I'm not even going to do an intro I feel so bad about this taking so long to post.

Disclaimer: I don't own the DP characters, places, or other things. I do own this story, the Raiyns, Conflagration and Lyric.

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"Is that it Danny?" Sam called over the Fenton Phones three days later. "There are no more spooks in this area." She was riding her moped through the desolate streets of Amity Park in the middle of the night. She and Tucker had decided to help Danny during his late night shift.

"Seems to be," his response crackled.

"That was a pretty easy night," Tucker commented. He was in the park, making his way to Fenton Works. "We only had to fight two ghosts!"

"Correction Tucker," Sam rolled her violet eyes as she turned a corner. "You only had to fight two ghosts. The rest of us fought four or five each."

"And technically," Danny added, "you didn't actually fight them Tuck, I did."

"But I caught them in the Thermos. That has to count for something," Tucker pointed out.

Turning the last corner, Sam saw Fenton Works. "Uh oh, I think we have a problem."

"Is it a ghost Sam?" Danny asked, instantly alert.

"Danny, you might want to hurry home…"

"Are his parents waiting outside for him?" Tucker guessed. "Last time we barely convinced them that he had been in the restroom the entire time they were looking for him."

"No Tucker, his house is one fire."

Silenced, Tucker turned onto the Fenton's street. As Sam had said, it was indeed burning.

"Mom! Dad! Jazz!" the two on the ground heard Danny yelp. Next thing they knew, a glowing light burst across the sky, heading towards them.

"I'll wake them up Danny," Sam volunteered. "Tucker, you head home and we'll pretend that Danny's spending the night at your house."

Tucker immediately scurried over to his house, muttering about the action he would miss.

Danny Phantom raced towards his home. Why was his house on fire? Mom must've burned something, he thought. Or maybe Dad's invention went haywire in the lab again. By the time he reached Fenton Works, the Opt. Center was a raging fire. Alarmed, he raced through his window and began to search the house. On the hallway he ran into Sam.

"I'll wake up your parents," she told him. "You get Jazz. She won't scream if she sees you."

Without a word, he flew into his sister's room and lifted her silently out of her bed. As they flew out the window, Jazz awoke.

"Danny? What's going on?" she asked. The wind blew her orange hair over startled turquoise eyes.

"The Opt. Center is on fire," Danny explained as he brought her safely to ground level.

"Are mom and dad okay?" Jazz asked. Danny set her down, and then looked to the door where Sam was leading his alerted parents out their front door.

"I'll go find the Fenton Water Hose!" Jack shouted as he ran to the garage.

"They're fine," Danny answered. "If they ask, I'm at Tucker's house."

Jazz nodded and ran over to her mom and Sam.

Danny's eyes wandered to the flaming mess above his house. He noticed that even though the wind was almost non-existent, the fire seemed to be growing larger. That could only happen if someone was feeding the flames. And no human would stick around to keep it burning, so it had to be a ghost.

And whatever ghost had dared to set light to his house would rethink even showing its face in Amity when he was done with it. Danny rose to the fiery structure and surveyed it from the outside. Reassuring himself that if he could breathe underwater, he could breather in fire, he floated into the flames.

Thirty seconds later he followed a white angel out of the burning mess.

"Conflagration!" Danny growled. This angel of flame was more of a demon than an angelic being.

The child angel pouted and folded her hands across her chest. "That's TWO times now you've stopped me from doing my job! Knock it off and let me finish!" Her eyes burned with anger (no pun intended).

"One: You have no right to burn down any building! Two: THAT'S MY HOUSE YOU WERE BURNING TO A CRISP!" Danny yelled at her.

"Good!" she spat. "I don't like you!"

Angered, Danny blasted towards her. His arm wrapped itself around her waist and he threw her towards the ground. "No one, I repeat, no one, touches or torches my house!"

