So - about a year ago, I vowed to - hopefully - finish this story by the end of 2019. It was a promise to myself because I always wanted to complete my stories. It was good for a while... and then summer started another bumpy rollercoaster ride in the family. This year is the year - I always had an end game and hopefully this will be easier to write now. Also, in order to make this easier for my writing, I am upping the rating from K + to T. Longest chapter to date awaits! Enjoy and don't forget to leave a review to let me know what you think!
Danny groaned slightly as he awoke, vaguely aware of a dull ache in his chest. Opening his eyes slowly, he blinked a few times before looking up at the white ceiling of the lab through the green of the shield he still held around the cell.
"About time, cuz." Danny turned his head at Danielle's voice. The girl in question was sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him, her messy black hair covering her blue eyes slightly. "I was starting to worry." She flashed him a smile of relief when she realized he was looking at her.
"How long was I out?" Danny asked, starting to move slightly, groaning again at the stiffness he felt.
Danielle's smile fell as she leaned over to help the other ghost teen. "A couple hours," she replied, helping Danny sit up against the wall. Danielle waited as his eyes closed for a minute to regain his bearings and opened them. "You keeled over as you were trying to explain a way out – no luck, by the way, on the bars. The bars don't have a shield on them but are pretty solid; I think a good strong ecto-blast should do it." Danny nodded, taking in the information before bringing his hand up to his chest. He flinched at a small jolt of pain hit his core. Danielle watched in concern and empathy as he tried to settle. "That shield is taking a lot out of you huh?" she asked worriedly.
Danny smiled slightly at her concern. "That obvious?" he asked dryly. He scanned the room to make sure no one was listening before he continued in a hushed voice. "It's not just the shield – using that many ghost powers out of my ghost form today have been a struggle." He smiled sheepishly. "I drained my powers trying to test this huge new power of mine; didn't think it would haunt me so soon."
Danielle grinned at that. "You got another power!?" she said excitedly, making sure she wouldn't be overheard. "Man, that is so cool! Is it like that yelling thing you did to Vlad? It was so epic! I wish I got new powers like that!"
Danny smiled at her enthusiasm before looking her over for the first time since the fight. "How are you doing?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. "Using your powers like that – isn't it dangerous?"
Danielle's grin fell, crossing her arms as if she was ready for a fight. "Oh, like being locked in a cell by my deranged Father-ghost-creator while he tries to create the perfect ghost son again isn't dangerous?" she asked sarcastically. Danny raised an eyebrow and she blew air out her nose in a huff. "It's not dangerous, but it certainly helps that I'm not in ghost mode." She gave him a small, apologetic smile. "Besides, I didn't want him to hurt your Dad; it's the least I could do after I tricked you and got you kidnapped."
Danny chuckled. "Hey, I wouldn't have gotten out of that one if it was for you." A moment passed between them. Danny sighed, flinching slightly as he ran his hand tiredly across his face. "I think I have an idea, but only if you're up to it."
Danielle smiled determinedly, before replying. "You don't even have to ask."
"Danny!" Both teens turned to see Maddie running over to them. "Are you alright!?" Jack, Sam and Tucker all followed behind her.
"Yeah," Danny said with a smile, letting his mother fuss over him again. Over her shoulder, Danny saw Sam's sceptical gaze. "Just a little sore. Sorry I scared you like that."
Danielle watched as her cousin sat up straighter as he interacted with his parents, making it look like he was better than he was. She watched his sheepish smile playing off a made up alibi with ease and frowned. From her time with Vlad, Danielle knew that Danny's secret was something he protected, but didn't understand why he needed to hide it as much as he did; Jack and Maddie clearly cared for him.
"No more heroics for you, young man," Jack said with a pointed finger, "We need everyone on high alert the next time Plasmius shows up."
Danny frowned at that, turning to Tucker and Sam instead of assuring his father. "Danielle filled me in about the bars – did we find any weak points? A door maybe?"
Tucker shook his head and shrugged. "Not any that we saw – when Plasmius threw us in here, the bars came up from the floor."
Sam looked back to the bars, then to her friend on the floor. "What are you thinking?" she asked knowingly.
