Heeeeeeey. Damn it's been awhile, yes I know I've been slunking and I'm sorry but I'm finally getting the rhythm of college life and such. Besides that this chapter was just so difficult to write for some reason, I dunno...Any who with the aid of my sister(who I has to give props to for finally getting me to do this damn chapter) I'm able to present to you Chapter 5. Enjoy ^_^
Manifest Destiny
Chapter 5:In Due Time
"What's the matter V-Man? Getting slow in your old age?" Danny taunted as he avoided a pink ecto-ray and countered with one of his, which the older halfa blocked effortlessly.
Vlad Plasmius didn't respond as he flew towards Danny aiming a fist at his jaw, Danny was able to block the glowing pink fist before he kneed Vlad in the gut and did a quick spin, using his momentum to throw Plasmius into a nearby building. Plasmius became intangible before he could hit the building and smoothly rose out from the roof with his hands behind his back,
"You know how much I detest that insufferable name, Daniel." Vlad retorted, emphasizing Danny's original name,
"Ugh and I really do hate when you call me that." Danny countered as the two glared at each other, "So tell me cheese-head what's your plan this time and where's Skulker? I'm sure this is part of the vengeance you two were planning." Danny asked and then before he could stop himself continued angrily, "And why the hell couldn't it wait until later in morning! It's too early for this damn it!"
Danny had been dozing away, his mind in a galaxy far away. Resting his body from an exhausting Friday, 4 ghost fights in one day and failing a test he had actually studied for but missed because of fight number 2. Let's also not forget the fact that he had to pretend to miss the newest addition to their class, Aiden flirt with Sam by her locker and had to ignore the way Sam laughed at whatever Aiden said then blush as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before she slugged him in the shoulder and threatened him jokingly and Danny couldn't take it. Wasn't there some kind of dude code that prevented this, didn't the new guy have to wait like half the time they were going out and Danny realized all the rambling in his head was irrelevant to fact that he was up and awake right now.
At 6:15 on a Saturday morning, his blessed otherwise peaceful Saturday morning.
Oh there would be hell to pay for this injustice.
"Well I was in the neighborhood and decided I'd check up on my little badger, my apologies for interrupting you're beauty sleep. God knows you need it." Vlad taunted before he continued,
"As for Skulker he had come to me with a plan which would have made your life so much more miserable but I convinced him I'd take care of you. I think you should be thanking me dear boy."
'Don't let him provoke you. Don't let him provoke you; he's just a fruit-loop.' Danny repeated in his head. Vlad always seemed to have this effect on him, to bring out the worst in him.(A/N Story time, so if you know Vlad well enough you can skip these next two paragraphs.)
Vlad Masters was in college when he met Danny's parents. Jack was ever the giant fudge obsessed ball of optimism and Maddie was a genius, a beautiful genius who kept Vlad on his toes and had his heart skipping beats with the simplest of glances. The three soon became fast friends and eventually came to love the paranormal world. Even back then, Jack was convinced of the Ghost Zone's existence. So one day Jack, Maddie and Vlad had constructed a ghost portal prototype but after a series of unfortunate events, the portal malfunctioned and blasted a nearby Vlad with a large dose of Ectoplasm. The next couple of years were spent in agony with a bedridden Vlad slowly recovering from a lethal case of Ecto-acne. Vlad could only watch helplessly as everything he cared for was taken from him. His years of youth, his health, he was even forced to witness Jack run off with Maddie, the love of his life.
Broken and alone, Vlads' soul was filled with rage and his heart was consumed by hate.
Of course, it was only after he was let out of the hospital years later that he found out that he had been changed, transfigured. He had become part ghost and with this knowledge Vlad knew dozens of opportunities lied ahead of him, the world was his for the taking. He realized this new Vlad needed a new name and thus Vlad Plasmius was born. Over the years, Plasmius used his ghost powers to gain power over his human adversaries, whether it was political, social or financial. He was cold and ruthless in his dealings; the hate in his heart prevented him from feeling anything akin to guilt as he continued to manipulate the people around him to his will.
Twenty years later, after he had amassed his success he found himself in need of company and decided it was time to move forward and lay claim to what should've been his years ago, Maddie.
So imagine Vlad's surprise when he found young Daniel, the second ghost hybrid Jack's foolishness created. Vlad couldn't help the longing in his soul then, to finally have a companion who understood him, who knew what it was like balancing on that fine line between life and death, it was almost too much for Vlad. It was then; Vlad vowed that he would have Daniel as his son. For some reason he knew he would be unable to kill the boy, he was the only other one like him and Vlad would be damned if he lost his patience and wasted the boy. However Daniel had grown from a mere annoyance to one of the larger thorns in his side and Vlad really wished he would stop before Daniel caused him to break the young halfa's neck. Although Vlad admitted, annoying Daniel definitely helped even the playing field.
