Danny Phantom in: The Ultimate Ending

Danny looked around. Even though his Ghost Sense went off, there was no ghost to be seen.

''Danny?" both his friends asked in confusion.

Danny snapped out of his thoughts and looked up at his friends. ''Oh, nothing.'' He could have told his friends, but he didn't want to scare them with false alarm.

Danny saw Valerie getting up from her table and running to a hallway with a determined face. Did she see the ghost? Was she going to it right now? Only one way to figure that out.

Sam and Tucker still looked at Danny in slight confusion. They knew their friend too well, so they knew that he lied when he said nothing was wrong. They kept staring at him with their eyes demanding for answers.

Danny looked at them and sighed. ''Fine. I think a ghost is around and I got the feeling that Valerie is on her way to it right now.'' Danny pointed at the hallway where Valerie disappeared in.

''Well, then we've got to follow her, come on,'' Sam said. Then both Danny's friends stood up and disappeared in the hallway as well. Danny ran after them and when they all met up they saw Valerie. She was already wearing her suit and she pointed her weapon at a ghost. It wasn't just a ghost…. it was Frostbite!

''Valerie, no!'' Danny yelled.

Valerie turned around to see the three friends standing there with worried faces.

''That's a good ghost, Valerie. Don't shoot him,'' Tucker explained.

Valerie turned around again and looked in the eyes of the ghost. He actually seemed kind. Was Tucker speaking the truth, was this a good ghost?

''Indeed I am, young huntress. You don't have to eliminate me, for I am a ghost that only wants to protect both our worlds. My name is Frostbite.'' Frostbite showed his hand to Valerie, waiting for her to shake it.

Valerie still didn't trust him, but she grabbed his hand and shook it. Frostbite smiled at her, but Valerie didn't smile back.

''I don't want to ruin this moment, but what are you doing here, Frostbite? You almost never come out of the Ghost Zone,'' Danny asked. He looked at Valerie, still feeling a little awkward with talking about ghosts and ghost related stuff in her presence.

''The reason why I'm here is very important, Great One. The Infi-Map has been stolen again, by none other than your nemesis, Vlad Plasmius.''

''Plasmius?" the four teens said in unison.

''Why would he do that?'' Tucker asked. ''I mean, I know that Vlad probably stole it for his evil plans, but it didn't work out the last time. What makes him think that it'll work this time?''

''We don't know what he's up to, Tucker.'' Sam said. ''It doesn't matter why he stole it, what matters is that we have to take it back.''

''Indeed I wanted to ask you to retrieve it for me. You guys know him better than I do,'' Frostbite said, coming in between the arguing. ''Maybe you know where he is now.''

''I don't know what the Infi-Map is or why he calls Danny the Great One…,'' Valerie said. ''…but if you're looking for Vlad…. he's probably in his mansion in Wisconsin.'' Everybody looked confused at her. Valerie rolled her eyes. ''I know that, because he always goes there when he wants to be alone. Because he's the mayor of Amity Park he has a mansion here as well, but there is always a lot of press. If he's planning on doing something evil, then he is in Wisconsin.''

Everybody was silent for a while and still staring at Valerie. Then Danny spoke up. ''Geez, thanks Valerie. I don't know what to say.''

''Say that I'm allowed to come with you. I've been waiting a long time to kick his butt.''

''Sorry Val, but I can't do that. I don't want you to get caught into this.

''I'm already caught into this. Vlad gave me my weapons and if it wasn't for you, then I wouldn't have become a ghost hunter in the first place.''

''You're blaming me now?"

''You're the one who ruined my life!''

''It was an accident!''

''Maybe, but that doesn't change the fact-''

You're not coming with us and that's final,'' Danny said sternly.

''But Danny…''

''No buts, Valerie.''

Valerie sighed deeply and then nodded. Danny looked a little guilty at Valerie for yelling at her. Then he looked determined again at Frostbite, Sam and Tucker. ''Guess we need to go now then.''

''I'll cover for you guys,'' Valerie said. Those words came out of her mouth like it was vomit. It was a huge thing for her to say that, especially since she and Danny just fought. And of course, because she couldn't come along. That was the worst part. They were going to skip school and kick Vlad's butt, while she would stay here and cover for them. Just great. But this was more important than their quarrel.

