A/N: So, talk about a comedy of errors... So, had to wait for ASU, like always, so you shouldn't really be surprised. Then I started having way too much fun between Danny and Vlad...that's why this chapter is seventeen pages...I was having a lot of fun this chapter. Hey, there's a reason I've been looking forward to it for a long time. There's also a lot of information, which helps. So of course it took it's fair share of time to write, insane tests, Thanksgiving weekend, and working Black Friday aside. And then, if that wasn't enough, my document manager wouldn't work. They fixed the messaging system, just to break the document manager...(sigh) But it's working now, and that's all that matters!

So here it is, in its long awaited glory, the Vlad chapter! Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Thirteen
The Retired Enemy

"Did I tell you my theory on how telekinesis can be possible?"

"Why do I have a feeling you're going to tell us anyways?" Noelle asked while Kimberly smiled. The flight to Wisconsin was extremely long and boring and after only an hour the question "Are we there yet?" was already plaguing all their minds.

Jacob, however, was having the time of his life, having found a captive audience in Tucker, and on occasion Danny, for his elaborate and rather eccentric theories on the world around them.

"No, how?" Tucker asked, enraptured.

"It's all about energy," Jacob replied. "You know that every stationary object has potential energy, right?" Tucker nodded. "And that potential energy is the energy stored away to do work and when the object moves, it's potential energy is converting to kinetic energy?" Another nod. "So, if you were able to find a way to convert potential energy to kinetic energy inside an object, that object would then move on it's own and thus, telekinesis."

"Wow, that amazingly makes so much sense!"

"Doesn't it?"

"How do you think of these things?"

"He has no life," Noelle answered, Jacob hitting her playfully.

"And how do you plan on actually doing this?" Danny asked.

"I don't know, but I'm sure with the way technology's advancing it wouldn't be too hard to figure out. A few more physics classes perhaps."

"And when exactly are you going to research and develop this?" Tucker asked. "Before or after proving that pizza stimulates you brain?"

"Umm…after. This'll probably take longer."

"I've got an easier method," Sam suggested. "How about you just wait for Danny or Kimberly to develop it, since it's like the one power they don't have."

"And with my luck, probably the only one I'll never get," Danny moaned.

"Well, you can always ask your older self when we find him," Sam joked. "Although I'm looking forward to seeing if you're still clueless."

"I am not—"

"Well, we already know the answer to that," Tucker interrupted. "I mean, you two did finally end up getting married."

"Wait, what?" Danny asked, confusion coloring his face.

"Clueless," Sam responded.

"Yeah, well how about we ask your older self how it felt to be pregnant?" Danny joked back, Sam giving him an evil glare.

"Should I get started on the hero complex?" Sam asked, mocking innocence.

"Don't make me drop you."

"You wouldn't drop me. What would happen to poor Kimberly if I died? Your hero complex wouldn't allow it."

Danny glared at her but finally gave up, instead focusing intently on flying while Sam's face radiated triumph.

"So, ever wonder how super powers work?" Jacob asked, breaking the awkward silence between the two.

"Actually, yeah," Tucker admitted.

"Me too, so I started thinking about them and I finally figured out that super powers are just chemical reactions. See, if a person has the ability to create water, in reality, that person is just taking the surrounding hydrogen and oxygen, mixing them together in a chemical reaction, and that makes water. Now, it still doesn't explain how they're able to create the reaction in the first place—"

"Or how any other super power works by that theory," Noelle pointed out.

"Hey, those are ones I just haven't figured out yet. I mean, an ecto-blast is probably created with the same chemical reactions that are used to create the blast from an ecto-gun, except the ghost has the ability to create the reaction that the gun mechanics normally have to trigger."

"It still doesn't explain—" Noelle began to contradict but she was cut off by a loud scream as Sam started falling from the sky.

"Oh dear, my arm seems to have unintentionally turned intangible," Danny mocked sarcastically. "And now poor Sam is falling to her death. I guess I'd better save her."

The white rings formed around both him and Tucker as they teleported, reappearing below Sam. He placed his arm out and caught her, teleporting the three of them back up above the clouds with the others.

"Danny, while that was really cool, never ever teleport me again," Tucker requested. "Are the clouds supposed to be spinning around us?"

"Sorry Sam," Danny apologized as he smiled mischievously. "My arm just went—"

"Shut up. I am so going to kill you."