Vlad smirked as he noticed Daniel's fists clenching,
"Besides, I think it's about time I paid you a visit. I've noticed you've been getting sloppy Daniel and I expect nothing less than perfection from my future son." Vlad's eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched Danny's expression darken and provoked him further,
"I think I know why though Daniel so no need to fret, you've become increasingly over-confident as of late and yo-." Vlad was cut off as Danny exploded,
"Oh shut up Plasmius! It's too early for your bullshit!"
Danny flew towards him and before Plasmius could blink a green ecto-coated fist connected with his face. The blow knocked him off the roof and relentlessly Danny pursued the plummeting Plasmius and tackled him in the air and sent them hurtling towards the ground. At the last second Danny let go and turned intangible, phasing through the ground as Plasmius collided with it. Danny flew up and out of the ground and before Plasmius could move began pelting him with ecto-rays,
"I'm not going to become your son, not in this or any other universe you crazy fruit-loop!" Danny yelled as he paused to catch his breath. As the smoke cleared Danny saw that the crater he had created with his ecto-rays was empty, quickly he turned around to see Plasmius shaking his head,
"Tsk tsk Daniel. See that right there is what I'm talking about; you have no control over your emotions either. You're so easily provoked dear boy, it's quite pathetic actually. If you had better control you probably would've been able to sense that was just a duplicate I had made."
Danny's eyes narrowed at Plasmius and his fists glowed green as Vlad continued,
"You also would've been able to avoid the ecto-ray from the other duplicate behind you."
Danny's eyes widened and as he turned a pink ecto-ray caught him in the face and sent Danny flying onto a nearby rooftop. Danny flipped and landed on his feet but as he looked up Plasmius was in front of him and before he could flinch Danny was blown off the roof with a point blank ecto-blast. Danny tried to counter but Vlad and his clones swarmed him, hammering him with blow after painful blow. Finally Danny was thrown into an alleyway and the duplicates merged back with their master and Plasmius stood whole in front of a weakened Danny. Plasmius sighed before morphing back into Vlad Masters,
"You need to gain more control little badger, over your ghost powers and yourself. Come with me, let me teach you Daniel. I don't need you to renounce that idiot you call a father just promise to stay by my side."
As Danny looked into the older halfa's pleading stare, he couldn't help but consider the option. It would be nice, he admitted, to be able to have complete control over his powers, but if he knew Vlad as well as he knew he did…there was always another side to the story.
"And what will you do once I join you? Mold me into your perfect son? You don't need to hear me renounce my father Vlad because you know if I promised to stay at your side you would brainwash me into doing it at another point in time."
Danny answered and before Vlad could counter he remembered a fiery future, two ghost halves becoming whole, the ultimate evil being born. Vlad noticed Danny's gaze harden and his eyes glow intently, his voice was hollow and barely a whisper,
"Besides, being with you…will mold me into something else entirely."
Vlad's gaze become one of his confusion as he pondered what the younger halfa had just said but as if he just realized what he had said Danny's eyes widened and he moved away from Vlad,
"Point is Vlad, I'm not joining you. Not in this life or the next so do your worst."
Danny tensed as Vlad's eyes narrowed and glowed a brilliant crimson but before the two could make a move Vlad's pocket vibrated and with a roll of his eyes the Mayor of Amity Park picked up his cell phone,
"Yes what is it? This had better be important." Vlad asked impatiently and as he listened Vlad frowned and sighed before answering,
"Alright, set up the appointment for 7:30 this morning but tell him he had better be there on time for getting me out of my bed this early on a Saturday."
Without waiting to hear the reply Vlad snapped his phone closed and regarded Danny who was staring at the older halfa sympathetically,
"Duty calls." Danny said for him and they shared a rare chuckle as they regarded one another,
"You know I'm surprised you're taking your role of Mayor so…seriously. I thought you had done this to make my life a wreck." Danny admitted truthfully as he watched Vlad morph back into Plasmius,
"Well, unlike some people I know I don't do things half-assed. Even when it comes to tedious things such as running this sad excuse of a town," Vlad paused as in thought before putting his finger on his chin, "However it does has its' advantages." Vlad explained and Danny couldn't help but be impressed, ignoring Vlad's jab he asked,
"Doesn't that get tiring?"
Plasmius regarded the young halfa then before shrugging,
"I suppose but it works out in the long run, besides…it's not that bad. My offer still stands Daniel; if you ever need assistance seek me out."
