Chapter Nine

Changing Individuals

The scream was haunting.

Full of anger and hate and raw emotion. It was something that could pierce into you and leave you struggling to figure out what had gone so wrong so quickly.

That scream continued or several seconds before suddenly, there were two screams.

Both were deep pitched and full of anguish as they followed the two bodies that rolled across the ground.

Robin watched with wide eyes as the ghost once known as Dan Phantom was sent hurtling through what looked like a dream catcher. "Did…that…just happen?" He questioned as the ghost flew right through, only to be spit out what seemed to be replicas of Phantom and Masters.

"Yep, that just happened." Kid Flash said with a cocked head. "That was really weird to watch."

"SI." Menos muttered as his brother rubbed at his eyes.

"Raro." Mas blinked several times, as if to clear his eyes.

"Agreed." Cyborg grumbled as he prepared his Sonic Boom cannon. "I thought Phantom wanted to kill…those two…what changed his mind?"

"No clue." Robin replied as he watched with narrowed eyes as the White haired ghost stood up, skin a tan color, broad shoulders that had a white cape attached to it, and glaring green eyes. It was definitely Phantom, but much older looking. The other was of Plasmius, but he looked hardly any different except for a long black beard that covered his face. "I'm just glad that he apparently didn't go through with it in the end."

Slade had to agree with the Boy Wonder as he watched the Ghost Catcher disappear with the Lunch Lady and Sidney Poindexter. He'd have to interrogate his pupil later but for now he would just join him and deal with the aftermath of all of this chaos. "Tell me Phantom, is this what you would look like in the future?"

Phantom glanced over as his master joined his side before looking back forward. "It could have been, if I had stayed a hero." He admitted, eyes roving over the handsome features of Danny Phantom, no longer Dan as he had been reverted to what he originally would have been. "You have a choice now Danny Phantom."

"It's Dan!" The ghost snarled with toxic green ate away the pupils and sclera, leaving nothing but the angry eyes of the ghost. "I'm Dan Phantom! The most powerful being in the world!" He screamed at the teenager. "Not even myself will ever take that away from me."

"Like how I took away our humanity and you killed it?" Danny questioned with dead eyes.

Dan stopped and met the other's eyes. Phantom was a little fearful of the fully green eyes. He hoped his eyes never did that, it was rather intimidating and scary looking. "You didn't want me! You wanted me gone!" He screeched angrily, throwing his arms around him to emphasize being thrown away. "So I made sure you felt the same way I did."

"By killing me." He muttered with a sad sigh. "But that was in that timeline." He turned the conversation quickly. He had to get this one to change its mind. It had to change to survive and make everything somewhat better. "I never got rid of my ghost half, I still have it." He motioned towards his white hair and green eyes. "I didn't get rid of it here and we're still together as one, fighting together as one, surviving as one."

Dan stared for a long moment at the other, tilting his head and taking in the figure of the teen. It was true that he was obviously still a halfa. That he still held onto his humanity and so could make the decisions that were needed to protect his world. There really wasn't anything wrong with him like there had been with himself and his own humanity. "What do you want me to do then?" he questioned calmly. There was obviously something else that this one wanted.

"I don't want anything." The teen replied with a shrug. "I have what I want, I've done what I've needed to do." He turned his head to look at his master and then turned it to look over his shoulder at where the Justice League, Teen Titans, and Vlad all were, watching them. "I have what I need, I have who I need, all there is left to do is end this story and move on."

"How are we going to do that then?"

A smile as Danny tilted his own head and closed his eyes. "However we want."

Dan watched the other for a long moment before bursting out in laughter. "However we want to huh? Well, then I guess I can do this." He said as he whipped around to face the confused Plasmius of the once upon future. His hand stretched out and glowed green with his energy. "I'll end my future once and for all." With that he released the blast of power.

Only to frown when the Plasmius got enough sense to dodge the attack. "What in the blazes are you doing Daniel!" The Plasmius shouted as he shook his head and shoulders, trying to regain his equilibrium after sharing a body with the other for over ten years.

"I'm destroying our word's future." He replied as he stepped forward, cape swirling around him as he got closer to the older ghost. "I've already lost that world and in this world. There is no longer a reason for us to exist. None at all, so why not destroy the duplicates so that this world's beings may continue live however the hell they please." He explained.

"Where the fudge nuggets did this come from?" Plasmius questioned as he began to circle, Phantom following along. "You wanted to destroy everything not a moment ago! Why the sudden change of heart?"