"Ow!" Conflagration cried out. She hurriedly checked her wings for damage and brushed herself off. Then her gaze drifted back to Danny. "I will do whatever I want 'cause you're not the boss of me!"

"I'll show you whose boss!" Danny swore as he raced towards her again. She dodged at the last moment, her wings taking flight. Danny circled around again and began to fire ecto-beams at her. She successfully dodged them all without effort. When the bolts stopped, she looked around and didn't see her opponent anywhere.

"Where'd you go? We aren't playing hide and seek?" she asked, confused.

"I'm not hiding," Danny whispered into her ear. She didn't have time to let out a gasp as her sent her flying to the ground.

The ground exploded where the girl landed. Dust kicked up and hid her from sight momentarily. Danny floated cautiously right above the dust. When it cleared, she was sitting up, one hand supporting her and the other on her head. She wore a tired, confused look on her face. Looking up, she saw him and stared at him with a lost look in her eye.

"What…what happened? Where am I?"

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When Vlad read the name of the child, his heart skipped a beat. It seemed so perfect for the precious creature that lay before him. The Doctor immediately took his firstborn out of the room to hold her and Vlad watched as the stern man changed when she was handed to him. Vlad curiously watched his eyes soften as he held the babe close to his heart.

"Might I hold her Doctor?" he inquired.

The father in Dr. R. disappeared and he became the person his profession demanded. "Well, your condition isn't contagious. Be careful with her though." He instructed Vlad in the correct way of holding an infant and then rather reluctantly placed her in his arms.

The child weighed next to nothing in Vlad's arms. She was beautiful, he decided instantly. Her bright blue eyes searched his as he took hold of her hand and marveled at how tiny her fingers were. She was bald, but Sydney had explained that not all babies are born with hair. He was touched by her innocence and for the first and last moment in his life, forgot about his troubles and realized the gift life really was. He held her for a minute, and then realized that his arm was growing tired. The Doctor chuckled and explained that the muscle used for holding a baby isn't often active and will tire easily as he took her back into the nursery and placed her in her spot.

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When Phantom didn't answer her question, Conflagration turned her head and surveyed the scene around her.

"Oh no, not again," she whispered. She jerked to her feet and jumped into the air to Phantom's level. "I am soooo sorry!"

"Save it," Danny growled. There was no way she would try to burn his house and expect to apologize her way out of it. "There's no way you're getting out of what's coming to you."

A hurt look ran across her face. She looked over to the fire that continued to rage, and with a blink it flickered out. The result was a mess of melted metal, but it was the best she could do. "I really am sorry," she whispered in a soft musical voice. The last thing Danny saw was her white form streaking across the sky.

"What in the world?" he asked the sky.

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Two years passed and Vlad Masters still lay in the hospital bed, bitterly cursing the man that had sent him here. There seemed to not be any benefit to lying day by day in the itchy bed with the itchy sheets.

He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. His daily visitor would arrive in five minutes. Vlad looked forward to his visitor every day. He turned on the TV and flipped through channels until he saw the doorknob rattle slightly. Smiling to himself, he turned the TV off and waited.

Suddenly the door burst open and a hyperactive toddler raced in.

"HI! HI! HI! HI! HI! HI!"

She had short brown hair that was pulled back into a pigtail, green eyes and a contagious smile. Her green summer dress rattle about as she rushed to his side. Vlad lifted the child onto his bed and waved to Nurse Sydney. With a thanks, she left and headed back to her job.

"Good afternoon Alicia my dear. How are you doing?" he asked the bouncing youth.

"Good." She answered as she began to fiddle with his sheets.

"What did you do today?"

"Good."

"Ah, I see."