With a swish of his cape and a puff of smoke Vlad Plasmius disappeared. Danny stood there before he slowly let himself morph back into Danny Fenton; he thought about what Vlad had said and how he had said it. It was strange; to see Vlad Masters showing any other emotion besides anger or hate…maybe he could change after all. Then a more logical part of Danny's brain kicked in,
'Or he could be playing you as always.' The voice in his head said and Danny shrugged,
'It's possible.'
Danny continued to sit in the alleyway for a moment before he morphed back into Phantom and flew into his house. With a sigh he changed back into Fenton and went into the bathroom. He found his first aid kit and slowly began bandaging his more prominent wounds. As Danny did this he couldn't help but go over his recent fight with Plasmius but mainly what Vlad had said. Danny sighed as he realized Vlad was right, again. He needed to learn control and he needed to learn it soon. His enemies were growing stronger by the day and Danny knew he could do better, hell even Vlad knew he could do better. If he ignored the jabs and taunts, Danny realized that all Vlad did was give him advice. Danny knew Vlad would make an excellent teacher but there were too many strings attached to that offer.
No, Danny needed a special kind of teacher. One who knew everything there is to know about ghost powers, someone who was patient enough to deal with his short temper and had enough power to rein Danny in if he lost control of himself. It was then that the idea struck him; he knew exactly who he would ask for training. Danny needed-
"TIME OUT." A deep voice shouted out of nowhere.
A clocks' hand materialized into existence, the hand turned and time stood silent. When the clocks' hand reached the midnight hour there floated the Master of Time.
Clockwork produced a medallion from his purple clock and in a flash placed the time medallion across Danny's neck,
"Clockwork." Danny whispered. It took him a second to notice the eerie stillness in the air. He turned around and his eyebrows rose in surprise,
"Wow that was quick. How did you-Oh yea, Father of time, all knowing and stuff."
Clockwork nodded to Danny,
"Daniel, how are you? Do you need some assistance?" The master of time asked. He didn't expect for the young halfa to let him help, Clockwork already knew the outcome of this conversation.
"Oh you're actually willing to assist me, something terrible must be about to happen." Danny responded sarcastically before noticing Clockwork's eyebrow raise and he sighed,
"Sorry it's been a hectic day and it's already what…7 in the morning?" Danny shook his head,
"I'm just tired. So what's wrong Clockwork?" Danny asked genuinely concerned.
"I was merely trying to be polite and must you always assume that I've come here because there's something wrong with the universe?" Clockwork asked before smirking, "I could've come here to help you with your math homework for all you know."
Danny looked Clockwork up and down before he laughed out loud and winced when red started to stain his bandages,
"Oh man that's good-Ow! Dammit my wound reopened…but man, I think you just made a joke Clockwork. Who would've thought it was possible?" Danny asked rhetorically as he set out to finish up bandaging himself.
Clockwork chuckled before replying, "I don't know why you're so convinced I'm not capable of humor Daniel," At this Danny looked up at the time ghost and quirked an eyebrow before he shook his head and continued what he was doing, "Allow me."
With that Danny watched as the bandages fell away and his eyes widened when he noticed his wounds healing and closing on their own. He whistled,
"That's interesting. I didn't know you had healing powers Clockwork." Danny remarked as he did some light stretches to make sure his wounds were properly mended,
"Time heals all wounds.'" Clockwork explained with a smirk.
Once again Danny paused what he was doing to look at Clockwork,
"Two jokes in one day. You must be feeling really good today." Danny commented as he sat down on his bed, he grasped the medallion around his neck and began inspecting it,
"So seriously, what's up?"
Clockwork's face grew serious and in a rare act of humanity sat on the bed beside Daniel and adjusted the time on his staff,
"It would appear the world is once again in danger Daniel."
Danny scoffed as he let go of the medallion and looked at Clockwork with an intense gaze,
"Isn't it always, so what's wrong this time? Did...Did he escape?" Danny asked tentatively and Clockwork looked into those piercing blue orbs before he answered. It seemed Danny's fear of his future self had yet to leave him. Clockwork looked away and shook his head,
"No Daniel, not this time however the news is just as grave." Clockwork answered and stood back up. Danny breathed a sigh of relief but his intense expression never lifted as he regarded the Master of Time. Clockwork paused for a moment before delivering the news,
"Someone is going to revive Pariah Dark."
…..
…..
…
"Shit."
Awww no Danny, your poor interrupted Saturday, don't worry me and the readers will sleep in extra late in your honor :) Hope you enjoyed the chapter, please review.