"Now Sam, what would happen to poor Kimberly if I died?" he mocked with a smile as she punched his arm.

For the next half hour they continued to joke around with each other, especially Sam and Danny, who seemed bent on one-upping the other. Finally the four passengers drifted off into sleep while Danny and Kimberly continued to fly on without stopping, since as ghosts they really had no need to sleep. They mostly flew in silence, not really knowing what to say to each other, and both of them mostly wrapped up in their own thoughts: Danny on straightening out the clues and Kimberly on realizing that throughout her whole life she'd been adopted.

She kept going back over all her memories, realizing all the lies and half-truths she'd been subjected to, realizing all the clues, realizing all the comforts and confirmations that didn't really exist. But the more memories she combed through the more she realized how much her parents really loved her. She knew they were right, that all the lies and deceit was for her own good and safety, as well as Danny's, and she could tell how much it had hurt them to lie to her. But they still did, never fazing, never giving in, always determined to keep her and her real parents safe, no matter what, all the while loving her as their own. That took true dedication and love, and no matter whether they were her real parents or not, they loved her, and she loved them too.

"Hey Kimberly?" Danny asked, interrupting her from her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Sorry, did I interrupt you?"

"Kinda, but I could use an interruption," she answered with a smile. "You?"

"Yeah. My head's starting to hurt."

She smiled in sympathy. "So, what'd you want to ask me?"

"Well, I was just remembering, after Skultech attacked, you said you refused to help fight the ghost, which I respected, but now, back at your parents' house, you said you wanted to. I just wanted to know…"

"What changed my mind?"

"Yeah. I mean, it's not that I don't appreciate the help, but I was just curious."

"I don't really know, honestly. I've actually been thinking about that for awhile. I mean, it just seemed right, helping you. I just kept wondering why I refused before, and I think it was because I was scared. But, being scared isn't really that good of a reason not to help, especially when you sure could use it. And then there was Clockwork, who sounds like the kind of guy who doesn't do stuff randomly and while we'd decided that you landed in my house so we could help you get information, I think there's a lot more to it than that, and you being my…father…I think really enforces that. I mean, it kinda sounds like destiny, you and me helping each other save you. It just has a certain ring to it, and it's fitting. I think that's why I agreed, because it's destiny for me to help you."

"You know, Clockwork said that we were sent to this specific time for a reason and not earlier or later, and I think I just figured out why. It was because of you. We need to fight together to conquer this ghost."

"You know, I don't think I'd really have it any other way," she replied with a smile.

"Me neither."

"Alright, plan of attack: get in, get the letter, analyze and ask questions quickly, and then get out. The less time we spend with Vlad, the better," Danny instructed everyone as the landed outside Vlad's Wisconsin mansion.

"I have no argument with that whatsoever," Sam agreed. Kimberly and her friends nodded their heads, though really not understanding the reasoning. There was obviously some deep seated rivalry between the two of them, but still, if it was really so bad between them he wouldn't have trusted him with a note in the first place.

They walked up to the door, Danny taking a deep breath before grabbing the cheese-head knocker and slamming it against the large doors a few times, the loud knock heard echoing through the cavernous entryway.

A few minutes later the door opened, showing a very surprised and much older looking Vlad.

"D-Daniel? My God, it is you. I was wondering when you would come. Clockwork sent you I assume."

"How did you…"

"Please Daniel, don't insult me. I am not completely idiotic."

"Well, could have fooled me."

Vlad narrowed his eyes in annoyance before turning his attention to the rest of the group at his doorway. "Ah, Ms. Jordan. Fancy seeing you here, with him."

"Vlad, don't start trying to sound all cryptic and smart. We already know Kimberly's Victoria."

Vlad's eyes widened slightly. "Really? You actually figured something out that was sitting in plain sight? Good boy. And here I thought you didn't learn that until the two of you started dating."

"Wow Vlad, that's hilarious," Danny replied blandly.

"You knew?" Kimberly asked. She could count on one hand the number of times she'd seen the billionaire, and yet he knew something about her life that she didn't figure out for sixteen years.

"Of course I knew. You look exactly like him. The first time I saw you I knew. Plus, it just seemed like something the ever noble Danny Fenton would do. And I believe there's a hero complex crack needed here somewhere…"

"Again Vlad, you're hilarious."

"I know. And who are the other two? Your posse no doubt. Ah, like father like daughter... Now, shall we step inside? The thing we need to discuss is not a suitable topic for the front porch."

