(Sighs) Yes, the last chapter was rather short, but it was actually longer than the first chapter of its predecessor by 100 words! Yay! Anyway, chapter 2! And I may up the rating later due to some rather…iffy scenes.

Disclaimer: I own only my little story. If I owned Danny Phantom, I'd be sitting in a big chair declaring my resolve to keep Danny Phantom from being cancelled. And I don't own DC comics, cause that would just be too big of a headache.

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Chapter II: The Demon Unleashed

Meanwhile, in the Ghost Zone, an evil plot was afoot. Vlad Plasmius AKA Masters was floating in the Ghost Zone, looking at an almost complete map.

"I was sure I should've made a right back there," he muttered to himself, squinting at the map. He looked up, and saw to his right his destination. "Looks like it was a left after all!" Quietly, he sneaked up on the castle. Transforming temporarily into his human half so he could phase through the door, Vlad made his way up the stairs. The door at the top was half open, so he could slip right in. He almost gasped at what he saw. There was a screen at the front, and a small chair as well. Stepping forward, his eyes widened at the pictures.

Some of the scenes were of Danny, where he was, and what he was doing. But the one that caught his attention currently displayed a different setting, a currently blank wasteland. A figure suddenly appeared in the scene, and Vlad's mouth dropped open. It was a ghost, but this one had flaming white hair, blue skin, fangs, and a black and white jumpsuit. But what really caught Vlad's eye was the emblem on the ghost's chest. Daniel's emblem. He was so caught up he didn't hear the ghost floating up to him.

"Strange," muttered the ghost, a middle-aged man, "how one accident ruined his entire future."

Vlad jumped and whirled around. "Clockwork!" he asked, his hands already glowing with pink ectoplasm.

The ghost merely looked at him. "Ah, so you know me. And of course I know of you." Clockwork shifted into his old man form, temporarily startling Vlad. "What I want to know is, why have you trespassed onto my property?"

"You're the time master, shouldn't you know?" growled Vlad.

"True, but I usually give trespassers a chance to explain themselves. I would advise you to leave this place immediately."

Vlad's eyes narrowed. "Why? Who is this anyway? He has Daniel's emblem–"

Clockwork, now an infant, cut him off. "He is an alternate version of Danny. And of you." Vlad powered down in shock.

"What happened?"

Clockwork waved his staff over the screen, changing it to the point when Dan was born. Vlad watched in horror, and felt sick, watching as Dan mercilessly killed his younger human half. But on the other hand, if he really was half of Vlad, he shouldn't be that hard to control. Especially if he had been defeated by the current Danny.

Vlad powered back up, and Clockwork looked at him in shock. "Haven't you heard a word of what I've said? If that monster gets out, he could destroy the world as he did before!" Vlad looked around the castle and saw his goal: a beaten-up thermos.

Before Clockwork could activate his staff, Vlad had already flown over to the thermos and with one powerful blast, shattered it.

The monster was free.

Dan stretched his muscular frame in ecstasy. "Finally, I'm out of that freakin' thermos!"

He turned to see Vlad standing there, with a smirk on his face.

"Ah, so it was you that freed me. Too bad I'll have to kill you." Vlad's smirk grew even more smug.

"Why should you? I freed you, therefore, you owe me! You will serve me!"

Dan laughed, a cold, chilling laugh that made Vlad shiver. "I answer to no one, Masters. Especially you." He blasted Vlad, who, stunned, was thrown against the opposite wall, and forcibly changed back. Dan flew out the door, still laughing.

Vlad sat there in shock. "What I have I done?" he lamented.

Clockwork floated next to him, back in his middle-aged self. "You have done the exact opposite of what was right. You have unleashed a terrible monster on this world. I hope you're happy, Vlad Masters, because now that he's loose, he has nothing to lose. And as he exists outside of time, he can freely kill both you and his younger counterpart without the chance of erasing himself from time."

Vlad's eyes widened. "And Maddie?"

Clockwork bowed his head. "He has nothing to lose, Vlad Masters, and that includes Maddie."

Vlad lay there in shock, and could only mutter, "And it's all my fault."

Clockwork nodded mournfully. "Your only chance is to warn young Danny. Dan will be gathering ghosts, and Danny will need re-enforcements as well." Clockwork smiled slightly. "He is already en route to meet two of them. You know them quite well of course." Vlad cocked his head. "Lois Lane and Clark Kent of the Daily Planet ring a bell?" Vlad cringed slightly, remember their last…encounter. "You will have to be a man, and face them, admit your mistakes, and ally with them."

Clockwork looked at the screen, still showing the alternate future, and the rampaging Dan. It was a constant reminder of what could happen should Dan escape, and thus reminded him everyday that he must have constant vigilance over the thermos. Fat lot of good that did him now.

"They are our only hope."

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Um, this story probably will top at ten chapters, if that many. Last time, Lois and Clark were distracted by all the random ghosts. This time, the ghost will be coming to them.

Thanks to the reviewers. Y'all are the best!

Cylon One, Quacked Lurker (glad to see you back!), Sunshine Silverjojo, and Splout.

R&R, the next chapter will be up in the next day or two. Note to self: Update both stories. Noted and logged. :)