Night Wind

By: Wilona Riva

Disclaimer: Butch Hartman does; I don't.

Author's Note: I know everyone is OOC here, but this is how I imagine they would react.

Diamond Alien

"Don't worry, V-Man, Danny and Danielle probably got sidetracked or something," Jack suggested, trying to calm his old college pal down.

"I went through a lot of trouble to find that particular gift for you and Maddie, Jack," Vlad ground out, turning around. "Danielle knew where it was."

"Why'd you hide it in the basement?" Maddie asked curiously.

Before Vlad could answer, three ghostly vultures phased through the ceiling. "Hey, boss, we checked those doors in the Ghost Zone and found nothing," one of them said.

"Though the rock diva says that she saw her boyfriend carrying a wicked sharp knife and a large bundle under his arm about an hour ago," another one of them added. It then grinned when it saw Jack. "Had a nice swim?"

Jack scratched his head in confusion.

Vlad arched an eyebrow. "What have I told you about playing with my guests?"

"You said this one was alright," the third vulture piped up. "We're 2,000 years old. We've got to get our kicks from somewhere."

Maddie looked back and forth between Vlad and the ghostly avian trio. "Okay, so a ghost saw another ghost," she summarized, "but what does that have to do with my son and your daughter, Vlad?"

"Danielle isn't really my daughter," Vlad sighed, deciding to lay all cards on the table. "She came to me one day, lost and confused. She was sick for a really long time and kept murmuring that he wasn't far away and that he would come for her soon. It was quite a shock to discover a ghost who had was not one of the Ryu. To help her blend in, I named her Danielle and created the bracelet she wears which projects a holographic disguise allowing her to pass for human."

"What does this all have to do with Danny?" Maddie demanded.

"You're son, according to my spies," Vlad reported, "has been fighting ryu and returning them to the Ghost Zone. I'm surprised you haven't figured out the boy's secret with all the clues he and his little friends have been dropping right and left."

"What secret?" Jack asked. He didn't like the way Vlad kept sneaking loving glances at his wife. "And where is Jazz? She should have been here by now."

"Jasmine is in the library researching a project for me," Vlad answered.

"Oh," Jack said. "So, have you checked your security cameras?"

Vlad looked sharply at the vultures, who nodded. "Even the ones in the lab?"

"Yes, boss," the first vulture ventured.

"Well?"

"The ghost girl and the boy who thinks he's a halfa were there. The hunter captured the boy and forced the girl to accompany him."

"What did the audio pick up?"

The vulture moaned. "No good, Plasmius," he said, "the hunter wants the boy's pelt. That boy is Night Wind and he knew it."

Vlad sighed. "I was afraid of this. I should have talked to the boy last night when he and Danielle were exploring the mansion. Okay, I think you two want to know about halfas, I take?"

Both Fentons nodded. "Halfas are a rare breed of ghosts who still retain half their humanity. When the proto-portal exploded during that experiment, half of me died from the ecto-acne. I never thought I would die from ectoplasmic induced zits, but it happened. I woke up in the Ghost Zone and almost ended up skinned by Skulker myself, but managed to turn the tables on the hunter, who now works for me part time."

"Sweet!" Jack exclaimed. "You can tell all kinds of things about ghosts, Vladdie."

Vlad held up one hand. "Jack, I hated your guts until last night for what you did to me, but I love Danielle as if she were biologically mine."

Maddie nodded, adrenaline coursing through her system. "Would you show us your ghost form, Vlad?"

"Gladly, dear Maddie," he said bowing. Twin rings of dark light formed around his waist as he morphed into his alter-ego. "Vlad Plasmius, at your service."

"The Wisconsin Ghost?" she exclaimed. "Vlad, what the hell?"

"Language, sweetheart," he said, red eyes twinkling at her. "What is so funny?"

Jack, who was doubled over, grinned roguishly. "Told you, you read that book too many times."

Vlad, remembering the odd conversation with Jack, burst out into rich laughter himself. "Yes, you did," he stated.

Maddie whipped out a Fenton bazooka and trained it on Vlad. "One of your employees kidnapped my son and you have fed up a lot of bull and poppycock to make us believe he is half ghost like you. Vlad, you also keep referring to these Ryu and Night Wind. I want to know all about them and so help me if you have hurt Jazz in any way, you'll find yourself full ghost before night fall."

Vlad gulped. Maddie was really scary when she meant business. "Of c-c-course," he stammered. "Just put that away."

She complied. "Start talking."