"How do you know what we want to talk about?" Danny asked, stepping inside. He hated how Vlad always seemed on top of things.

The rest of the group followed him inside, Vlad looking outside before closing the door, striding ahead to walk even with Danny. "Oh please Daniel, you don't travel through time just to chat about the weather with me of all people. Clockwork sent you here to rescue yourself and you're here to find out if I know anything about your disappearance. I've been waiting for you to show up ever since I got your letter."

"So I did send you a letter. How'd you know it was important?"

"You think you're the only one clever enough to send coded messages? I'm a businessman Daniel, every message I send is encrypted. So you don't quite receive points for originality, though I must say sending me many false letters did boost your score a little, but what you really excelled in was creativity. Anyone who wanted to expunge the clues from the letter would have to know you and your friends very well, which is another clue that led me to know that you'd be coming to decipher this letter. You didn't send the note for me to figure it out and save you, you just wanted me to take care of a piece of the information until your past self came, as I knew you would. Clockwork has always bent the rules for you."

"Guess that's what comes from being good huh?"

"No, that's what comes from having a horrible future that needs to be stopped. Yes, I did find out about it," he replied after seeing Danny's evil and yet surprised glare. "Again, you give me no credit."

He led them into the study, heading over to a wall where he reached his intangible hands through the wall and pulled out a safe, hiding the screen from the others while he typed in the password.

"Vlad, there's no need to hide it, we all know it's Maddie Masters."

"What?" he asked, turning around, the safe open. "That's preposterous. That was last year's password…"

"Oh, sorry, and what's this years? RIP Jack or any other such euphemism?"

Vlad blushed. "No, that was the password a long time ago. After they disappeared it just…it just didn't seem appropriate."

"Fine, whatever. Where's the letter?"

Vlad closed the safe, turning around with the letter in his hands, handing it to Danny. He opened it and cleared his throat, preparing to read it aloud.

July 27, 2014

Vlad,

Hey, how's retirement? Sorry, had to ask. You can't expect me to let that one go anytime soon, if ever. Trust me, you're never going to live it down. But in my defense, you'd do the same thing to me. Think of it this way, now you have all the time in the world to watch Lord of the Rings, or fruit loop commercials…

Speaking of which, how is Fruit Loop? Hope you haven't killed her yet. I know you weren't happy when you got her, but hey, you're retired, so I figured you'd need someone to keep you company. But come on, isn't it fun having a cat around? Admit it, you like her. She's probably a spoiled cheese heiress.

Danny stopped reading and lowered the letter, his eyes glimmering with satisfaction and amusement. "You have a cat? You actually have a cat?" Danny laughed, Tucker and Sam joining in.

"May I remind you that it says in that letter that you bought her for me," Vlad remarked sourly. "I never bought her."

"'Her'?" Sam asked. "I thought you'd call her an 'it'. Is Vwad attached to the widdle kitty?"

"I never said that," he defended adamantly.

"You aren't saying you didn't," Danny teased.

"Just because I refer to her by her proper gender based pronoun does not mean I like her."

"Sure it does, it means you see her as more than a creature, because otherwise you would call her 'it'," Sam argued.

"I refer to the Box Ghost as a 'he'," Vlad defended.

"Wow Vlad, I never knew. The Lunch Lady must be jealous," Danny teased with a smirk while Kimberly and her friends tried to choke back a laugh. Vlad glared at him, clearly not amused.

"I want to see her," Danny stated, standing up.

"What?" Vlad asked, his eyes shifting nervously.

"What about the letter?" Jacob asked, his curiosity unsatisfied.

"Yes, what about that letter?" Vlad repeated.

"Eh, it'll be here after I go looking for Fruit Loop…God I love that name."

"Whatever happened to get in, get info, get out?" Tucker asked.

"Yeah…I forgot to tell you that the plan could be interrupted at any time by annoying Vlad."

Vlad sighed. "She's just a cat, what's the big deal?"

"The deal is that she's your cat, the cat you swore never to get. And she's named Fruit Loop, that's reason enough."

He smiled as he turned intangible and flew through the wall, searching through the house. Vlad leaned back in his chair, putting his hand on his head while Tucker and Sam smiled at the three friends.

"My God I'm going to kill that boy," Vlad groaned.

Tucker shook his head. "Tsk tsk Vlad, you're retired remember?"

