CSIalchemist: Poor saps…
ChopSuzi: Embrace the pain, and yes, they most likely will.
"And every night, I would lock myself in my room and study until it was time for bed. Even then, I would occasionally sneak a flashlight under the covers and continue my schoolwork. My mother was dead serious when it came to academics. Not that I'm saying Maddie isn't."
Danny wore a furious scowl on his face as Vlad went on about his straight A's in high school, while thinly veiling his criticism in the younger ghost's study habits. Jazz checked the Speeder's rearview mirror every so often to check that Vlad wasn't playing any of his tricks on her brother, or more likely to check that Danny hadn't jumped in the backseat to kill the cheesehead.
"I for one blame your father," Vlad went on, lecturing Danny, "How on Earth that imbecile passed kindergarten, let alone college, is beyond me. But, no doubt his horrendous habits have rubbed off on you, poor boy."
"We're here!" Jazz announced while praying that she had interrupted what would most likely have been a nasty fight between the hybrids.
"Oh," the younger one muttered, "Thank the merciful heavens."
"Alright," Vlad said after stretching a bit, "Give me the cat."
Danny scowled at the billionaire's extended hand.
"You think I'm stupid?" he sneered.
"Daniel, I need to put the sapphire into the cat's eye," the older ghost growled.
"I can do it myself," the other replied.
"I'll go find Sam!" Jazz shouted as she sprinted out of the Speeder and dashed up the stairs.
"Daniel," Vlad sneered, transforming into Plasmius, "If you want to help Samantha, you'll give me the statue."
"What do you want with it?" Danny asked as he changed into Phantom.
"Frankly, that's none of your business, boy," Plasmius sneered, taking a step towards Phantom"Give me the statue and I'll change Samantha back into a human."
"What do you want with it?" Danny insisted, stepping back.
Vlad growled and prepared to lunge for the feline before Jasmine ran downstairs, interrupting the argument.
"Uh, Danny?" she said, "I can't find Sam."
Both ghosts looked at her curiously at her announcement.
"What are you talking about?" her brother asked, "She was in the living-room when we left."
"Well," the girl shook her head, "She's not there now."
"Oh, come on," Danny sighed, flying up the stairs with Vlad close to his tail. Jazz ran up as the ghost-boy appeared from under the couch.
"Told you," she remarked as he growled.
"Please tell me," Vlad said, sarcastically, folding his arms, "That you did not fudging drag me here just to play hide-and-seek with the cat."
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!" Jazz shouted, crawling on the floor, "Kitty want a treat?"
"The girl wasn't a cat in the first place, was she?" Vlad asked joining in on the search.
"No," Jasmine replied, "Where the hell is Sam?"
"Better question," Daniel spoke up, pointing to a hole in the front door, "Where the hell is Dan?"
"Dan?" the older ghost asked, arching his eyebrow.
"Long story," his foe moaned as Jasmine ran into the kitchen.
"Tuna!" she sang, cheerily, "Does kitty want tuna? I've got fresh tuna for the kitty!"
There was no answer to her call.
"Dan!" she continued, "Tuna!"
Still no response. Vlad stifled a groan. He'd never be able to get his hands on the statue at this rate.
"Oh, yeah," Daniel said, scowling at the hole, "Dan's behind this alright?"
"Dan?" the other ghost asked, floating in midair.
He was ignored. With a growl, the boy stalked off followed by his sister.
"I'm calling Tucker," he growled, possibly forgetting Vlad was still there, "Jazz, you start searching the neighborhood. Tucker and I will join you later."
Jasmine turned back and ran out the front door, obeying her brother's command. Daniel grabbed the phone as he stormed upstairs, furiously pounding on the buttons. With a growl of his own, Vlad headed towards the basement, but stopped as a bit of glitter on the table caught his eye. He stared at the golden cat in disbelief. How could the children forgotten about this? Then again, they had Jack for a father. With a wicked grin, Plasmius grabbed the statue and started running, only to be tackled from behind.
"What do you think you're doing?" Danny demanded, "Do you honestly think I'm stupid enough to leave you alone with this?"
He reached for the statue, but Vlad shoved him off with a grunt and phased down into the Fenton's basement. Quickly, Danny followed him, hoping the Ghost Portal's gates weren't left open. Unfortunately, they were. The frootloop had managed to reach the portal, but immediately, the teen flew for the gates controls and successfully locked them shut before Plasmius could fly through.
"Give me the statue!" Danny demanded.
"Oh," Vlad smirked, "I think not, Daniel. I've got a better idea."
With a triumphant laugh, Vlad held the statue in front of him and waited for the cat to fire its beam. Danny stared at the statue for a few seconds as the billionaire tried to trouble-shoot the problem.
"Fudge!" he shouted, shaking the idol, "Turn him into a cat!"
Nothing happened. The teenager continued to stare at Vlad as he fought the urge to laugh.
"I am your master!" Vlad shouted, angrily, "And I command you to change the boy into a cat!"
Silence.
"Pretty please?" the older ghost pleaded.
With a snort, Danny shot an ecto-beam at him, knocking the statue out of the frootloop's hand. The boy dodged for it, but Vlad grabbed his tail and swung him to the opposite side of the room."
"Oh, no you don't!" he shouted as Danny's body hit the floor, "It's mine!"
The billionaire grabbed it, but another beam shot it out of his hand again. He growled, turning towards Danny, only to realize it was his sister who had shot him.
"Not one more move!" she warned, aiming the ecto-gun at his face, "This baby's full loaded!"
Vlad smirked as he aimed an ecto-blast at the girl, only to have it intercepted by Danny. The boy had been injured by it, but for good measure, Plasmius shot another one. As Jazz ducked, Vlad again reached for the cat and successfully obtained it, only to see its lone eye glowing menacingly.
"Oh, butter biscuits!" he cursed as the ruby prepared another attack.
He threw the statue down as it let out its curse. Danny flew out of harm's way just as the beam was about to touch him, but his sister was not so lucky. With a yeowl, Jazz began her metamorphosis. Horror reflected in her eyes as she realized what was happening.
Danny turned towards Vlad to punch him in the face, only to see the Ghost Portal doors completely open with no frootloop in sight. A glance on the floor suggested that he had taken the cat with him, though he dropped the sapphire.
The boy turned back, realizing his sister must have stopped transforming since the culprit's eye was no longer there, but discovered it was taken away too late. The orange tabby stared back at him, strangely not frightened, but curious about her transformation.
"Reow?" she asked, rubbing against his leg.
"Damn it," Danny sighed, picking up his purring sister, "This is getting ridiculous."