The trio nodded at her and ran to the exit of Casper High. Frostbite looked at Valerie and smiled. ''I'll be on my way now too, the Human World isn't really the place where I feel comfortable.'' Valerie nodded and a little smile appeared on her face.

''Just remember, young huntress. I'm not saying you shouldn't be cautious, but try to trust others more. Not everyone is as bad as they seem, humans and ghosts. I'm especially referring to ghosts like me and the Great One. Yes, some ghosts are mean and seek revenge, but there are also ghosts that want to protect others and themselves. Other ones just want to be left alone.''

Valerie smiled again at the wise words from the kind ghost and shook his hand. ''I'll try to.''

Then Frostbite smiled, gave her a wink and disappeared. Valerie took off her suit and looked at her watch. ''Oh no, class is almost starting. I've got to think of an excuse for Danny, Tucker and Sam.''

Vlad was flying across the Ghost Zone again, having the Infi-Map in his hands. ''So, I need to go right and then across the Deadly Tornado of Doom. Should be doable,'' Vlad said, closing the Infi-Map and following the directions it gave him.

He has been flying for a while and the things he had to do, like surviving attacks from other ghosts, weren't easy as well. But what do you expect? Vlad was planning on stealing something so big, ancient and dangerous. Of course it was hidden and protected well. But he would find it. He would find it and use it to gain what was rightfully his.

Vlad followed the directions the map gave him and eventually ended up on a path. He walked down the path and at the end there was a giant wall. A little, green glowing gem was stuck in the middle of the wall. It was quite beautiful. Vlad levitated up in the air and tried to pull the gem out of the wall. It didn't budge. Even worse, it didn't budge and electrocuted him pretty badly. After everything he's been through he would have the gem right in front of his eyes, but he couldn't grab it. But he would have it. Even if it would kill him, he promised himself that he would get that gem.

The reason why the gem electrocuted him, was because of a defense mechanism. It would take a lot of effort, but when the gem was out of the wall, it could be used and it wouldn't electrocute the holder anymore. How could Vlad take the gem out of the wall? That was the big question. He couldn't touch it. Maybe if he shot an ecto-blast at it? It was indestructible, at least that has been said. A lot of things has been said about this gem.

It didn't have a name, so everybody just called it the Ghostly Gem. It was hidden in this wall and protected for thousands of years. The one who could get it out of the wall, was able to use the gem and rule the Ghost Zone. Even the Human World, if the holder would feel the need to do that. Vlad had heard about the gem and its power, but didn't exactly know what it did. He didn't care actually. The only thing that he knew was that a Ghost Army would rise again and that the holder of the gem would be their master. With their help Vlad could rule the Ghost Zone and the Human World. He would fulfill his destiny.

Vlad almost drooled by the thought of this. 'Focus Vlad, focus.'' Vlad took a deep breath, closed his eyes and a powerful blast of ecto-energy came from his hands. Vlad kept shooting and kept his eyes closed until he heard a sound. A little click. It sounded like something tiny fell on the ground. Vlad stopped shooting and opened his eyes. The Ghostly Gem was lying on the ground, unharmed. Vlad grinned and took the gem. ''Finally…''

''Tucker, please try to hold this thing still! We almost hit that mountain, you could've killed us,'' Sam hissed.

The three friends were in the Specter Speeder, heading for Wisconsin. They would arrive at Vlad's mansion in just a few minutes. Tucker was driving, even though he isn't the best at that. Sam already demanded that Danny had to take it over, but Tucker grabbed the steering wheel real tight and never let go. Sam sighed, knowing that she couldn't win this battle and just let it go.

They arrived at Vlad's mansion and parked the Specter Speeder behind the building so that it was out of sight. Danny was already in his ghost form and phased the three of them inside. They were in the hall of the big manor and walked around a bit.

''If I were Vlad, then where would I put my lab?'' Danny asked himself.

''You don't know where his lab is? You've already been here before, right?'' Sam asked.

''Yeah, but he has rebuild this mansion so many times. And every time he puts the lab somewhere else. It's always a big puzzle, figuring out where his lab is,'' Danny explained.