Feeling his parents' gaze on him, Danny brought his hand to his chin and rubbed it in thought. "Plasmius wants me to go with him right? Why would he chance all of us escaping?" he mused. He glanced up at his parents. "He brought you guys here for a reason – I just wish I knew what that was!"
"Honey, we're internationally renowned Ghost Hunters," Maddie replied with a proud smile, "I'm sure we were on his radar long before you were."
"You don't know the half of it," Danny replied dryly. Danny's face became neutral as he continued. "Look," he started, his voice cautious. "I don't doubt your skills as ghost hunters-"
"Danny," his Dad interrupted.
Danny held up his hand. "No seriously, I don't. But Vlad…. He's no average ghost. Methodical. He has a reason for everything. I don't think he'd bring you here just to get you out of the way."
"Danny, he basically told you the answer. Isn't it obvious?" Sam asked, annoyed. "Danielle's here because Vlad needs her."
"We're here so we don't get in the way again," Tucker added.
"And your parents are here to keep you in line," Sam finished, throwing her hand in the air. "Think about it. Why would he put us in a regular cell with a ghost shield? Why hasn't he come down here since Phantom put up that shield? Why did he leave Danielle's powers intact? He wants you, and has all the pieces of that stupid chessboard analogy he loves to quote trapped with you."
Danny's eyes lit up in realization as he scrambled to his feet, ignoring his stiff joints and the dull ache of his core. "That's it!" he exclaimed. "Sam, you're a genius!"
Sam looked at him quizzically. "Uh…. Thank you?" She answered, shooting Tucker a confused gaze.
"Don't you see?" Danny said with a hopeful smile as he walked towards the front of the cell, the shield above him shimmering under the fluorescent lights of the lab. "Vlad thinks he's got me cornered – but he's forgotten someone. Someone who's noticed by now that we've been taken."
Tucker caught on first. "You don't mean…" he trailed off.
Danny nodded, continuing his path and putting a hand onto the shield in front of him. He felt the familiar sensation of his ghost powers running along the surface as he assessed how much power the shield was using. Once content, he turned back to the group in front of him, intently listening to each word he said.
"Danny, you mean Phantom right?" his mother asked. Danny turned to her, his wide eyes full of confusion and a small amount of fear.
"… No…" he said hesitantly. Maddie watched as her son's face slowly became guarded and mysterious, looking for the right words. He coughed. "No, not Phantom," he said stronger. He shot a significant look at Sam and Tucker. "I don't think he'll be much help for a little bit."
"Why?" Jack asked genuinely. "He came all this way to help us before?"
Danny's eyes widened slightly at the calm, questioning tone of his father. He moved an arm to the back of his head and rubbed it nervously. "Oh man, this is so weird," he started, turning to his parents. "Phantom… he used a lot of energy coming here. I think the only way he can show up again is if the shield comes down. He has one around Amity too."
"What's wrong with Amity Park?" Sam exclaimed, concerned.
Danny shook his head. "Nothing… I think," he started, bringing his hands in front of him and stared at them, remembering the conversation in his mindscape with his ghost half. "More of a precaution really, in case Vlad attacks and he's not there."
"But he never leaves," Maddie mused, frowning in thought. "Phantom is seen at all hours of the night; being here is an anomaly to what we've observed. Besides, if he isn't here and isn't in Amity, where would he go? The Ghost Zone? And how do you-" Maddie stopped herself as she looked into her son's alarmed eyes, watching him close himself off in stress and possibly fear. "Nevermind," she finished, watching Danny deflate slightly at her surrender. She nodded. "Okay," she said gently, trying to reassure him that she'd stop questioning. "Not Phantom. Continue… please."
Danny let out a breath he didn't know he was holding before he continued. "So… I'm going to presume she'll find us." Danny paused, looking at his parents apprehensively. "Meaning we need to get out of this cell and far away from Plasmius' grasp as soon as possible."
"And we've come full circle," Sam announced sarcastically. "How, exactly, are we going to do that?"