Dan shrugged his shoulders even as his eyes flicked up and then back down. Only the two masters and apprentices caught the movement, everyone else too focused on either watched the confrontation or staying alive. "I have my reasons." He replied calmly, his steps leading him closer and closer to the other, even as Plasmius tried to keep a distance from him.

"We can still take the world over." Plasmius tried to barter. "We can take it over, and the Ghost Zone, make both of them ours. Rule together this time!"

"Been there, done that." Dan yawned as his hands glowed with green fire. He looked down at them, missing the feeling of the lightning that he had once had, but had apparently lost when he had separated from Plasmius. "It got boring and old real quick. The only real challenge left had been Valerie and her shield. I demolished that ten years after I killed my human half. Nothing else had been left."

"Geez, talk about going overboard." Flash said, scrunching his nose up. "Did he really have to destroy the entire world?"

"To appease himself and try and regulate who he once was…probably." Batman added on dryly. He knew people like that, having to constantly try and destroy something to validate themselves or to let people know they were there. That was over half if not all of his villains at least. They wanted to be known that they were there and that their thoughts mattered for whatever reason.

"Most humans are like that, most beings of any sorts are like that." Superman agreed with Batman. Both knew what this was like, wanting to be seen and heard and known. That was one reason that they had become heroes, to make a difference and let people hear that they weren't about to let someone destroy their lives and society without a fight.

"Then…then we'll go after the universe!" Vlad shouted desperately. "We can take on the universe! We can rule them all!"

Dan rolled his eyes at this, coming to a stop in front of Plasmius as the other was forced to stop or run into the group of heroes behind him. "Don't bother old man, our time has come to an end. Go with some dignity."

Plasmius gasped as a strong hand wrapped around the back of his neck, holding firm but not moving to choke him. "You can't destroy me, you can't destroy us!" He screamed as he brought his own hands up to fight against the arm, but realized quickly that he had no strength to fight. It was as if all of his strength that he once had had left his body and gone into the man in front of him.

"I'm not going to." Dan said with a smirk that spoke of sorrow and anger all bunched into one. "We were never going to make it out of this alive old man. We were never meant to survive and continue living on in this world." He said as he looked up into the air once more.

All eyes followed and looked up to see a figure with a white cloak and golden eyes staring at the group with contemplation. "There are two outcomes here." He spoke as he floated down to float in front of them all. "Which will you choose?" Eyes moved to stare at Plasmius.

The ghost snarled as he turned his head and snapped his jaws over Dan's arm. The white haired ghost yelled in pain as he reflexively released the other. "I'm not done! I'm not going to die here!" He snarled as he turned and jet right into one Vlad Masters.

"No!" Phantom yelled as Dan snarled in rage, both their eyes flashing emerald as Vlad roared.

They watched with wide eyes as the human's eyes turned a solid crimson, hands ripping the Specter Deflector off of his waist. A crimson ring flared to life around him.

All heroes and ghosts watched with wide eyes as what was once Vlad Plasmius changed completely in front of them.

"Danny." Tucker called as the twos' eyes connected. "This is where it matters the most." His eyes drifted to the much older Phantom and then back. "Don't break your promise." He reminded before he turned to the army of ghosts. "You all are to return to the Ghost Zone. This is not a battle for you."

"We came to battle with Phantom!" Skulker roared as he prepared his weapons. "We are not leaving until his enemies are defeated and his is safe!"

"YEAH!" Roared the ghosts behind him, all preparing for battle.

Tucker chuckled at them as he waved his staff at them, freezing them in place. "I admire your courage and enthusiasm for battle, but this is not one meant for mere ghosts nor mortals." He stated as he threw a glance at the living mortals behind him. "This is a battle meant for Danny and Vlad. TO end an era of pain and fright and anger. This is to end all of which he could have become in a future that was never meant to be." He explained to them all.

"But we are here! We can help him!" Box Ghost grunted through his lips. Struggling to get any sound out as his entire body remained frozen like all the others.

"Yes, but you were only to help get him this far." He explained calmly. "Now it is his fight and his alone. It is time you go home to the Ghost Zone." His eyes focused on Skulker. "I believe you will be a father soon."

That caught the Hunter's attention and as soon as they had been released, he was gone. None of the ghosts who had known the hunter had ever seen him fly that fast before in their lives. "Go now before I make you go." Gold eyes glowed dangerously as power swirled around the blue cloaked figure.

Soon, they all began to disappear, taking off back to the Ghost Zone.

All except one.

"You may stay and watch with the mortals." Tucker said as he waved his staff at the living beings, all staring wide at the roaring beast that was once complete human. The Box Ghost nodded and floated over to them, knowing that he would be the one to explain what had happened to the others once all was said and done.