''I see. Maybe it's underground, like a basement,'' Tucker said. That didn't sound too crazy, Danny thought. Tucker was probably right. Danny grabbed his friends again and phased them all through the floor. Indeed, they ended up in an underground lab. Because it was underground, it was cold and it smelled really weird. But that didn't stop them from snooping around a bit.

''Check it out! Look at all these weapons,'' Sam said, pointing at a big pile of ghost hunting equipment. Tucker and Danny walked towards the pile as well to take a look at it.

Danny narrowed his eyes. For some reason these weapons looked familiar. Were these weapons that Vlad had stolen from his parents? No, they didn't look like weapons from his parents and Danny knew every weapon his parents had made. Still, these weapons looked familiar. ''Hmm….''

Then it hit him. These weapons were from…. Valerie! ''Oh my gosh, these are Valerie's weapons!'' Danny exclaimed.

''Are you sure?'' Tucker asked.

''One hundred percent. The question now is, why does he have them?"

''Are you really that stupid?'' Sam said. Danny looked confused at her, not knowing what she was referring to. ''Oh my goodness…. fine then. Valerie was pissed at you for stealing her stuff, right?'

''Right,'' both Danny and Tucker said.

''But you didn't steal them. And now they're here. You see what I'm getting at?''

Danny thought a little more, but then he got it. ''He framed me!''

''Ding-ding-ding…'' Sam said sarcastically.

''Why would he do that?'' Danny asked.

This was a hard one. Why would Vlad steal Valerie's stuff? To make her mad at Danny, but what's in it for him? All of them were deeply thinking, until Tucker thought he found the solution.

''It would buy him some time, right? Valerie is busy hunting Danny, Danny is trying to get away from her and Sam and I are trying to protect Danny. Nobody would keep an eye on Vlad. He could do anything he wants.''

''And that's where he stole the Infi-Map,'' Sam added to Tucker's story.

''Okay, we figured that out, but the only remaining question is; why does Vlad need the Infi-Map? What does he want to do with it?'' Danny asked.

''I dunno, but neither the Infi-Map nor Vlad are here, so getting answers is not that easy,'' Tucker answered.

''Vlad has always been a crazed up fruitloop, but I mostly figured out what he was up to. This time though…. I really couldn't think of anything that would make sense. Just… what the heck is going on?!'' Danny said, raising his voice.

Sam put and comforting hand on Danny's shoulder. ''Calm down, Danny. It's not the end of the world if you don't know what Vlad is up to.''

''Well…''

Danny tensed up by Tucker's comment. Sam gave Tucker a glare. ''It's not. We'll figure it out eventually, we just have to get our brains cracking.''

Danny smiled at Sam for her attempt to comfort him, but he still looked a little worried.

''I promise,'' Sam added, noticing that her boyfriend wasn't completely convinced.

''If we're not gonna find any more clues here, then I thinks it's the best if we go. Valerie may have covered for us at school, but it's almost evening and I don't think she'll have a good excuse for our parents,'' Tucker said.

''You're right, let's go,'' Danny said. He grabbed his friends by their waists and phased them through the manor, until they were all in the Spector Speeder. Tucker already wanted to grab the steering wheel, but Danny was faster. ''My turn now.''

Sam rolled her eyes. ''What is it with you boys always wanting to drive?''

Yo, guys!

I'm terribly sorry that there was an extra week between the last chapter and this one, but I thought it would be better if there was just an extra week in between, instead of placing this chapter on a random day. I still hope you enjoyed this chapter, especially since you had to wait longer.

I just had Spring Break, so I had the whole week to write chapters….. and of course I did. So don't worry, the next couple of chapters will be posted again on a weekly basis. As you have read, the story is finally getting somewhere. The real story is beginning now and things will get much weirder, more exciting and…. you get the point.

The story is mostly about Danny and what he does (duh, it's Danny Phantom), but I put some Vlad scenes in between so you can see what he is up to as well. In this chapter it is explained what he has been doing all this time and he'll get in the picture more and more. I love writing Vlad scenes and I am excited to write more, hope you like it too.

I'm just gonna stick to my story, but as I always say, if you have any tips on changing the story itself, my writing style, characters… I'm happy to hear them. Don't feel like you're a nagger by giving me tips or complaining about something in my story, because I don't see it that way. I enjoy writing this story, but I want you guys to enjoy reading it.

Lots of love, until next week!