"Don't remind me."

Kimberly smiled. The two of them didn't seem like archenemies, and he certainly didn't seem to be as bad as Danny was making him out to be. The two of them seemed to have an unspoken relationship. Just the way they talked to each other, insulted each other so casually and even at times expected the insults, throwing their own back with such ease, it looked like they had a lot of practice, even in Danny's period. There was an underlying bond present between them that they refused to recognize or just chose to ignore. She could see it the moment Vlad opened the door, his face as he saw Danny after all these years. He may have said he was expecting him, but he was still just as shocked and pleased to see him as everyone else.

Danny floated into the study, a fluffy white cat in his arms, stroking her head. "Everybody, meat Fruit Loop, the spoiled heiress of the Masters fortune."

Tucker and Sam laughed as they rushed over, getting a good look at the kitty Vlad had finally succumbed to getting, whether Danny bought her for him or not.

"Alright, I've gotta know since being out of the inside joke loop is killing me," Jacob stated. "What's the big deal with the kitty? And what's with Fruit Loop?"

"Vlad's a fruit loop," Danny, Tucker, and Sam answered as one.

"I am not a fruit loop!" Vlad defended for what had, by then, become the hundredth time.

"You are so one seriously crazed up fruit loop. Always have been, always will be."

Vlad sighed. "I've long since given up arguing with you."

"Because you know I'm right."

"No, because you're too stubborn to see reason otherwise."

"Exactly, because I'm right."

Vlad groaned, closing his eyes as he started massaging his temples.

"And the cat?"

"Vlad's always been after my mom since he lost her to my dad in their college days, so after another failed attempt I suggested to either try internet dating or to get a cat to end his loneliness, and he didn't like either option."

"Of course not. I wasn't lonely," Vlad defended.

"Sure, whatever Vlad. Anyways, he swore never to get a cat, and here one is. And it's not like you don't like her either. She's got her own room to herself and has three of those huge cat playground things as well as her own television, a bunch of catnip and food, as well as plenty of Packers themed cushions and beds. I particularly liked the cheese head one."

"Can we move on please?" Vlad asked, losing his tolerance.

"Oh, is Vlad's big pride hurt by finally admitting that he likes having a cat?" he mocked.

"No, I just think there are better ways to spend your time, like finishing the analysis of that letter."

Danny sighed, remembering Clockwork's warning about getting distracted. "Fine." He put the cat down, letting it slink out the door and back to her abode. He picked up the letter again and began where he left off.

So, heard about the Packers. If you ask me, and you're probably going to kill me for this later, but their glory days are done. They've been done for a long time. Once Favre left, it all went downhill. I know, you don't think so, but you're biased, so your opinion doesn't count. You should just admit defeat. They're done for.

Hey, have you heard of this guy Manipulator? My parents were talking about him at dinner the other night. They claimed that he was some mythic ghost of legend, but I don't remember ever hearing anything about him. But that doesn't really mean much, since I hadn't heard about Pariah Dark or the Fright Knight until they attacked. So I was wondering, since you've been in this business longer than I have, whether you've heard of him or not? Better yet, does he even exist? Well, regardless, the story was pretty interesting. You should ask my parents about it sometime. I'm sure you won't object to that…

So I came across an interesting realization regarding the Ecto-Skeleton the other day. I realized that blowing it up was probably not the best idea, but then again it wasn't really my idea in the first place. If we were really smart, we would have just stolen it instead of blowing it up because then we'd be able to use it. My parents never were able to build one again or even get close to it again and I know you've never been able to get close to it, since you would have built one already. It must've been a one-hit wonder, sort of like the Ghost Portal. Well, I guess that's what happens when two teenagers try to make decisions. In retrospect, it was really stupid.

Well, I probably shouldn't waste any more of your "precious" time with this letter, you've probably got fruit loops to eat, a cat to spoil, and other fun retirement things. Personally, I think you're going to go crazy from all your free time, if you haven't already…but that's just me.

Well, I'll talk to you later. Well, more like write to you later, since you're a lot more agreeable when writing back and forth than in person or by phone.

Danny

"Alright, let's do this," Jacob stated as they dived into the analysis, Vlad leaving to grab some tea with lemon.

"Tea?" Danny asked as he saw Vlad walk back in, their analysis complete. "C'mon Vlad, can't you be like normal people?"

"Daniel, you've spent enough time here to know that I never drink anything but tea."