That would be his part to play in all of this and he'd make sure he did it well.

"What about us?" Robin questioned as he stepped up, staring at the ghost in white. "We want to help too! You can't stop us from helping him."

The Ghost chuckled at that as he waved his staff, watching in amusement as the Boy Wonder realized that yes, he could very well stop him. He released him before speaking once more. "You cannot enter this battle. This is for Danny Phantom to face alone. He must realize what must be done to stop this enemy and save the world. He must keep his promise." He looked over his shoulder, watching as the battle continued on, hoping that the one future that would end well for everyone but the villain would occur. Though that depended on Danny and both of his futures.

"You will observe what will become of our world through this battle." With that he turned to fully watch in person while all the mortals and one ghost were forced to watch and keep vigil.

DannyPhantom

He could only watch as the crimson rings split apart, transforming Vlad into the monster he had always been.

The man grew to be the size of a five story building, roaring up at the sky. His hair fell around his face in raging flames and his once upon a time goatee was now a full on beard of black flames. His blue skin was transparent, showing off the green glow of ectoplasm within, shining through the white shirt that had torn at the sleeves, leaving it as a tank top, tears appearing at the knees of his pants. His black boots tore apart as his feet turned into wolf like appendages, claws digging into the ground. His cape tore before spreading behind him in bat like wings.

Black flames leaked out the corners of the crimson eyes that were now glaring down at them with hatred. Sharp fangs bared at them as the body curled to keep them in sight.

"What do you think?" Danny questioned as he kept his eyes on the giant form of Vlad Plasmius, the monster.

"Well…" Dan drawled as he allowed flames to cover his hands and flare from his eyes. "We have anywhere from completely dead to zero chance."

"Oh goodie." The sarcasm was very thick at this point, though neither cared. "I thought it was more rotting in hell to monster food."

"Guess we'll just have to come up with a plan."

"When have any of our plans ever actually gone to plan and or worked?"

"That one time with the purple back gorilla?"

"That's only because Skulker was stupid and Tucker was able to hack his systems. That and that gorilla really hated the bucket of bolts."

"What about that first fight with the Lunch Lady?"

"We got our butts covered in meats before we won that on pure luck."

"Then we've never actually had any of our plans work."

"My point has been made. We just need to try and hit weak points and knock him down before he decides to make us his main meal."

"We're more like the appetizers while the whole world would be his main meal."

"Not helping."

"Wasn't trying to."

Danny sighed as he rolled his head on his shoulders, glaring at the older version of himself. "This banter is doing nothing."

Dan smirked at his younger self. "Really, because its helping me remember how much I've missed the witty banter over the years."

Danny rolled his eyes and was going to say something, but was prevented from doing so when a giant hand swiped him up into its grip. "Gah! Let me go!" He yelled as he struggled against the hold. "You great big Frootloop!"

Vlad's eyes narrowed as he brought his hand up to glare at the teen. "Little…badger." He said, his voice slow and deeper than normal. You could see that the combination of two Vlad's was having an effect on the man.

"Hey ho!" Dan shouted as he shot up into the air right in front of Vlad's face. His hands were already glowing with deadly green fire and a smirk on his face. "Just like old times old man." With that he fired off a blast, hitting the giant in the face.

The roar he received was music to his ears, but he had something he had to do before this fight could continue. With that in mind he turned around and allowed his flames to swallow his body up and slam right into the hand holding his younger self.

"Thanks." Danny grunted as he floated into the air, huffing slightly as his body began to complain under all the stress and damage it was receiving at the moment. He was still suffering from his confrontation with the fused ghost from before and now his ribs felt like they were broken. "We really need a weak point at least."

Dan nodded his head as they watched the giant Vlad flail at his face, claws scratching at his face even as he tried to open up his eyes to see. "We can always hit his face, eyes mostly, and then his stomach, kidneys, solar plexus, and pressure points. Those would be the easiest to hit."

"Agreed. Let's get to it then." With that they took off and began to fire off blasts at any weak point they could.

"God damn it." Danny yelled as he was forced to avoid a wing that swung at him. It had been close and the wind from the swing had sent him flying away from the beast. "This isn't working." He muttered as he tried to figure out how to destroy this monster. There was just too much and too powerful and just too everything! He wasn't powerful enough at the moment due to the earlier battle and the excessive use of the Ghostly Wail. He wasn't sure he could keep doing this.

"Come on, we've work to do! No time to slack off!" Dan yelled just as a claw slammed on top of him and sent him flying into the ground.