Danny turned to his cousin. "Dani, you said one strong ecto-blast might be enough to blast the bars apart, yeah?" The ghost girl nodded. "Do you think you'll be able to do it? Without risking… you know" She nodded again and he smiled in thanks. Shooting another meaningful look to his friends, Danny turned to his parents. "Once we're out of the cell, we're going to need to find all the ghost weapons we can find – knowing Vlad, he'll have something lying around in the lab somewhere. Then, figure out away from Plasmius and hope Jazz found the booo-merang and is on her way."
"JAZZ!?" Jack boomed.
"The booo-merang?!" Maddie exclaimed at the same time. Danny cringed at the incrimination.
"Yeah," he said sheepishly. "The booo-merang is still keyed into me remember? She'll be able to track us even if we're on the move- She's come through for us before."
Maddie pinched the bridge of her nose as she made a noise in frustration. "So, pushing aside that both my children has been lying to me for months and are probably in league with a dangerous ghost," She started bitterly, Danny shifting guiltily in front of her, "A large ecto-blast is going to create a lot of noise; Plasmius will definitely come after us. We'll need some sort of decoy."
Danny sighed, resolved. He already knew that the next part of the plan was a gamble. "I know," he stated solemnly. "It's why I'm going to give myself up as a distraction." Danny's statement hung in the air for minute, before five angry protests reached his ears.
"What!?" Danielle yelled.
"Are you insane!?" Tucker cried.
"You have no idea what Plasmius will do to you!" Sam argued.
"What are you thinking?" Maddie cried.
"Danny, there has to be another option!" Jack added.
Danny sighed heavily, expecting the response. He stood up straighter, dug in his heels and turned towards the group. "It's the only way," he said, determined. "We need to find out where the door is for Danielle to use her powers – I don't want her to destabilize any further." He fixed his gaze on Sam and Tucker. "Besides, we do have some idea what he'll do, and I can hold out long enough for you guys to get out of here and come after me."
"Danny, this is crazy," Sam pleaded. "This is Vlad we're talking about. What if you're wrong? What if he doesn't just want that sample?"
Danny's resolve softened a bit at her concern. "I'll be fine," he reassured. "He may be a manipulative cheesehead, but he's a predictable one."
"Don't underestimate him Danny," Danielle cut in, "As far as I know, there aren't any more clones – mindless or otherwise – to force you to give up a mid-morph DNA sample. Who knows what he'll try to get his perfect specimen."
"Got it," he confirmed. Danny turned to his parents apprehensively, gearing for a fight.
"We are not letting you do this," Maddie said forcefully. She grabbed Danny's shoulders and forced him to look her in the eyes. "Danny, this is ridiculous – you are fifteen! This isn't a game!"
Jack walked over to the pair, worry etched on every surface of his face. "Danny," he said softly, "That ghost has something on you – the only leverage you have is not giving it to him. You're walking into a trap son, and whatever he has planned is not worth your safety. Let me go in your place."
Danny shook his head and looked down at his feet. "I… There's so many things I wish I could tell you," he said quietly, not meeting the concerned faces of his parents, "That I've wanted to tell you for so long. I know this is hard to believe, but I can do this. I've been doing this for months now." He raised his head to look his Mom desperately in the eyes. "I promise I'll be okay. Please let me do this. Please… just… trust me."
Maddie faltered at his tone. She turned to Jack for some sort of guidance. She watched her husband look their son up and down, analyzing every bit of his being looking for a way to persuade him otherwise. When she turned back to Danny, she saw his intense gaze assess her reaction. She no longer saw her sweet, goofy teenage son; she saw a stranger that looked like him. "Sweetie… I…" she started, before shaking her head.
Danny sighed heavily, breaking away from his parents, crestfallen. "Okay," he said calmly, stepping farther away from his parents. Steeling his resolve, he turned back to his friends and cousin. "Find the door, wait for the signal and then blast your way out." Danny gave one last guilty glance to his parents before walking toward the front of the cell.
"Plasmius!" he yelled into the lab. Two seconds later, the ghost in question floated down from the ceiling, a vindictive yet amused smile plastered on his face.
"Yes Daniel?" He drawled sweetly, his voice full of condescension.
"You win."
Vlad chuckled as his smile widened, fangs gleamed eagerly. "Oh Daniel, how naïve. Did you really think you had a chance?" Vlad floated towards the cell, red eyes boring into the ghost teen's glare. "I won before you knew you were playing." The ghost turned to the rest of the cell, eyeing them. "Any funny business when I open the door, and I may not be so accommodating," he warned with a scowl.