"Yeah, you always were old school."

Vlad narrowed his eyes. "So, I believe you have some questions for me?"

"Alright, first paragraph is just a greeting and nothing more," Jacob informed them. "Just you taking any opportunity you can to make fun of him."

"Same with the second one," Noelle agreed. "Another inside joke between the two of you."

"And unless Brett Favre has something to do with your disappearance I'd say it's the same with the third," Sam added. "Honestly Danny, this letter's really boring. You spend three paragraphs just talking to him."

Vlad sighed. "And here I thought the six of you were doing so well with this mystery. Isn't it obvious what the point of this is? It's to make it sound conversational and casual so that you can drop the bombshells later on. If you're trying to hide information from this Manipulator mentioning his name is going to be a big sign that this letter is coded, so you threw in as many different references as you could, and only ones that the three of you and myself considered as inside jokes. This Manipulator wouldn't know about the cat comment, or my rather unfairly given nickname, or what the reference to the Packers means, and thus they would assume, just like the rest of the references, that they were important, and thus would be sent on a wild goose chase while you followed the correct one."

"So basically they're a bunch of red herrings," Jacob summarized.

"Precisely."

"See Vlad, that's the way you need to talk, nice and succinct, none of this long winded blathering that could be summed up in two words."

"Well, I was unsure whether you, in your limited knowledge knew what a red herring was. After all, you did fail that English test."

Danny sighed. "I'm just going to forget you not only continued looking at my grades but that you remembered them as well and just move on. What do you know about Manipulator? Valerie had never heard of him and frankly neither have I."

"You wouldn't have. He's not a very common name in the Ghost Zone. Took me years to get the whole story and sort through the myth to find the truth."

"Wait, you looked for him?" Sam asked.

"Why must I keep reminding you that I'm not ignorant? Despite what you all may believe, I know a clue when I see one, and that note was just one big decoded clue. I received many letters, possibly to make it look less suspicious when you sent this one, but the rest were just gibberish, no real value to them, but this one was different, only slightly, but I could tell. When Daniel 'casually' mentioned Manipulator, I knew to look him up. After I heard that he'd disappeared, I knew it had something to do with this Manipulator, but I wasn't fit enough to go up against a ghost of his caliber."

"Of his caliber?"

"Yes. If you would like a comparison, it would probably be fair to compare him to your alternate future self or Clockwork without the cheat of being able to stop time and slice you in half without being able to retaliate."

"But how do you know?" Kimberly asked. The comparisons to her didn't really make sense, but seeing the looks on Danny, Tucker, and Sam's faces was enough to convince her that this ghost was definitely powerful.

"Because he'd have to be of that caliber to kidnap and keep Daniel hostage for fifteen years. I have to say that you grow up to be immensely powerful, more so than your alternate future self I must say, though of course still ever the righteous superhero. This ghost would have to be immensely powerful as well to be able to hold you, though I'm sure his ability helps."

"His ability?" Danny asked.

Vlad held his hand up. "I think I've gotten ahead of myself. I need to start at the beginning…

"The Legend of Manipulator, for as of right now there's no proof to suggest this is anything other than a legend, takes us back to the glory days of Ancient Greece. There were two extremely intelligent brothers that aspired to find the key to immortality like the gods they worshipped, the first alchemists of their time. They researched many different methods to obtain the immortality they sought, looking into everything from chemistry to religion to, as fate would have it, ghosts and spirits. It was said that they had gotten fairly close to their goal and they obtained great renown through all of Greece.

"But it wasn't just their work that made them famous, but the strange abilities they had been gifted with. The older was said to have visions of the future while the younger could control people's thoughts and actions. How they obtained these abilities is uncertain and, as in most legends, there are many different accounts. Some say Zeus, the Lord of the Grecian Pantheon, cursed them for trying to obtain what was not theirs to have (for their powers did end up being a curse), while others thought they obtained them as a side effect of an experiment gone wrong, while others still argue they were simply born with them. Whatever the reason, their knowledge and power made them powerful men in Greece and that kind of power will do things to you when tragedy comes.

"And, of course, tragedy did strike, as it usually does. As the newly elected king toured through the state, he stopped off at the brothers' home, knowing it would be foolish not to charm such influential men. Unfortunately, that's as far as his intelligence went, for while at their house, his eyes fell upon the younger brother's wife. Well, I'm sure you know where this goes. A few nights later, while the two brothers were busy working, the king's army took the wife and made her as his own. When the younger brother found out, he became furious, wanting not only his wife back, but revenge as well. He wanted to use his power to murder the king.