"Quit slacking!" Danny yelled back at him with his eyes flaring furiously. A smirk appearing on his face. "Otherwise I'll have to dock your pay!"

Dan snarled as he pushed his body upwards, shaking dust and dirt off of his body. "I don't get paid!" He snapped as his eyes flared bright neon green before he shot into the air again, heading right for Plasmius's face. "Go down already!" He screamed as he engulfed his body in green flames and rammed full speed into the other.

Or at least, that was his plan until Vlad decided spitting out fire was a great idea. Danny watched as his much older self screamed and fell towards the ground once more, leaving behind another crater. "So, I don't think head on attacks is going to work." Danny said as he scrunched his brow together in thought.

With that thought in mind, he flew around, allowing Dan to take the attention as the ghost slammed himself towards the giant. He looked at the pair of wings, keeping a good distance as he powered up his palms with his ice powers before releasing the attack. He grunted as the attack connected with the wings but screamed as those same wings snapped backwards.

Right into him.

He couldn't hold the scream as those wings connected with his body by stretching out and slamming into his chest. He heard the snap of a rib and couldn't help but fall to the ground where he lay for some time. "This isn't working." Dan said as he landed next to the younger one, Plasmius turning around. "He's too strong like this, slow as hell, but still too powerful."

"I…noticed." Danny gasped out as he sat up, gritting his teeth against the pain in his chest. "There has to…be a way to…fight him….without us being completely…shredded."

Dan grimaced just as crimson eyes looked down at them and a wide fanged smile appeared on that face. "There is….but I don't think you'll like it very much." He turned to look the other full on.

Danny frowned at this, wondering what could be worse than working with his future self to fight the future self of Vlad and the present Vlad fused together. He wasn't even aware that they could fuse like that let alone fight together enough to create a beast like that. "What is it?" He questioned warily. He rarely liked plans unless completely assured it would work out, one reason why he had no problem working with his master.

Dan looked back up at the surprisingly patient Vlad before looking back at his younger self. "We do what Vlad did."

"No."

"But that's the only…"

"No."

"Look, we either…"

"No."

"Fuse or we…"

"I said no."

"Die a slow…"

"N. O. No."

"Painful death while…"

"No no no."

"Vlad takes over the world…"

"NO!"

"AND EVERYONE DIES!"

"God Damn it all!"

Dan watched as the younger ghost snarled and stood up, glaring at the other like it would set him on fire. He actually felt a small shiver go down his spine the stare was so icy. "Look, I know, okay. I don't exactly want to fuse with another person." Especially after just getting unfused and feeling strange now. The hate and anger and thirst of vengeance was no longer there. Not even a phantom feeling of it. Just emptiness and sorrow filled him. The same feelings that he had felt when his human half had allowed him to be ripped out.

He shook his head as he looked up at the much larger Vlad, wondering why he hadn't attacked yet. He should have at this point but he hadn't and it was making him nervous. What was the older ghost waiting for and why was he just staring at them, expecting something. What he wanted though, he didn't know.

"I hate this." Danny spat as he turned to stare at his older self.

"Noted." The older drawled tiredly. His own energy was depleted and without a human half, he wasn't able to regenerate the energy naturally. He would have to return to the ghost zone to gather energy once more.

"I am doing this under duress."

Dan rolled his eyes as he faced the other fully. "Same here mini me."

"Don't call me that." There was actual spit that came with those spat out words. "Let's just do this then." He growled before his eyes flashed a bright toxic green.

Dan smirked as his own eyes flashed and he moved towards the other.

Only to shout as a hand swiped down at them and separated them. The roar from above told them that their enemy was done gifting them their break. Dan growled as he looked up, blinking when all he saw was a gush of black flames rushing right at his face.

A wall of ice took its place a moment later and a yell brought his attention back to a skinny teen with broad shoulders. "Let's do this before he decides to roast us!"

Dan gritted his teeth as his body glowed with energy. He didn't waste another second and slammed his body straight into the teen with full force.

Danny screamed as his head wrenched backwards as power coursed through his body, contorting his body in a whole new way. Pieces of his body were flooded with energy he had never felt before in his life and something else followed.

Pieces and strings of memories flowed into him as his eyes flooded over completely with toxic green The memories that flowed into showed him how hard it had been for Dan. How the other had been so alone for so long after he killed his human half.

He watched as Dan…

"Go away Dipstick!" Ember snarled as she strummed at her guitar, watching the blue skinned ghost that wore the suit of her once enemy. The child had changed a great deal within a very little amount of time. This was no longer the hero of Amity Park but something else.