Everyday from 2 to 9, Vlad babysat Alicia Raiyn while her parents both worked. It was convient for the Doctor and his wife because they knew where she was (and being a mischevious little girl who ran off sporadically, this was a good thing) and a good thing for Vlad because it gave him something to do. Alicia didn't talk much yet, but they had their own way of communication through gestures. They also had their own schedule during her visits. First, they would attempt to talk, which would end up with him tickling her and her trying to brush his silver hair. Then they would move on to reading books that the Nurse had brought to his room. Afterwards, they would watch some TV (if nothing was on, there were children's videos that would amuse the both of them for the time being). Then she would fall asleep in the middle of a movie and lay curled up next to him for two hours. When she awoke, they would eat dinner (anything except macaroni and cheese…there was a bad experience with it all landing in both of their hair). Next, they would play with some dolls and try to talk some more. They would continue to play random games until Alicia became exhausted and fell asleep before being picked up by her mom.

Vlad loved the time with the child and learned many things through the simple life she led.

They did this most days until Alicia was six. By then they had advanced to other puzzles, games and miscellaneous things that would keep her mind busy.

Vlad's days weren't only filled with the young girl he admired. Each night, after she left and the night nurse checked on him, he would use his ghost powers and fly out to his balcony where he practiced fighting and throwing pink beams at various trash on the street. Sometimes, if no one was watching, he would sneak out after lunch and practice.

One day, he received an update from the Fenton family. There was a picture of Jack, Maddie, Jazz, and a little boy who looked to be around Alicia's age. This soured his mood and after gulping down lunch, he headed outside to practice. Little did he know the anger and hatred he felt at that time would have terrible consequences that day.

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(AN: Should I continue? …I dunno…it's getting late…ah well, you guys win. I'll keep going)

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After his parents and Jazz returned to bed, he carried Sam over to Tucker's house where they discussed the fire and Conflagration's sudden change of heart.

"I don't get it," Danny rubbed his tired eyes. "Why would she seem determined to burn everything at one moment and in the next put out the fires and run?"

Sam and Tucker were both at a loss for words. They had no idea behind the angel's behavior.

Danny tried to figure it out, but was at as much of a loss as his friends. "I'm going to take a flight to clear my head. I'll be back soon."

"Be safe," Sam smiled as he flew out of the window.

Danny saluted her as he rose to the clouds. The night chill massaged his nerves and very soon he was calm. He floated on a cloud and stared at the moon as he contemplated the night's events.

Why would she attack the school and his house? He had never met her before, yet she seemed to be destroying the places he valued. Well, he didn't value school, but he spent way too much time there. Still, it was as if she knew who he really was. That was impossible, for she hadn't called him "halfa" like others usually did.

In short, she was an enigma. She was an angel; she caused harm and destruction. She was a child; she had the determination of an adult. What was she really?

Danny closed his eyes and shut out the brightness of the full moon. He cleared his head and tried to forget about the problem at hand. He knew he needed to relax. If only it was warmer and he wasn't so hungry it might have worked easier. And maybe if he could actually lie on the fluffy cloud. And maybe if that singing voice sang something other than it's depressing song. And if-

Wait a second…a voice?

Danny opened his eyes and listened for the sound again. There it was! A lonely tune that echoed across the starry sky. He silently lifted himself into the air and followed the trail of music.

The voice was the most beautiful voice that Danny had ever heard. It was soft, yet powerful enough to sweep across the city. Guided by the flowing melody, he reached the school building. The music seemed to be coming from the roof. Curious, he peered along the roof.

Conflagration sat at the edge of the roof, her feet dangling carelessly and her wings folded around her to keep her warm. From her mouth poured the sorrowful song that had entranced him.

The song lost its hold on him and the rage he had felt towards her earlier resurfaced.

"You have some nerve to still be around here," he said to her as he floated from behind.

Continuing her song, she glanced at him, then back to the view of the city. From the roof of the school, the blinking lights gave a peaceful aura.

"You need to leave now," Danny demanded, slightly annoyed that she refused to make any effort to listen to him. She ignored his comment.

"Didn't want to trash the newly rebuilt school, but…" Danny sent a blast at Conflagration to catch her attention. To his surprise, a glowing white shield absorbed it. "What…what was that?"