"The older brother advised against it, telling him that he foresaw a bad outcome of his actions, but he would no longer listen, too enveloped in his rage and yearning for revenge. He had changed, and the two brothers, always so close, were torn apart by the rift.

"The younger left to plan his onslaught, traveling from town to town, using his power to control the minds of the men, creating an army. His brother, meanwhile, went to the king, hoping to stop the terrible future he had seen. He told him of the wrath his actions had incurred in his brother, advising him to return to girl to his brother, but still the idiotic king refused, even after being warned of the incoming army. Knowing he had failed his brother and the lives of many, the older brother left in dejection, giving one final warning to the king, telling him that under no circumstances was his brother to die, for the consequences would be too great and terrible to handle.

"The day of the battle arrived, and the younger brother's army marched on the doors of the palace, confronting the army of the king. The battle did not go well with many innocent men dieing without even realizing they were fighting since they were under the control of the brother. But as the battle raged on, the attacker held the advantage, for every time he lost a man, he simply controlled another one of the soldiers to take his place. Finally, in a last ditch effort, a sharp shooter pierced the shoulder of the brother, not killing him, but severely wounding him, causing him to lose his control of his army. Now free, they quickly disbanded while the brother was imprisoned in solitude, receiving his food by animal, having no human contact.

"And there he stayed for many years while his rage grew stronger and out of frustration, he committed suicide. But, his rage and unrequited revenge turned him into a ghost and the vision his older brother had seen came true. His power increased, as did his rage. Revenge and ultimate power became his ghostly obsessions, fueled by the rage that is created inside a ghost when it is formed. He remembered and cared for nothing, only to have the ultimate revenge against the king that had wronged him. He murdered the king and all the people in the court, including his wife, whom he no longer cared for, having no other emotion save rage and revenge.

"But after everything, his rage remained unfulfilled and instead decided, as most ghosts do, to take over the world, starting with Greece. His brother heard of what happened and felt responsible, knowing that if he had somehow managed to convince the king to give up the wife years ago none of this would have happened.

"He gathered together a group of mystics, using his knowledge of the afterlife and immortality to devise a way to stop the ghost of his brother by imprisoning him in a mystical amulet of great power while outside the ghost, who now referred to himself as Manipulator, reeked havoc on the surrounding towns. Finally, their plan set, they cornered the dead brother and a great battle ensued while the mystics uttered the spell to trap the ghost. As the battle drew to an end, Manipulator killed his brother just before he was sucked into the amulet.

"As the older brother lay dying, he made one final prophecy, supposedly detailing the return of his brother and the way to destroy him, for good. The mystics wrote down this prophecy and hid both the amulet and the prophecy, each in a different location. Supposedly they're both still safely hidden, though I beg to differ, on the grounds that you wouldn't have known about such a tale to make a reference to him. Somehow, he broke free from the amulet and is back, as the prophecy foretold and for some reason or another wants Daniel and Sam.

"So, if indeed you are hastening after Daniel and Sam, I suggest you find this prophecy first, because if it indeed details the weakness of this amazingly powerful ghost, it'll be absolutely crucial to your success, and I highly doubt you can do it yourself."

The six of them stared in disbelief as Vlad finished the tale, no one really knowing what to say to follow such a statement.

"Why can't it ever be easy?" Tucker asked, finally breaking the silence, making Vlad chuckle.

"My dear boy if it was that sample do you even think that Daniel and Sam would have been kidnapped in the first place and remain imprisoned?" Vlad responded.

"No, but I can hope can't I?"

"So if…my dad…couldn't fight him, how can we?" Kimberly asked.

"I'd have to agree with her," Jacob replied.

Vlad sighed. "If only it had always been so easy to rid you of hope. Were you not listening to anything I said? The prophecy foretells of his demise. By finding this prophecy you'll find the way in which to destroy him."

"But how do we find this prophecy?" Danny asked.

"Now there I'm afraid I cannot help you, but I advise you to continue on in your current vein, trust your older self and trust the clues he has left for you."

"You think he found it don't you?" Sam asked. "Found the prophecy?"

"Oh I have no doubt of it."

"Then why didn't I act upon it?" Danny asked. "If I found it and I knew what was going on I would have destroyed him."