Vlad floated to the side of the cell, pushed a blue button and with a swoosh, 4 bars in the middle of the cell retracted into the ground. Danny exhaled loudly and made an attempt to walk through the door, before a hand grabbed his arm tightly.
"Danny, please don't do this," Maddie begged, her eyes watering. "You don't have to do this."
Danny didn't look back at his mother, eyes staring straight ahead with a reserved expression. "Actually Mom," he responded softly, "I do."
With that, Danny broke away from her grip and walked into the clutches of his arch enemy.
:-=-:
Danny tugged at his restraints against the wall for a third time, trying to get out the new cell he was currently trapped in. It was smaller than the last one, but bigger than the original containment chambers in Colorado. His arms were spread apart, shackled by his restraints while he hung against the wall, feet dangling a foot above the ground. He sighed, resigned to his fate, before glancing at the older half ghost with curiosity. For the past hour, Danny watched Plasmius tinker with buttons and computers, not uttering a word. He hadn't looked up at him at all.
"Find anything interesting?" Danny goaded. Plasmius ignored him. "Really? After all that gloating and scheming, you're just going to leave me hanging?"
Plasmius looked up him, bemused. "Puns, Daniel?" he asked, amused at the teen before him. "And here I thought you'd grown out of the witty banter."
"That's rich, coming from the old man who can't move on," Danny shot back with a glare.
Plasmius' eyes narrowed, before turning his attention to the monitor on his right. His eyebrows rose in confusion, before furrowing again in concentration. "Well now," he said softly, "Seems like you've been hiding things from me."
Dread shot through Danny as his eyes widened, trying to read Plasmius' face. "What?"
Vlad floated away from the computer panel slightly, looking the teen over as if he's discovered something shocking. Danny shifted in his restraints uncomfortably, confusion mixing with the already present dread. "You don't know," Vlad asked, arms folded across his chest, "do you?"
"Know what?" Danny responded, eyeing Vlad warily as he started to move against his bonds again. He summoned his ghost powers, only for the restraints to absorb them.
"That you're using core energy," Vlad stated flatly, watching Danny's reaction. The teen in question stopped struggling, stared at Vlad with wide eyes and swallowed nervously.
"What?" Danny asked again.
"Core energy," Vlad repeated, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly. "Come now Daniel, surely you would have felt the difference."
Danny shook his head. "What are you talking about?" he asked in false bravado. A memory of Clockwork's voice warning him of ghosts wanting power in a hospital room surfaced in his mind.
Vlad sighed in frustration as he floated back to his console station. Danny's eyes followed him, letting his question hang in the air in hopes that his own assumptions were wrong.
"Core energy," Vlad began, as if he was speaking to a young child, "is when you use your energy from your death. It's raw and unpredictable, but a great asset if you know how to use it well. For most ghosts, their core energy is tied to their obsession – think Ember and her guitar, Fright Knight and his sword." Vlad paused, letting out a small breath before continuing. "However, core energy is different for us – half ghosts who have toed the edge of death. Our powers come from the ghost portal themselves; fused with electricity and the stupidity of your father. Using core energy means exposing our human selves to what gave us our powers in the first place – the portal accident. We also don't have a typical obsession as our humanity still drives our being… meaning that this ability should not exist for us."
Danny swallowed thickly as the information sunk in. "You mean… I'm reliving the portal accident every time I use core energy? How the hell am I doing that!"
Vlad sighed and rubbed his temple. "You know, this would have all been so simple had you just renounced your father and joined me a long time ago," the older ghost replied wistfully. Danny scowled at him in disgust. Vlad shrugged. "Honestly my boy, your guess is as good as mine. Core energy is dangerous for us; I'd suggest you take down those shields and save yourself from the fallout."
Danny frowned in thought, unsure if he should trust the man in front of him with any information. "If I knew what was causing this, I would," the younger ghost said, confused yet guarded. "I never intended to make those shields."