"My protection," she sang.

Finally she answered him.

"Protection?"

"When an angel is in trouble, they may not fear, for the Protector is always there."

Danny thought about the charred remains of the Opt. Center. "Ignoring your looks, you don't act like an angel."

Conflagration sighed as she unfurled her wings and rose to meet him midair. "I'm terribly sorry." As the child looked into Danny's eyes, he realized something was different about her.

"Wait a second, your eyes…they don't have flames in them. I thought you were 'Conflagration, the angel of fire and flame'." Indeed, her eyes had transformed from a raging red to a light gray.

"That is not who I am," the girl responded.

"I'm pretty sure it is." What did she mean? Was she denying that she was the one who had caused the two fires?

"No. I am Lyric, the angel of Melody," she replied.

Danny was confused, "What do you mean? You can't be two different angels at the same time, and I've seen you burn two buildings."

The angel returned to her spot on the rooftop and motioned Danny to sit with her. It was awkward, taking directions from a child, but he needed to know what was going on.

"When a person dies, a few different things may happen," she began. "In most circumstances, the spirit becomes an angel or is sent to the fiery pit. They live out their eternity in the realm they had been sent to. In exceptions where the individual may have unfinished business (be it known to them or not), they become ghosts like you. Once a ghost has finished its business, it will then be sent to Heaven or Hell."

Danny pondered this for a moment. Things seemed to make sense, but the rules must have been tweaked for a half-ghost. "What happened to you then?"

"I," the angel began as she turned her head away. "…am different."

"I know the feeling," Danny muttered.

"I'm not sure what happened to me, but I don't think I completely died. I remember going to Heaven and becoming an angel of song, but I remained here on Earth instead of going above. I was confused."

Sounds vaguely familiar, Danny realized as he asked about how Conflagration fit into the picture.

Lyric's tone turned bitter, "After I realized that I was stuck on the planet, I met up with this ghost who said he could help me. And because it took place years ago when I was young, I believed him. Little did I know he would begin to use me to complete deeds no angel could do. I didn't realize it though because he created an alternate personality in me that held a passion to destroy."

"Conflagration?"

"Precisely. He deceived me. I thought that I had only fainted during a practice, but it truth he had sent a signal to activate my other self. I discovered this one day when the signal cut too soon and I faced the destruction I was causing." Lyric's tone changed from saddened to a harsh sound. Danny had never seen a child like this before, and it scarred him slightly. "When I confronted him, a battle ensured. I am saddened to say that I was not able to overcome him, so I had to run. After a few months, I was able to find a device that would block the signal. I've been hiding for years, but he somehow managed to find me." Saddened by her tale, Lyric began to sing again. The purity of the calmness relaxed Danny.

Lyric finished her bit and then continued to talk. "I'm not sure why he's had me attack the school and that house. There must be a reason, but I do not know it."

"Does it scare you at all? Not knowing when you could turn into Conflagration again, I mean." Danny asked.

"The uncertainty is slightly bearable, but I mourn more for those who will be hurt because of my actions. Singing soothes me though. The gift given to an angel usually does anyway." Lyric patted her robes and smoothed them over.

"If I might ask," Danny whispered. "Who was the ghost?"

Lyric frowned when she remembered the name and clenched her eyes tight as she recalled terrifying memories.

"I died at a child's age no one should die at, and I was killed by a ghost named Plasmius."

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I have to stop there for the night. yawns I'm tired…so very very tired…but I made it extra long for you guys because I feel so guilty about not writing anything. Feel special!

Now to thank the reviewers!

witchdoctor42ghostgrlJesusFreak991

…all…three…of…them…

Due to the um, lack of reviewing, I'm going to have to say that I won't post the next chapter until I have 5 reviews…which is only TWO MORE than I currently get. Yeah…please?

Even if you just say hi and you like it so far. I'm down with that.

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