"Yes, but this is the sixteen year old Daniel talking, the Daniel that has no skill or tact. Your future self has had years of experience on you. Besides, hasn't the thought even crossed your mind that maybe you are in some way important?"

"What?"

"The reason Clockwork sent you here in the first place? Yes I know he told you it's because you needed to save yourself, but did you ever think that maybe the reason he was kidnapped in the first place was because you were necessary to fulfill the prophecy? It would explain why he left all these clues which are clearly intended for you and your friends. He needs you to fulfill the prophecy. What that entails, I can only imagine, but I'm sure he's leading you towards it. I know you Daniel, and you'd never let anyone down, especially yourself. All the information you need are inside these letters."

"Well then, let's get back to them, shall we?" Jacob stated with an enthusiastic smile. The mystery was starting to pick up, and he liked nothing better than a good mystery.

Kimberly looked back at her paragraph and recalled the important information. "What's this Ecto-Skeleton you're talking about?"

"It was—" Vlad began.

"It's an invention my parents built and one Vlad was never able to duplicate because they're smarter than he is."

Vlad scoffed. "In all fairness they were never able to duplicate it either."

"Yeah, but they at least built it in the first place. You were never even able to do that."

Vlad sighed. "Yes, very well, I was never able to duplicate it because I'm not as smart as your parents, can we get on with this?"

"So, what's the point of this suit? I mean, it's destroyed, so we can't quite possibly use it," Noelle stated.

"It's not the suit," Danny clarified.

"Then what is it?"

"Jazz," Vlad and Danny answered simultaneously, Danny casting him an evil glare before continuing on with the explanation. "She's the one who was in the ecto-suit when Vlad had it and was the one that helped me blow it up, in your face too," he teased.

"Yes it was absolutely disastrous since I just turned intangible to avoid it," Vlad remarked sarcastically.

"No, but I left a nice hole in the middle of your football field," Danny bragged proudly.

"Which was easily fixed," Vlad replied, irritated. "Moving on?"

"So we're supposed to go visit Jazz next?" Kimberly asked.

"Definitely. It's high time we visited her," Danny stated, a hint of excitement in his voice to finally see the older version of his sister. "So Tucker, last paragraph."

He sighed. "Nothing. See, why didn't you take over this paragraph like you did last time? At least this one had nothing important in it."

"Because it's our goal in life to torture you," Sam joked.

"I thought it was to torture Vlad."

"That's my goal," Danny clarified with a proud smirk, Vlad rolling his eyes.

"Well, as fun as it is to be insulted at every turn of the conversation, I believe you have a necessary appointment in Chicago with a certain Jazmine Fenton?" Vlad stated as he stood.

"Aw Vlad, you're kicking us out already?" Danny asked in mock disappointment.

Vlad crossed his arms. "I thought you were anxious to leave?"

"That's before I found out how fun you are to make fun of in this time frame."

"Danny, Mr. Masters is unfortunately right," Kimberly reminded him. "We do probably need to get going. The sooner we figure all this out the better."

"Yeah I know," he agreed as he too stood up, everyone else following.

Vlad lead them out the door, but before Danny could walk out he placed his hand on his shoulder. "Daniel, just one final word of advice. You cannot take Tucker and Sam with you to fight Manipulator, you realize this yes?"

He nodded slowly, having come to that revelation during the tale of their enemy.

"Good. I know you never do anything without 'Team Phantom' but for their safety and your success, you cannot take them. Keep that in mind."

"I will. And Vlad, thank you, for everything."

"My pleasure. And now, farewell, and do not leave me out of the loop and let me know when you return."

Danny nodded as he started walking down the steps, waving to Vlad before going ghost and picking up Tucker and Sam, Kimberly doing the same with her friends as they took off, heading for Chicago.

A/N: Holy information deluge Batman! And now, the villain has been revealed! Woot! Sure, it didn't hold out as long as ASU, but hey, thirteen chapters, that's pretty good...and we still haven't met him yet... Be expecting a drawing coming in the near future on my deviantArt account, hopefully... And if you have any questions, I'll answer them to the best of my ability, but I won't give anything away. Oh, and as for the Legend of Manipulator...I know it's slightly cliche, but that's the way things were and that's frankly the way myths become, so believe me, it was meant to be that way.

Alright, I'm out to catch a few hours of sleep...hope you enjoyed it!