Vlad frowned in thought, taking in what the boy said and looking at the monitor in front of him. Danny's core wasn't unstable, but it did spike at random with raw ecto-energy with the boy's emotions. If only there was some way to level out his energy levels Vlad mused, vaguely aware that Danny was trying to get his attention again. He looked over his plans again while comparing the new information about Danny's core. Once confirming his original plan would work, he smirked slightly before letting out a dramatic sigh.
"I guess there's only one thing left to do," Vlad mused, hands moving toward the console in front of him.
"Let me go and figure this out together?" Danny asked hopefully, a wide smile appearing on his face. His eyes were fearfully glued to Vlad's hands over the console.
Vlad's semi-thoughtful frown turned into an evil smile. "No dear boy," he chided. "My research is gone and you seem to have some more powers that went under my radar." The ghost finally looked into the wide, fearful eyes of the half-ghost at his mercy. "If I flood you with enough ecto-energy, you will surely transform, giving me your mid-morph DNA with access to all of your powers."
Realizing what was about to happen, Danny started to pull at his restraints again as he braced for impact. "Wait!" he pleaded desperately. "What about the core energy?"
Vlad's smile grew wider. "Oh," he replied sweetly. "Didn't I mention? Ecto-energy and core energy go hand-in-hand; it should level out your core without needing to drain you of anything. So long as you don't struggle, this won't hurt a bit." Vlad finally pushed the green button on the console, flooding the cell with ecto-energy.
Danny scrunched his eyes and gritted his teeth, biting back a yell as ecto-energy ran through his body for the second time today. He felt his powers awaken and the ring of light appear at his waist, forcing himself to transform. Fight it he cursed to himself, trying not to let screams escape him. He felt his transformation stall slightly, before more ecto-energy coursed through his veins. His body started to thrash uncontrollably, legs kicking as he continued to stop his transformation.
Vlad watched in silence as Danny struggled against the restraints and his inevitable transformation. "Looks like we'll be here a while," he sighed as Danny finally screamed, the white rings of his transformation now bouncing off each other before moving back together.
:-=-:
"If you hurt my son, I will rip you apart molecule by molecule! No! Limb from limb THEN molecule by molecule!" Jack bellowed into the empty lab for the fourth time.
The group watched Jack pace in front of them in frustration, occasionally yelling threats to their captor that was not acknowledged. Sam turned to the other older Fenton, who sat watching the front of the cell in anticipation ever since Danny left with Vlad. Sam noticed Maddie's worried expression only hid her guilty one underneath. Sam sighed, turning to Tucker and Danielle for a planning session.
"Any idea of the signal we're waiting for?" she asked hopefully.
Danielle shook her head. "None- My guess it'll be noticeable."
"Great," Sam huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. "So we just wait here and hope that Danny just magically escapes Plasmius, or at least give us some idea of what stupid plan is going through that stupid hero complex of a brain he has."
Tucker sighed at the girl's tirade. "Sam, I get that you're worried, but blaming Danny is not going to get us out of this mess." Sam softened her stern expression, but said nothing else. Tucker sighed in exasperation, before continuing. "You trust him, right?" he asked sincerely.
Sam's whole body relaxed, whatever anger she felt leaving her in an instant. "Of course I do," she replied quietly. "It's just… he's really good at hiding things when he wants to. There's so much he's trying to figure out and I don't think he's being honest about how hurt he actually is." Her violet eyes met Tucker's teal ones. "If Vlad finds out about his new abilities, and he can't manage to control it…" she trailed off worriedly.
Tucker let out a soft "Oh" in realization as he looked at his best friend in sympathy. Danielle looked at the two friends in confusion, knowing she was missing something big. They were silent for a few moments, only vaguely aware that Jack had stopped pacing and Maddie turned her attention to the two friends. "Sam," Tucker started gently, knowing that he had to pick the right words around the Fentons and to reassure Sam without making her explode. "It's not like a few months ago - Danny can get through this. And it's not like he's shutting us out – he trusts us. He knows that if he can't get out on his own, we'll come charging in like always." Sam smiled at him, accepting his words. Tucker's face turned sly as he resolved his next words. "Besides," he teased, "When you attack guns blazing like an overprotective girlfriend, I'm sure Danny will-"
Sam let out a shout as she hit Tucker hard in the shoulder, blushing furiously. "Do not go there," she said darkly, pointing at the dark skinned teen threateningly. Tucker held up his hands in surrender.
