting the button. Instantly the blender whirled to life and a green dome appeared around him and Jack. The whirl died down to a low hum and the dome maintained its steady glow. Jack pressed the button and the blender powered down, the shield disappearing.
"Thank you, Jack this is very helpful," said Vlad nodding to his friend.
"It'll last a couple of hours on its battery, then you'll have to plug it into an outlet. I was in a rush so it still has some kinks to work out, but it should last until Mads gets home and can help me make a better one," explained Jack.
"This will do quite nicely for now. Shall we go? You can just drop me out the front of my house."
"Of course, Vladdie! You got everything you want?"
"Yes, I'm all set," said Vlad with a grin, thinking ahead.
The trip to Vlad's Amity Park estate didn't take long, and Jack chattered the whole time about ghosts, the good old days, and Maddie. Vlad silently listened, just silently revelling in the fact that he was in the past. This was his chance to change everything.
They got to the bottom of Vlad's street when Vlad said, "Pull over here. I can manage from this point."
Jack glanced at Vlad then sharply pulled over. His driving was so erratic, "Here we are. If you need anything else Vlad, just call me or Maddie. We'll help you."
Vlad gave Jack a genuine smile, "I know. Thank you for all your help, Jack, but I have it from here. Things will get better soon, don't you worry."
Vlad waved goodbye to Jack as he drove dramatically away. As soon as the Fenton RV was out of sight Vlad shoved on the baseball cap and hid the weapons the best he could. The blasters were in his pockets and the gauntlets were hidden in a bag with his tattered suit.
Vlad walked up to his Amity mansion, carefully turning, and ducking his head so the security cameras couldn't see his face. Vlad reached the door, rang the doorbell, and waited.
It wasn't long before he heard movement. The locks clicked and his past self opened the door looking unimpressed, "Whatever you're trying to sell I don't want to buy."
"Oh, I think you do," Vlad looked himself straight in the eye with a cold gaze and levelled the ghost blaster to his past self's forehead.
His past self had time to widen his eyes before Vlad shot the blaster point-blank. His younger self went tumbling back from the doorway with the shot, stunned and hurt.
Vlad smoothly stepped inside and closed the door. Vlad dropped the blaster and pulled out the gauntlets from the bag slipping them on with knowing ease. All while his past self was sputtering and struggling to sit upright. Before he could sit up Vlad stood over him and extended the gauntlet's claws. In one swift movement, Vlad plunged the claws into his past self's chest and ripped apart his human and ghost halves. Vlad kept a strong hold of the ghost half that looked dazed. Taking the ghost half, Vlad shoved it into his own chest. Vlad gasped at the coldness of the ghost and the sharp pain of the claws.
Vlad stumbled back his breathing erratic as the cold spread from his chest to his limbs then to his fingers and toes. After a moment the cold settled and the pain died. Vlad stood up straight feeling whole in a way he hadn't in a long time. Vlad calmly took the gauntlet off and crushed them in his hands, letting the pieces fall to the ground.
Vlad looked over at his younger self who had scampered back.
"Who are you? What do you want?" he asked, with a shake to his voice that only Vlad himself would have been able to detect.
"I am you, and I am here to fix every mistake you've ever made and every mistake you will make," said Vlad and he could feel his eyes glowing red.
Faster than his past self could react Vlad swooped over and overshadowed his past self. Usually overshadowing felt like wearing shoes two sizes too big, but this time it felt like slipping on well-worn shoes. It was a perfect fit. Vlad smoothly stood up and dusted himself off. He needed his younger self out of the way and what could be better than becoming his younger self. If he had walked around in his older body Danny surely would notice and Vlad couldn't have that. Vlad was going to fix everything.
His past self was a small voice nagging at the back of his head. Vlad knew that over time it would fade. If a person was overshadowed for long enough then they would cease to exist and all that would remain would be the ghost. However, this body was exactly the same as Vlad's own, just a decade younger. There was a chance that Vlad could simply overtake it and merge with it properly. Rolling his shoulders Vlad let the transformation wash over him, and the quiet voice of his past self silenced. Plasmius let out a breath and a smile crept up his face letting his sharp teeth show.
"We," no that wasn't right, Vlad restarted, "I have so much to do," said Vlad as he clasped his hands behind his back and turned towards his lab, "I must ensure that none of the Fenton's die."
-o-
Author's Notes:
Hi, I'm Misti! This is my first time posting to. It's so wild to be here and I'm just trying to figure out all the settings/format stuff. Posting here was delayed since I had a glitch and couldn't figure out how to fix it. I usually post on Ao3, so it's wild being here. Speaking of Ao3 this fic is being cross-posted to that site. Also, the art is by me. It's not specifically for this fic, since I only have doodles I did last night for this one. But it'll do until I add a proper cover. ^^;
If you want to see more stuff I've done my Ao3 is by the same name (Mistical52), and so is my main Tumblr.