He smirked as he cracked his knuckles as he sneered at the music ghost. "Nah, I don't think I will." He said as bright green flames engulfed his hands. It was no longer the shapeless energy he had made for the last year of being a half ghost. "I think I'll destroy you instead." With that he flew right at her.

"You can't keep doing this youngster." Technus gasped out as he held a hand to his oozing side. Not too far from him was a torn apart Skulker, the suit's helmet torn open to reveal a tiny body with eyes closed in unconsciousness. "You'll destroy all that is here, human and ghost."

He sneered at the technology ghost as he swirled the cape around his body. He had grown with power and his body had followed. He was no longer the skinny little ghost that had started out but a full grown man with long hair pulled back and a little white goatee that matched. "I'll continue on killing for as long as I please and for as long as I can move." He snarled as electricity ran up and down his body. "Remember that you old outdated piece of junk." And he swung his fist forward.

"Stop this!" The box ghost shouted as he spread his arms out to cover his wife and child. "We haven't done anything to you! Just let us live our afterlives peacefully!"

"You caused me so many problems when I was alive." He said as he lazily looked over his claws. They had come in not too long ago, after he had left Technus and Skulker to huddle together and save what they could. "Always interrupting classes and being a nuisance." Energy cackled along his claws as he brought more forth.

"Yes, but my child has not." The box ghost said with a terrified glare at the other ghost. "If you wish to punish us, then leave our child alone at least." The Lunch lady shivered behind her husband, cuddling the little baby swaddled in blankets. Their precious Box Lunch.

He looked at the two. He took in the scene of mother and father and child before shaking his head. His hand shot out and grabbed the little blue ghost by the throat. "I won't destroy you." He said to the whimpering ghost, even as he tried to control himself, and he could see it all. The terror, the sadness, the anger. "I'll just take a piece of you and compensation." He grinned evilly as two claws dug into the left eye of his eye. "This won't be the only thing I take." He growls just as he released the throat, holding the ghost his claws to his eyes. He used his now free hand to grab the right hand of the box ghost, ignoring the screaming of the other. He ignored the woman and child as he dug his claws into the wrist and twisted.

"You used to be a hero!" Valerie shouted as she held her gun pointed towards him. He had been able to lure her out of the ghost shield for a fight. He knew that if he could kill her, than they wouldn't last for much longer. "You used to do good and help anyone in need!"

"Yeah, and what did that get me?" He questioned with a raised brow. "The town called me a villain, you hunted me like a beast, and my own parents wanted to tear me apart molecule by molecule." He turned and glared at her with bared white teeth. "I get a whole lot more by destroying everything that wanted me dead…and soon that'll include you."

He stared at the statue. It was partially buried underneath rubble and earth, the result of his ghostly wail tearing apart the ghost shield and earth all together.

His parents.

His friends.

They all died because he was careless. Because he wanted to cheat and get ahead in life by using his powers.

This was all of his fault.

A face flashed in front of his eyes and a snarl appeared on his lips.

He wasn't the only one at fault though. It was also that man's fault as well, listening to his human half when he asked to have the ghost ripped out of him.

Vlad would be the next one to be killed.

His mind struggled to keep up with the memories even as his body shifted into something entirely new.

His hair flew around his face, lengthening even as his canines sharpened into pointy little fangs. His body grew till he stood at a solid six feet seven inches. A white cape materialized behind him as his armor shifted around his body. The metal shoulder, forearm, calf, and thigh all converged together onto his hands and forearms in gauntlets that glowed white. The white half of his suit shrunk and down until only the letter P in a D was left over his heart. His boots and belt were left to remain in the color of white.

That all stopped a moment later when their energy stopped and settled within the body, leaving him floating behind the now melted puddled of ice. Above him stood the monster Vlad, watching him with wary eyes. "So this is what you must be feeling?" He questioned, his voice deep and growly. "All of this power in your body coalescing into one being, combining to create something so much better."

He knew that this was also what Dan had felt when he had combined with Vlad, but this was so different. IT wasn't a struggle to keep his mind this time around, wasn't a struggle to stay separate. Their memories were shared, yes, along with their bodies and power, but they were still separate. They were still thinking separate into two beings in their minds.

"Now we have all this power and we're going to destroy you once and for all!" He growled as he looked up with those toxic green eyes, hair falling around his face and fangs bared, ready for a fight/

DannyPhantom

A.N. I know this took a while, sorry, but here it is! Review and tell me what you think about it and I can't wait to hear from you! Until next time!