Danielle, still confused, looked at the pair and blinked. "Um… am I missing something?"
"No!" Sam replied indignantly, still blushing slightly. Tucker's cough sounded suspiciously like laughter and Danielle swore she heard the word "lovebirds." Sam hit her friend, harder this time, in the shoulder.
"A few months ago…" Maddie repeated quietly, a small layer of anger veiled in her words. Sam and Tucker both froze; eyes wide at their implication. "You mean… the time where my son almost died and none of you remembered what happened?" Sam and Tucker looked at each other in fear before facing the furious, worried mother in front of them. Maddie's violet eyes burned in with accusation. Danielle locked eyes with Jack, confusion and concern reflecting off their faces.
"Well aren't yous guys in a pickle?" a jovial voice asked in the emptiness of the lab. The anger, fear and tension of the moment broke as quickly as it came. All eyes turned to the voice in front of them – a green coloured ghost with royal attire, a sceptre and a cheese hat with a crown on top floated in front of the cell. His red eyes looked the occupants with curiosity and his face betrayed nothing about his motives.
"What do you want spook?" Jack asked angrily, turning to glare at the ghost with fury in his blue eyes. "Come to gloat? Destroy us?"
The ghost's eyes widened and held his hands up. "What? I don't mean you any harm believe you me!" he replied fearfully. He turned his head back suddenly, alarmed as if he heard a sound far away. "Don't you hear that?" he asked.
"Wait," Tucker's eyes widened in recognition and ignoring the ghost's question. "Danny told us about you. You're the Dairy King!"
Dairy King smiled, all alarm leaving him. "You bet'cha kiddo," he replied proudly, puffing out his chest. "I take pride of my cheese legacy here in 'Scansin. Have you tried the gouda?" The Dairy King's smile fell as he turned back again, this time looking sad and concerned.
Sam stood up quickly in excitement. "Can you get us out of here?" she asked hopefully. "Our friend needs our help!"
"You betcha!" He replied happily, floating over to the button that will open the gate. "But yous guys better be real quick, ya hear? Plasmius doesn't know I'm around today, and I don't want to be on his bad side, dontcha know." The ghost in question hit the button with enthusiasm and Sam, Tucker, Danielle, Jack and Maddie all but ran out of their prison. Phantom's shield shuddered as they passed through, before becoming solid again.
"Thank you!" Danielle beamed. She was about to continue, but was cut off by Maddie's slow determined walk to the ghost, a neutral expression on her face.
Maddie stared at the ghost for a few moments, trying to find the right words to express all the emotions and confusion running through her head. "Why…. Did you help us?" she asked, staring at ghost intensely. She glared at him, watching his expression in hopes she would catch him in a lie.
Dairy King smiled, floating a little higher to match her height. "Because I could," he replied simply. "Not all ghosts are evil, all I wanted was to help ya out and go on my merry way. A nice quiet afterlife for me dontcha know?" His smile fell slightly as he noticed no change in the woman's expression. Turning to a friendlier crowd, he directed his next words to the teens. "Yous guys better get your friend and get out real quick. Plasmius has been in a foul mood of late. I don't wantcha to get caught up in whatever he's planning."
Danielle frowned. "Aren't you going to help us?"
Dairy King laughed a little, floating up and down. "Goodness no. I'm a king kiddo; I can't be running around doing the dirty work." He gestured to the corridor to his right. "Plasmius' weapons lab is down that corridor. From there, make a left and stay hidden. Just do me a favour if you please."
"What's that?" Maddie asked sceptically. The Dairy King opened his mouth, but was cut off by a long loud scream, making everyone in the room jump and fill with dread. Maddie's anger quickly left her as she turned to Jack, her fear mirrored in his eyes. Sam's eyes were wide in worry and anger, Tucker's hands balled into fists and Danielle's eyes narrowed angrily. Maddie turned back to the ghost in front of her. The Dairy King stared back grimly into the faces of the ghost hunters before him before replying.
"Save him."
See you in the next one - MATW